Pain Management with Botanicals

About this Episode

In this episode, naturopath and medical herbalist Amanda Williams joins our host Sara Le Brun-Blashka, MS, to talk about a common issue in the United States and around the world: pain. Many botanicals serve as agents for pain management, often being categorized into inflammatory pain relievers, analgesics, and smooth muscle spasm relievers.

To first consider the prevalence of pain, Amanda describes a 2019 survey of 32,000 American adults assessing both chronic pain (persisting three or more months) and high-impact pain (chronic pain that’s particularly debilitating). Data showed over 20 percent of participants struggling with chronic pain and eight percent with high-impact pain (01:27).

Medicinal herbs can help support individuals dealing with pain. This connection is supported by both modern research and empirical knowledge in the form of long traditional use sometimes going back hundreds and thousands of years. Amanda points out that herbs for pain management provide not only analgesic support but also have a multi-faceted activity in the body (06:29). For example, many herbs simultaneously provide nervous system support, pain relief, and inflammation resolution.

>> Audio bookmark: “Pain is a sign that the body is in distress or disease” (07:39)

Core Botanicals for Inflammatory Pain

Amanda describes two important medicinal herbs for inflammatory pain: turmeric and Boswellia (09:46). Turmeric contains an extract called curcumin that has long been associated with the resolution of inflammation.

Medicinal Herbs with Analgesic Properties

There are a few herbs with analgesic effects that Amanda describes as “the bee’s knees” (22:49)

• Willow bark
• California poppy
• Corydalis
• Jamaican dogwood

These herbs have been used for hundreds – some even thousands – of years to relieve pain, relax smooth muscle, and support healthy sleep habits (28:02). Often in combination with these botanicals, Amanda likes to add in St. John’s Wort for nerve pain.

Botanicals for Smooth Muscle Spasms

• Corydalis
• Cramp bark
• Raspberry leaf
• Ginger
• Wild yam

Additionally, Amanda uses herbs like celery seed, Boswellia, horse chestnut, butcher’s broom, and ginkgo for specific cases like edema and varicose veins (31:55).

Clinical Tips for Helping Patients in Pain

In conclusion, Amanda describes three different clinical tips for helping patients in pain (36:31):

1. Consider the whole person
2. Continue reassessing patient
3. Ensure patient is actively involved

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