Natural Pain Relief Ointment

Incidences of pain among Americans far outnumber cases of diabetes, cancer and heart disease that get a lot of airtime in the media. According to the American Pain Foundation, 76.2 million people are affected by pain, compared with 7 percent suffering from diabetes and 0.4 percent suffering from cancer. Women are more likely to report feeling pain than men. While over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen, are common treatments, natural topical remedies can also be effective.

Pain Effect

Living with pain can be frustrating and debilitating. It's linked to insomnia, depression and costs the economy more than $100 billion in health care expenses, lost income and lost productivity, states the American Pain Foundation. Despite these consequences, pain often goes untreated or improperly treated, especially among older adults and children.

Cayenne

The active ingredient found in cayenne, capsaicin, is well-reputed for its pain-relieving abilities when applied topically. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, it temporarily reduces substance P, a substance that transports pain messages to the brain so you no longer feel pain. Capsaicin can be used to treat pain from conditions, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, surgery and diabetic neuropathy, and, in some cases, low back pain. When first applied, capsaicin will increase pain slightly, but then the pain subsides. For adults, UMMC recommends applying a capsaicin cream up to four times a day.

Ginger

Long used for medicinal purposes, such as nausea relief, ginger can also relieve pain. The active compounds found in ginger are gingerols. According to Phyllis A. Balch, author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," these compounds prohibit the activity of pain-producing prostaglandins and also relieve inflammation. A study published in the journal "Arthritis & Rheumatism" also revealed that people who took a ginger extract twice daily had less pain and were able to reduce their use of pain relief medications. As a topical pain reliever, the University of Maryland Medical Center recommends rubbing ginger oil into the painful joint or applying a ginger poultice to the affected area.

Glucosamine Sulfate And Chondroitin

Oral supplements containing these two natural compounds are commonly found in natural food stores and pharmacies. Often touted for their benefit in treating arthritis pain, glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate can also be found together in topical pain remedies.In a study published in the "Journal of Rheumatology," participants with osteoarthritis used a topical glucosamine and chondroitin preparation for an eight-week period. The topical application was found to be effective at relieving pain within just four weeks.

Caution

Natural topical ointments for pain can cause side effects, such as skin irritation. Also, they should not be used on cracked or open skin. If you have an allergy to latex, bananas or avocados, you might also be allergic to cayenne. Consult a family or naturopathic doctor before trying these remedies. Otherwise, do a skin test first to check for any adverse reaction.