Herbs, Spices, Essential Oils, and Supplements

These have become a 5 billion dollar industry in the US, and are largely now interchangeable. 

Marijuana is covered elsewhere but does have some application in the treatment of pain, especially neuropathic pain. However most studies have shown limited effect on pain but more sedation with the drug.  The THC/CBD ratio is species dependent, and gives it different properties to affect the sensorium.  Click here to read more about medical marijuana.

CBD is cannabidiol oil derived from hemp or marijuana. It is widely used as a topical agent for the treatment of arthritis.  Click here to read more about CBD. 

Kratom is the drug from the leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa tree that grows up to 50' high in Indonesia, Malaysia and Bali.  Its leaves contain 25 active alkaloids including the major components mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine.  Other active alkaloids include ajmalicine, mitraphylline, mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, and Rhynchophylline.  Kratom is used both for pain and to acquire a sense of well-being. The 7-hydroxymitragynine was found to be the most effective substance in kratom for the treatment of pain.  Kratom is unregulated in the US currently and is freely imported, but has no quality control, no assay or analysis for either the content or purity and one study found many commercial products are adulterated (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27752985).  The usual dosage of Kratom is 1-3g of leaves or powder or capsules.  The powder and capsules may be cut with other substances and may not be pure. Click here to read more about Kratom.

Turmeric contains curcumin, a substance that has very similar properties to NSAIDS.  For inflammation and osteoarthritis, many take turmeric, that now comes in 500mg capsules with the usual dose one tablet twice a day..  

Ginger is related to turmeric and has much the same properties.  

Devil's Claw is a plant containing the active ingredient harpagoside, which taken orally 30-100mg can help relieve back pain and acts as an anti-inflammatory medicine. 

White Willow Bark (Salix) contains an anti-inflammatory agent, salicin.  Salicin is metabolized in the body to salicylic acid.  Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid)  is closely related to salicyclic acid.  This may be useful to treat headaches, back pain and arthritis however the medication has traditionally caused significant gastric distress.  

Bromelain is derived from pineapple, and acts as an anti-inflammatory agent in reducing pain, especially joint pain. It comes as a 500mg capsule.

Glucosamine is a component of cartilage production and appears to have some effect on pain, esp. osteoarthritic pain, but the studies have very mixed results. 

Melatonin is used for sleep but was also found to be effective in partially preventing migraine headaches. 

Feverfew and Butterbur were found in small studies to help with migraine headache treatment.

Boswellia may reduce the intensity or duration of cluster headaches and has been shown to be effective in several studies in the treatment of osteoarthritis in dosages of 100-1000mg/day (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24848732). 

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