American's medicine chests are stuffed with over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen (on-again, off-again users take about 30 billion doses annually). And more than 15 million adults take prescription proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for acid reflux, while millions more pop OTC versions.
Let's clear out some room for natural remedies that can help without the risk of the cardiovascular, kidney, and gastrointestinal problems that those medications may cause. Try these options:
• Arnica, applied topically, may ease muscle and joint pain and help bruises go away, according to researchers at the Cleveland Clinic.
• Aloe vera juice, taken orally, can help reduce heartburn and relieve constipation. It also provides magnesium, calcium, and vitamin C, and may soothe leg pain and muscle cramps. (Applied topically, it can help ease skin dryness, help manage rosacea, and soothe sunburn.)
• Turmeric with piperine in capsule form is a powerful anti-inflammatory that studies say can ease arthritis-related joint pain. (It can also soothe skin irritation and kill bacteria that may cause acne or psoriasis.)
• Slippery elm, in capsules or lozenges, is generally accepted as safe, and if other remedies aren't easing your acid reflux, you may want to try it.
• Ginger soothes upset stomach, digestive woes, and nausea. And the Arthritis Foundation says three studies found that ginger relieves joint pain better than a placebo.