Pain Relief

Applications

AlfalfaAngelicaAshitabaBacopaBirchBlack CohoshBlack PepperBloodrootBlue VervainCat's Whiskers / Java TeaChamomileChaste TreeChickweedChlorellaCloveColeus / ForskolinComfreyDevil's ClawDillDong QuaiEchinaceaElderberryElecampaneEleutheroGingerGravel RootGreen TeaGuaranaGuduchi / GiloyHemp / CBDHopsKannaLavenderLemon BalmLemongrassLinden / TiliaLomatiumMeadowsweetMoringaMugwortMulleinNettleNoniNutmegOat StrawOreganoPartridge BerryPassionflowerPeppermintPine NeedlePygeumRose HipsRosemarySkullcapSpearmintSt. John's WortStar AniseTribulusTurmericValerianVanillaWhite Peony RootWild YamWillow BarkWintergreenWood BetonyYarrow

Plants

Alfalfa

Medicago sativa

Traditional Chinese medicine: 'Mu Xu' used as a diuretic and for kidney stones, urinary infections, and edemaAyurvedic tradition: used as a nutritive tonic, diuretic, and to treat arthritis and digestive weaknessArab herbalism: first described as 'al-fisfisa' for horses but also used by humans for fatigue and vitamin deficiency

Angelica

Angelica archangelica

Digestive disorders and poor appetiteRespiratory conditions and bronchitisNervous exhaustion and anxiety

Ashitaba

Angelica keiskei

Hachijojima Island tradition: consumed daily as a longevity vegetable by the famously long-lived island population; 'tomorrow's leaf' symbolizing vitality and renewalTraditional Japanese Kampo medicine: used for general debility, blood purification, and to invigorate the body; classified as warming and tonifyingTraditional use in Izu Islands for colds, fever reduction, and respiratory infections

Bacopa

Bacopa monnieri

Ayurveda: classified as medhya rasayana (intellect-promoting rejuvenative); used in Charak Samhita for enhancing memory, learning, and intelligenceAyurveda: treatment of epilepsy, anxiety, and psychological disorders; component of Brahmi ghrita formulation for mental healthTraditional use in India for asthma and bronchitis; expectorant and bronchodilator properties recorded

Birch

Betula spp.

Arthritis and joint painSkin conditions including eczema and psoriasisUrinary tract infections and kidney stones

Black Cohosh

Cimicifuga racemosa

Menstrual irregularities and painful menstruationMenopause symptoms and hot flashesChildbirth facilitation and labor pains

Black Pepper

Piper nigrum

Digestive disorders and poor appetiteRespiratory conditions including coughs and asthmaArthritis and joint pain

Bloodroot

Sanguinaria canadensis

Skin conditions including warts and growthsRespiratory ailments and bronchitisRheumatism and joint pain

Blue Vervain

Verbena hastata

Iroquois, Ojibwe, and other Algonquian peoples used blue vervain as a bitter tonic for digestive complaints and as a liver herbCherokee traditional medicine used root decoctions for stomach ailments, suppressed menstruation, and to expel wormsEastern Woodland tribes used blue vervain poultices for headaches, rheumatic joints, and skin eruptions

Cat's Whiskers / Java Tea

Orthosiphon aristatus

Indonesian traditional medicine (Jamu): 'Kumis Kucing' (cat's whiskers) tea used as primary kidney tonic, diuretic, and urinary antiseptic for hundreds of yearsMalaysian folk medicine: brewed as tea for kidney stones, urinary tract infections, gout, and high blood pressureVietnamese traditional medicine: used for edema, liver conditions, and as a general cleansing tonic

Chamomile

Matricaria chamomilla

European folk medicine for digestive disorders, insomnia, anxietyChildren's remedy for colic, teething pain, restlessnessWound healing and skin inflammation treatment

Chaste Tree

Vitex agnus-castus

Menstrual irregularities and PMSFertility enhancement and reproductive healthMenopausal symptoms and hormonal balance

Chickweed

Stellaria media

Caryophyllaceae

Skin conditions and eczemaWounds, cuts, and burnsEye irritations and conjunctivitis

Chlorella

Chlorella vulgaris

No ancient traditional use as it was not discovered until 1890 by Beyerinck and has only been used medicinally since the 1950sJapanese post-WWII use: studied as a protein source alternative to meet post-war food scarcity needs; Hiroshima radiation recovery protocols included chlorellaJapanese longevity tradition: chlorella tablets widely taken as daily tonic since the 1960s in Japan where per-capita consumption remains highest globally

Clove

Syzygium aromaticum

Dental pain and oral healthDigestive disorders and nauseaRespiratory infections and bronchitis

Coleus / Forskolin

Plectranthus barbatus (syn. Coleus forskohlii)

Ayurveda (makandi/garmar): heart tonic for congestive heart conditions, hypertension, and anginaTraditional Indian medicine: treatment of abdominal colic, urinary retention, and painful menstruationUnani medicine: used for skin conditions including psoriasis and eczema

Comfrey

Symphytum officinale

Bone fractures and bone healingWounds, cuts, and bruisesSprains and muscle injuries

Devil's Claw

Harpagophytum procumbens

San and Khoikhoi traditional medicine (primary users): root decoctions for pain, fever, malaria, and digestive upsetBantu traditional medicine: poultices for sores, ulcers, boils, and skin lesionsTraditional use for childbirth complications: root used to ease delivery and postpartum pain in southern Africa

Dill

Anethum graveolens

Ancient Egyptian medical texts (Ebers Papyrus, 1550 BCE) mention dill as a soothing herb for digestive painAncient Greek and Roman physicians used dill as a carminative, digestive aid, and galactagogue (to promote milk flow in nursing mothers)Traditional Ayurvedic use (shatapushpa) for digestive complaints, hiccups, flatulence, and to increase milk production in nursing women

Dong Quai

Angelica sinensis

Menstrual irregularities and painful menstruationMenopausal symptoms and hormonal balanceBlood deficiency and anemia (Traditional Chinese Medicine)

Echinacea

Echinacea purpurea

Native American remedy for snakebites, wounds, infectionsTreatment of respiratory infections and coldsImmune system support during illness

Elderberry

Sambucus canadensis

Cold and flu treatment and preventionFever reduction and respiratory infectionsImmune system support during illness

Elecampane

Inula helenium

Respiratory conditions (bronchitis, asthma, coughs)Digestive disorders and poor appetiteSkin conditions (scabies, eczema, wounds)

Eleuthero

Eleutherococcus senticosus

Traditional Chinese Medicine: tonic for spleen and kidney qi deficiency, fatigue, and lower back weakness (wu jia pi)Russian folk medicine: general tonic for stamina and endurance among forest workers and huntersSoviet-era adaptogen: extensively used by athletes, cosmonauts, and military personnel to enhance performance under stress (1960s–1980s research by Brekhman)

Ginger

Zingiber officinale

Traditional Chinese Medicine for digestive disorders, nausea, cold conditionsAyurvedic medicine for digestive fire (agni), respiratory conditionsMotion sickness and morning sickness relief

Gravel Root

Eutrochium purpureum

Iroquois traditional medicine: root decoction as primary kidney and urinary tract remedy; used for kidney stones, urinary gravel, and painful urinationCherokee use: roots for fevers, typhoid, and as a diuretic tonicEclectic physicians (19th–20th century USA): 'Joe Pye Weed' widely prescribed for kidney stones, gravel, and urinary calculi; considered a specific for dissolving calcium oxalate stones

Green Tea

Camellia sinensis

Chinese medicine (TCM) used green tea for over 4,000 years to sharpen mental clarity, reduce fatigue, and aid digestionShen Nong's Bencao Jing (c. 2700 BCE legend) records tea as antidote to poisoning from 72 toxic herbsJapanese Zen Buddhist tradition uses matcha in chado (tea ceremony) for meditative focus and spiritual clarity

Guarana

Paullinia cupana

Sateré-Mawé people of Brazil used roasted seed paste as a stimulant beverage for centuries before European contactTraditional Amazonian use to reduce fatigue and increase endurance during hunting and long journeysUsed by indigenous tribes to suppress appetite during food scarcity

Guduchi / Giloy

Tinospora cordifolia

Ayurveda: Rasayana (rejuvenator) and Tridosha-balancing herb; classified as bitter tonic and immunomodulator in Charaka SamhitaAyurvedic treatment for chronic fever, malaria, and typhoid; Sanskrit name 'Jwarghna' means fever destroyerTraditional treatment for diabetes (Madhumeha) in Ayurveda; used continuously for thousands of years

