The Everything Guide to Herbal Remedies (17 page)
Read The Everything Guide to Herbal Remedies Online
Authors: Martha Schindler Connors
Conventional medicine treats back pain in a few ways, depending on its cause and severity. For most minor cases, you’ll be advised to take NSAIDs and try physical therapy, massage, or controlled exercise. If you’re experiencing serious or chronic back pain (lasting longer than six weeks), be sure to talk with your health care provider.
Several herbs have been used traditionally to treat back pain—and are showing their abilities in modern laboratories as well. For example:
| • Cramp bark (Viburnum opulus) | Also known as guelder rose (among other names), this is a key Western herbal remedy for muscle cramps; it is effective against spasmodic back pain (it has analgesic, antispasmodic, and anti-inflammatory properties). |
| • Devil’s claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) | This is a classic South African remedy for pain and inflammation. Research shows that an oral extract can significantly reduce back pain. |
| • Ginger (Zingiber officinale) | Ginger, which is an analgesic and anti-inflammatory, is used both topically and internally to treat muscle and joint pain. Modern research shows it works like the NSAIDs to reduce inflammation. |
| • Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) | The aromatic essential oil is a traditional remedy used to relax both muscles and mind. It’s been proven effective at reducing stress as well as pain and inflammation. |
| • Willow (Salix alba) | The bark from this tree contains salicin, a precursor of aspirin. Research has shown it to be an effective analgesic and a powerful weapon against back pain. In one study, willow extracts relieved pain better than the prescription drug rofecoxib (Vioxx). |
Anytime you ask a muscle to do something that it’s not used to doing (such as running ten extra miles or lifting extra-heavy weights), the muscle can respond with pain. Muscle pain also can be caused by an acute injury, such as a fall, or chronic (also known as overuse) injuries. It can range from mild (a dull ache or twinge) to intense (significant pain or stiffness).
Sprains and strains are some of the most common sports injuries. A sprain is an injury to the ligaments, which are the fibrous bands that attach muscle to bone. A strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon, which is the structure that attaches a muscle to another muscle. Both sprains and strains occur when the tissue is stretched (or torn) because it’s been pulled past its normal range of motion.
Conventional treatment for sprains and strains uses what the experts call PRICE: protect, rest, ice, compression, and elevation. That means you immediately stop using the affected joint (protect it and give it a rest), apply ice or a cold pack and gentle compression (via an elastic wrap), and elevate the joint, all of which will help reduce the swelling.
If you sprain something, you’ll know it. In some cases, you’ll hear a popping sound as the ligaments are overextended. In all cases, you’ll experience almost immediate swelling and pain. You should see a doctor if these symptoms are severe (if you can’t put any weight at all on the ankle, for example).
If you’ve sustained a strain (what many people call a “pulled muscle”), you’ll feel immediate pain and increasing stiffness (and possible swelling) over the next few hours. The most common cause of strains are sudden, powerful contractions of a muscle group—like when you slip and fall on the ice, lunge to return a tennis shot, or jump to sink a basket.
To fight the pain of most muscle injuries, you can skip the NSAIDs in favor of these herbal remedies:
| • Arnica (Arnica montana) | Arnica is a classic remedy for all kinds of aches, including the sports-induced kind. Studies have confirmed its use as a remedy for soft-tissue (i.e., muscle) injuries. |
| • Cayenne (Capsicum annuum, C. frutescens) | These peppers contain a chemical called capsaicin, which can be applied topically to produce a warming sensation and reduce pain (it’s the key ingredient in many OTC muscle rubs). |
| • Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) | This herb is used topically to treat all kinds of sports injuries, including injuries to muscles, tendons, and ligaments. |
| • Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) | The oil from this Australian plant is used topically as an analgesic and anesthetic. |
| • Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) | Peppermint contains menthol, a natural anesthetic and painkiller. Menthol also produces a soothing, cooling sensation. |
| • Pineapple (Ananas comosus) | Pineapple’s active constituent, bromelain, can be taken internally to treat a variety of sports injuries and trauma. Studies have shown that it can reduce inflammation, swelling, and bruising. |
| • Saint John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) | This herb produces an oil that’s used topically to treat muscle and joint injuries (it’s got analgesic, antiedemic, and anesthetic constituents). It also works as an anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic. |
| • Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) | Yarrow relieves pain and swelling and is a classic remedy for swelling, bruising, and muscle soreness. |
Seven in ten Americans have at least one headache a year, and 45 million people live with chronic headaches. Headaches can go from merely annoying to debilitating, and the term
headache
encompasses at least twelve major types, including tension headaches, caffeine-withdrawal headaches, hunger headaches, menstrual headaches, hangover headaches, and ice cream headaches (a.k.a. “brain freeze”).
Also known as ordinary or idiopathic headaches, these involve infrequent, episodic pain that can last from a few minutes to a few days. The pain is usually bilateral (meaning it’s on both sides of your head) and accompanies a sensation of pressure or tightening. This is the most common type of headache, experienced by roughly 78 percent of the population. Most often, tension headaches are treated with NSAIDs or acetaminophen.
As the name implies, these are created from pressure in the sinus cavities, which may be caused by congestion from a cold or allergies or inflammation from an infection (if you’ve got an infection, you’ll probably have a fever as well). Sinus headaches are generally treated with NSAIDs, antihistamines, and decongestants—plus antibiotics in the case of sinus infection.
These are rare and are extremely intense; they tend to “cluster” over a period of weeks or months, only to go away and reappear later. Cluster headaches typically come on a few times a day and last about forty-five minutes. They occur more often in young men and in people who frequently smoke and drink alcohol. Conventional medical treatment for cluster headaches typically includes drugs like sumatriptan (Imitrex), zolmitriptan (Zomig), or rizatriptan (Maxalt), which are used to prevent a headache or stop one that’s already started. Side effects include tightness in the chest and dizziness.
Migraines are intense and pounding and often accompanied by visual disturbances (called
auras),
sensitivity to light and noise, nausea, and vomiting. Every year, about 30 million people in the United States experience a migraine.
As with cluster headaches, conventional migraine treatments involve acute and preventive measures. In patients with mild to moderate attacks, NSAIDs are generally recommended. More severe cases are given prescription NSAIDs like naproxen (Naprosyn). Preventive and treatment meds include sumatriptan (Imitrex), zolmitriptan (Zomig), or rizatriptan (Maxalt).
Migraine pain causes many sufferers to try almost anything for relief. A recent national survey found that 20 percent of people who suffer from regular migraine headaches routinely take dangerous, potentially addictive medications that contain barbiturates or opioids (and have not been approved by the FDA) in their quest for a cure.
Many traditional herbal formulas have shown the ability to handle even the toughest of headaches:
| • Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) | Extracts from this shrub have analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antiseizure actions. In several recent studies, they produced a marked decrease in severity and frequency of migraines. |
| • Cayenne (Capsicum annuum, C. frutescens) | Applied topically, cayenne preparations have been shown to relieve and even prevent the devastating pain of cluster headaches. |
| • Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) | This is perhaps the best-known herbal headache remedy. It has been shown in several studies to reduce the frequency of migraine attacks— and limit their symptoms when they do occur. |
| • Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) | The essential oil of this flowering plant has been used effectively to treat several types of headache pain. The same is true of peppermint oil (Mentha x piperita). |
| • Willow (Salix alba) | The salicin from the bark of this tree is a potent analgesic. Its headache-fighting properties are well proven in both laboratory and clinical studies. |
Taming Allergies and Asthma
Allergies and asthma are everywhere: Roughly 45 million Americans have allergies, which are exaggerated immune system reactions to benign things like pollen and cat fur. And close to 20 million Americans have asthma, a chronic disease involving the respiratory system (and often the immune system, as well). Both conditions are growing increasingly common, leading experts to think that our environment may be contributing to the problem—and conventional medical treatments aren’t doing much to stop it.
Allergies are the result of an exaggerated immune response to an agent, or
allergen,
that’s not really dangerous but is treated as such by the body’s defenses. Allergies are closely related to atopic dermatitis and asthma, two other conditions in which the immune system overreacts to a harmless trigger.
The term
allergies
applies to several distinct diseases, all with their own symptoms and treatments. However, they have a common underlying cause: a hypersensitivity to otherwise benign things. Some of the most common allergic conditions are:
- Allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever or nasal allergies
- Allergic asthma, a type of asthma triggered by an allergic reaction
- Insect bite/sting allergies
- Skin allergies
- Food allergies
- Drug allergies
- Eye allergies, also known as allergic conjunctivitis
Some herbs used to treat allergies and asthma can cause allergic reactions themselves in sensitive individuals. Anyone who’s allergic to plants in the
Asteraceae/Compositae
family, which include ragweed and daisies, should avoid remedies made with other family members, such as arnica
(Arnica montana),
butterbur
(Petasites hybridus),
calendula
(Calendula officinalis),
chamomile
(Matricaria recutita),
echinacea
(Echinacea purpurea),
and yarrow
(Achillea millefolium).
Some of these conditions overlap: Food allergies can trigger an allergic reaction in the skin as well as in the digestive tract, for example, and inhaled irritants that can trigger an episode of allergic rhinitis might also bring on allergic asthma.
Allergic symptoms typically include inflammation. In the case of allergic rhinitis, that can mean itchiness (in the eyes and nose and possibly the skin in other parts of your body), sneezing, and a runny nose. If the airways are irritated, symptoms can also include coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. In skin reactions, you might develop red patches, hives, or a rash.
An allergic response is a misguided reaction of your immune system to something that doesn’t present a threat (and doesn’t bother other people, unless they happen to be allergic to the same thing).
Many people treat the sniffles caused by nasal allergies with nonprescription decongestant nasal sprays. But overuse of these sprays can make things worse, creating a chronic condition known as nonallergic rhinitis. That happens when the tissues in your nasal passages become conditioned to the chemicals in the spray, causing you to use more and more to get the same results.
Allergies are caused by a complex process that can be traced back to an antibody called
immunoglobulin E,
or IgE, which the body releases in response to a trigger (a substance to which it’s been exposed before and is now sensitized). In the bloodstream, IgE antibodies bind to mast cells, which are located in the tissues that line the nose, bronchial tubes, gastrointestinal tract, and skin. This triggers the release of chemicals called
mediators
(including histamine and leukotrienes) and sets off a chain reaction that produces the classic “allergic” reaction. IgEs are the key to allergies. If your immune system produces IgEs whenever it encounters cats (or more precisely, proteins from the cat’s skin), you’ll be allergic to cats.
Most experts think that both environment and genetics play a role in who’ll develop allergic conditions. Allergies run in families, and research shows that people with allergies are more likely to develop asthma. Allergies are also closely tied to dermatitis, and people with allergic asthma and certain allergies—or who have family members with allergic conditions—are more likely to develop dermatitis.
Conventional medicine tackles allergic conditions in two ways: by individually treating symptoms of an acute allergy (or asthma) attack and attempting to prevent or minimize future attacks. These treatments focus almost entirely on symptom management—shutting down the body’s reactions to triggers by suppressing the individual functions. For example, nasal allergy sufferers are given antihistamines to avert the sniffling-and-sneezing symptoms of an allergic reaction. Asthmatics are given steroid medications that reduce inflammation in the airways.
Although they have their drawbacks, the conventional drugs that are used to treat these conditions are valuable in many cases—and essential in serious ones. However, herbs can be used quite effectively, alone or as a support for conventional medications. For example, herbal remedies can be used safely to relieve congestion in the upper and lower respiratory tracts, relax spasms, and soothe inflamed tissues in the airways. Herbal remedies also work to support the body’s immunity and other functions.
Also known as hay fever, allergic rhinitis is the most common type of allergic reaction. If it is caused by outdoor irritants, such as pollen from trees or grasses, it is labeled a seasonal allergy. When it’s triggered by things that are present year-round, allergic rhinitis is designated as perennial. This type of allergy is generally caused by indoor irritants, such as pet dander (dandruff-like material that collects in the animal’s fur), dust mites (tiny insects that live in pillows and other soft goods in your house), mold, and cockroach droppings.
Rhinitis—which means “inflammation of the nose”—occurs when the nasal membranes become irritated and start producing excessive mucus. Mucus is the fluid produced naturally to trap dust and other particles in the nose and keep them out of the lungs; it’s usually thin and barely noticeable as it drains down the back of your throat. In a case of rhinitis, mucus becomes thick and plentiful—clogging things up and draining quite noticeably out the front of your nose. Plain old rhinitis is the stuffiness you get with a cold (this is called
infectious rhinitis).
Allergic rhinitis is what happens when you encounter an allergen.
How can I tell if I have a cold or allergies?
Sometimes, it can be tough to tell. But generally speaking, you’ll know it’s an allergic reaction by your nose (allergies produce clear mucus; colds and flu create yellowish discharge), your temperature (allergies won’t produce a fever), and the duration of your symptoms (colds and flu clear up within about a week, while allergies disappear as soon as the trigger is gone—and hang around as long as the allergen does).
The most popular conventional treatments for allergic rhinitis are over-the-counter (OTC) decongestants and antihistamines. Decongestants treat congestion by constricting the blood vessels in the nasal cavities, thereby reducing the amount of mucus that gets into your nose. Antihistamines block the actions of histamine, thereby relieving your runny nose, itchy eyes, and sneezing.
For mild to moderate symptoms, your doctor might suggest OTC decongestants like pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) or short-acting antihistamines, like OTC loratadine (Claritin) and diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Your doctor might also prescribe longer-acting antihistamines, like fexofenadine (Allegra) and Cetirizine (Zyrtec), as well as a nasal spray, azelastine (Astelin).
Some doctors recommend an OTC spray, cromolyn sodium (Nasal-Crom), which is a mast cell stabilizer that prevents the release of histamine.
Another type of nasal allergy treatment, immunotherapy (or allergy shots), is used to desensitize you to allergens. In immunotherapy, you’ll be given a series of injections, each containing a slightly higher dose of the allergen that’s causing your problems.
For cases that don’t respond to decongestants and antihistamines, some doctors prescribe a leukotriene inhibitor, such as montelukast (Singulair), which blocks the substances that trigger allergic (and asthmatic) responses.
Other pharmaceuticals used to treat serious allergies are corticosteroids, including skin creams and nasal sprays such as fluticasone (Flonase) and mometasone (Nasonex).
If you’d rather skip the drugs (or limit your dependence on them), you can alleviate some of the symptoms of allergic rhinitis with these herbs:
| • Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) | Butterbur is traditionally used to treat allergies, coughs, and congestion (it inhibits both histamine and leukotriene release). Recent research has shown that a butterbur extract is as effective as the drugs cetirizine (Zyrtec) or fexofenadine (Allegra) in treating seasonal nasal allergies. |
| • Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) | Echinacea is the go-to remedy for the common cold, and research shows it can lessen the severity of allergic rhinitis, too. |
| • Nettle (Urtica dioica) | Nettle is a classic hay fever remedy throughout Europe. It acts like a mast cell stabilizer to stop runny nose and other allergic rhinitis symptoms. |
| • Tinospora (Tinospora cordifolia) | Also known as guduchi, this is a classic Indian remedy for allergic rhinitis. It’s been shown in recent research to provide significant relief from sneezing, itchy eyes, and other symptoms. It also acts as an immunostimulant, making it an effective form of immunotherapy. |
Some allergies cause symptoms in your skin. The most common are atopic dermatitis (a chronic condition that produces red, itchy patches) and urticaria (which produces itchy, raised bumps). These reactions can be caused by many things, including something you’ve inhaled or eaten. A third type of skin allergy is contact dermatitis, which is triggered by direct contact with an allergenic substance.
Dermatitis, also known as eczema, is a broad term encompassing many types of skin inflammation. The most common is atopic dermatitis, a chronic, itchy condition in which the skin is overly sensitive to certain triggers. Although it’s technically not an allergy, atopic dermatitis primarily affects allergy-prone people and often accompanies other allergic conditions. More than 15 million Americans have it.
Atopic dermatitis most often affects children and babies (see
Chapter 6
). Although there’s no known cause, there are several “triggers” that can cause flare-ups. These include: