5 Alternatives to Taking NSAIDs

When you’re in pain, it’s tempting to reach for the first bottle of pain reliever nearby. If that bottle is an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory), though, you might want to think twice.

These medications relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Taking them for too long or taking too many puts you at risk for serious side effects. Heart attacks, kidney damage, and GI bleeding are a few of these complications.

Even the FDA cautions against NSAIDs, saying they can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. The danger increases every time you take your Bayer, Bufferin, Advil, Aleve, and other NSAIDs.

NSAIDs are recommended as an alternative to acetaminophen, which can cause permanent liver damage. So, Tylenol is out, too.

What’s a person in pain to do? Here are five alternatives to NSAIDs that don’t have potentially deadly side effects.

1. Capsaicin Cream

Those minor aches and pains keeping you from sleeping and enjoying your day can’t be ignored. Instead of covering up the pain from the inside, grab some capsaicin cream.

Made with the main ingredient of hot peppers, it’s a natural medication that works wonders for muscle and joint pain.

Capsaicin’s neutralizing effect works by decreasing your levels of substance P.

It’s the messenger in your body that sends pain signals along to the brain. They can’t do their job, which means you don’t feel the pain.

As with any medication, be careful what you touch after you use the cream. No one wants peppers near any sensitive areas, especially your eyes, so wash your hands well!

2. Medical Marijuana

Medical marijuana is legal in over half the country. Contrary to many of the stereotypes you might’ve heard, it doesn’t have to make you high, give you the dreaded munchies, or turn you into a stoner.

Currently, 36 states and U.S. territories have legalized medical marijuana. However, in states like Florida, it must be produced and sold from an approved dispensary. Recreational weed is still illegal.

High-quality, low-dose marijuana can help with your pain. In fact, chronic pain is one of the top reasons a person qualifies for an MMJ card.

How Marijuana Reduces Pain

How does this work, exactly? To help you understand, we have to dive a little deeper into the study of anatomy and biology than you may have had in a while.

It all starts at the endocannabinoid system in your body. This system is how your body stays in balance (homeostasis). When it’s out of balance, the rest of your body follows suit.

Marijuana interacts directly with the endocannabinoid system, filling in the missing gaps. Your body gets closer to its desired state of balance, and the cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) interfere with the perception of pain.

This article breaks the process down even further if you want to know all the details. In short, medical marijuana is a safe, effective pain management method that doesn’t have potentially fatal side effects.

3. Acupuncture

An ancient Eastern science, acupuncture is often ignored or mocked in the more medicinal Western culture. But medical research studies show that it’s not bupkus.

In randomized controlled trials of people with disease-related pain, acupuncture positively relieved pain within half an hour after the first treatment. Significantly greater pain relief came from the so-called “needle therapy” than analgesic injections.

Yes, there are sham acupuncturists. Anyone can buy thin needles and claim to know what they’re doing. For the best results with no adverse effects, find a reputable, skilled acupuncturist to get rid of your pain.

4. Yoga

Yoga is an umbrella term that covers a variety of different goals. One of those aims is pain relief.

Regular yoga helps people with painful chronic conditions like fibromyalgia reduce their symptoms.

The exercise is gentle enough that almost everyone without significant injuries can do it.

Over time, your body’s perception of discomfort changes. The stretching and activity reduce inflammation, which causes the pain you’re feeling. And your flexibility and range of motion increase, making it easier to bend and move.

5. Massage Therapy

Therapeutic massages by a professional provide mental and physical relief. Much of the pain you’re feeling is a buildup of toxins in the muscles. With massage therapy, those toxins are released through gentle motions.

When you rub along the back of your shoulders or your back in general, do you feel areas that “crunch” or are tighter than others? Those are trigger points and tense muscles. There’s a problem causing them to tighten up and spasm.

The origin of the tightness could stem from anywhere along the connected nerves. Massage therapists know which nerves connect, where the muscles extend to, and how to find the cause of your pain.

Half an hour or so of peaceful relaxation while someone helps you get rid of your pain is pretty good for your mental state, too!

Conclusion

Is your medicine cabinet full of pain relievers that could be doing more harm than good? If so, it’s time to make the official switch. One or all of these alternatives to NSAIDs can get your pain under control without the harmful side effects.