Hemp / CBD

Cannabis sativa

Ancient Chinese medicine (Shennong Bencao Jing): seeds used as tonic food and to treat constipation and wasting diseasesAyurvedic tradition: 'Vijaya' used to stimulate appetite, relieve pain, and as a sleep aidEuropean folk medicine: poultices of seeds and leaves applied for skin inflammation and joint pain

Hops

Humulus lupulus

European monastic brewing tradition used hops since 9th century CE to preserve beer and add bitterness; previously gruit herb blends were usedGerman folk medicine used hops in sleep pillows for insomnia since the Middle Ages; pickers noted somnolence from contact with lupulinEnglish herbalists including Nicholas Culpeper (1653) recommended hops for insomnia, nervous tension, and digestive complaints

Kanna

Sceletium tortuosum

Mood enhancement and euphoriaAnxiety and stress reliefPain management and toothache

Lavender

Lavandula angustifolia

European folk medicine for nervous conditions, insomnia, headachesWound healing and antiseptic applicationsDigestive disorders and stomach upset

Lemon Balm

Melissa officinalis

Anxiety, stress, and nervous tensionInsomnia and sleep disordersDigestive disorders and stomach upset

Lemongrass

Cymbopogon citratus

Ayurvedic tradition uses lemongrass (bhustrina) for fever, respiratory infections, and digestive disorders; one of the classical fever herbsThai and Southeast Asian folk medicine uses lemongrass tea for colds, flu, stomach problems, and headachesBrazilian traditional medicine uses capim-limão (lemongrass) tea for anxiety, insomnia, and hypertension

Linden / Tilia

Tilia cordata

European folk medicine used linden flower tea for colds, flu, and fever since at least the Middle Ages; referenced in Hildegard von Bingen's writings (12th c.)French tisane de tilleul remains a bedtime relaxant and sleep aid in widespread popular useGerman Commission E-approved for use in cold and cough remedies

Lomatium

Lomatium dissectum

Plateau Native American peoples (Nez Perce, Yakama, Okanagan): primary antiviral and pandemic medicine; roots used during 1918 influenza pandemic with reports of high survival ratesCrow and Shoshone: dried and powdered root inhaled or smoked for respiratory infectionsGreat Basin Native Americans: root decoctions for syphilis and gonorrhea

Meadowsweet

Filipendula ulmaria

Pain relief and anti-inflammatory conditionsDigestive disorders and stomach ulcersRheumatism and arthritis

Moringa

Moringa oleifera

Ayurveda: Shigru — used for 300+ conditions including fever, inflammation, joint pain, and respiratory disorders; all parts used medicinallyIndian folk medicine: root bark applied as rubefacient; used for cardiac and circulatory stimulationAfrican traditional medicine: leaves used as nutritional supplement in malnutrition recovery, especially for children and pregnant women

Mugwort

Artemisia vulgaris

Digestive disorders and appetite stimulationMenstrual irregularities and labor inductionNervous conditions and epilepsy

Mullein

Verbascum thapsus

Scrophulariaceae

Respiratory conditions (coughs, bronchitis, asthma)Throat inflammation and laryngitisEar infections and earache

Nettle

Urtica dioica

Arthritis and joint painAllergies and hay feverUrinary tract health and prostate issues

Noni

Morinda citrifolia

Polynesian traditional medicine used noni (nonu/nono) for over 2000 years for infections, wounds, inflammation, and as a general tonicHawaiian traditional healing (la'au lapa'au) uses noni leaves for joint pain, skin conditions, and cardiovascular supportSamoan and Tongan folk medicine uses noni fruit for colds, flu, and as a pain reliever, particularly for arthritis

Nutmeg

Myristica fragrans

Digestive disorders and nauseaInsomnia and nervous disordersArthritis and joint pain

Oat Straw

Avena sativa

European folk medicine: oat preparations for nervous exhaustion, depression, and 'neurasthenia'British herbal tradition (Gerard, Culpeper): oat preparations for melancholy, wasting diseases, and convalescenceTraditional Scottish use: oatmeal and oat water as nourishing foods for the sick and convalescent

Oregano

Origanum vulgare

Respiratory conditions (coughs, bronchitis, asthma)Digestive disorders and poor appetiteMenstrual irregularities and painful periods

Partridge Berry

Mitchella repens

Pregnancy tonic and labor preparationMenstrual irregularities and painful periodsUrinary tract infections

Passionflower

Passiflora incarnata

Insomnia and sleep disordersAnxiety and nervous tensionEpilepsy and seizures

Peppermint

Mentha x piperita

European folk medicine for digestive disorders, nausea, flatulenceRespiratory conditions including colds, coughs, bronchitisHeadache and tension relief

Pine Needle

Pinus species

Scurvy prevention and vitamin C deficiencyRespiratory conditions (coughs, bronchitis, sinusitis)Urinary tract infections and kidney stones

Pygeum

Prunus africana

Zulu and Sotho traditional medicine (South Africa): bark decoction for urinary complaints, kidney disease, and stomach disordersCameroonian traditional medicine: treatment of gonorrhea and other STIsEast African traditional medicine: treatment of malaria, fever, and chest pain

Rose Hips

Rosa canina

Scurvy prevention and vitamin C deficiencyImmune system supportDigestive ailments and diarrhea

Rosemary

Rosmarinus officinalis

Memory enhancement and cognitive functionCirculation problems and poor blood flowDigestive complaints and loss of appetite

Skullcap

Scutellaria lateriflora

Nervous tension and anxietyInsomnia and sleep disordersSeizures and convulsions

Spearmint

Mentha spicata

Ancient Greek and Roman use: spearmint strewn on floors, used to flavor food, and prescribed by Hippocrates and Dioscorides for nausea and digestive complaintsMedieval European monks cultivated spearmint in physic gardens for digestive disorders, flatulence, and indigestionAyurvedic tradition uses spearmint (pudina) to treat digestive disorders, nausea, hiccups, and as a cooling agent for pitta

St. John's Wort

Hypericum perforatum

European folk medicine for melancholy, anxiety, nervous disordersWound healing and treatment of burns, cutsRespiratory conditions and bronchitis

Star Anise

Illicium verum

Digestive disorders and bloatingRespiratory ailments including coughs and bronchitisInfluenza and viral infections

Tribulus

Tribulus terrestris

Ayurveda: Gokshura — used as diuretic, tonic for urinary tract health, and aphrodisiac; part of Dashamoola formulaTCM: Ji Li — liver tonic; used for headache, dizziness, eye redness, and skin conditions from 'liver yang rising'Bulgarian folk medicine: used as male sexual tonic and athlete performance enhancer since 1970s–80s

Turmeric

Curcuma longa

Ayurvedic medicine for inflammation, digestive disorders, skin conditionsTraditional Chinese Medicine for blood stagnation and qi circulationWound healing and antiseptic applications

Valerian

Valeriana officinalis

Sleep aid and treatment for insomniaAnxiety and nervous tension reliefDigestive complaints and stomach spasms

Vanilla

Vanilla planifolia

Totonac civilization of Veracruz (pre-Columbian): Tlilxochitl ('black flower') was a sacred plant used to flavor cacao drinks and as a medicinal aromaticAztec tradition: combined with cacao and chili in xocolatl; used as an aphrodisiac and tonic for fatigue and heart complaintsMesoamerican traditional medicine: vanilla pod smoke and preparations used for headaches, nausea, and fever

White Peony Root

Paeonia lactiflora

Traditional Chinese medicine: 'Bai Shao' — one of the most widely used herbs; nourishes Liver blood, softens and soothes the Liver, relieves pain; used for dysmenorrhea, muscle cramping, and chronic fatigue from blood deficiencyClassical formula Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan: Peony combined with cinnamon, poria, peach seed, and tree peony for gynecological blood stasis conditionsSi Wu Tang (Four Substance Decoction): Bai Shao + Rehmannia + Angelica + Ligusticum — foundational TCM blood tonic formula used for over 1,000 years

Wild Yam

Dioscorea villosa

Menstrual irregularities and uterine conditionsLabor pain and childbirth assistanceDigestive cramping and colic

Willow Bark

Salix alba

Pain relief for headaches, arthritis, and muscle achesFever reduction during illnessAnti-inflammatory treatment for joint conditions

Wintergreen

Gaultheria procumbens

Pain relief and anti-inflammatory conditionsRheumatism and arthritisMuscle and joint pain

Wood Betony

Stachys betonica

Nervous system disorders and anxietyHeadaches and migrainesDigestive weakness and poor appetite

Yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Wound healing and bleeding controlFever reduction and diaphoreticDigestive disorders and poor appetite

Disclaimer: For educational purposes only. This is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider.