If you have a headache or back pain, you probably grab the bottle of Excedrin, Tylenol, Advil, or Aleve and wait for the pain to diminish. Unfortunately, people can build up a tolerance for painkillers or they can damage their bodies if they use them too often. If you’re in chronic pain, you don’t want to be taking over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications every day.
It is estimated that more than 2.5 billion dollars are spent on nonprescription painkillers each year. While these medications may sound safe since they’re sold as OTC painkillers, they can cause serious damage to the body. Acetaminophen can cause liver damage when more than 4,000 milligrams are taken in a day, which is equal to eight 500-milligram pills. Lower doses can also cause liver damage or even liver failure for people who drink heavy amounts of alcohol or for those who have liver disease.
Certain NSAIDs can also cause damage to the stomach lining, even resulting in ulcers, stomach pains, or blood loss from the irritated area. Kidney problems could also occur, but this is more common in patients who have diabetes or high blood pressure.
Instead of relying on these OTC painkillers each time you feel a headache coming on, you may wish to give natural remedies a try. If you’re curious about experimenting with essential oils, a headache may call for the perfect time to give essential oils a try. They are harmless and the results are often surprising.
An excellent natural remedy for headaches is simply 4 drops of Wild Orange essential oil with 3 drops of Peppermint essential oil, mixed into your palm. Rub your palms together and then cup your face and breathe deeply several times. You can repeat as often as you need to throughout the day. This mixture also doubles as an excellent moisturizer!
If you’re battling a nasty sinus infection, try combining several essential oils into an easy-to-swallow capsule and then taking the essential oils this way. Combine 2 drops of OnGuard, 4 drops of Oregano or Thyme, 4 drops of Rosemary or Melaleuca, 2 drops Frankincense, and 2 drops of Myrrh (optional, and best for serious sinus infections).
For general pain relief, you can also combine 3 drops of Marjoram, 3 drops of Lemon, and 3 drops of Vetiver into a capsule. For muscle and joint pain relief, combine 6 drops of Frankincense and 6 drops of Marjoram into a capsule.
Instead of suffering through pain or causing internal damage to your body, try a natural solution and see how well it works for you. If you suffer from chronic headaches, back pain, neck pain, or other difficult symptoms, Premier Health Chiropractors can help. Contact us today and see how much better you feel by taking the natural route.