Smart natural additions to your medicine cabinet
American's medicine chests are stuffed with over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen (on-again, off-again users take about 30 billion doses annually!). And more than 15 million adults take prescription proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for acid reflux, and millions more pop OTC versions. Let's clear out some room for natural remedies that can help without the risk of the cardiovascular, kidney and gastrointestinal problems that those medications may cause.
Arnica, applied topically, may ease muscle and joint pain and help bruises go away, according to researchers at the Cleveland Clinic.
Aloe vera juice, taken orally, can help reduce heartburn and relieve constipation. It also provides magnesium, calcium and vitamin C and may soothe leg pain and muscle cramps. (Applied topically, it can help ease skin dryness, help manage rosacea and soothe sunburn.)
Turmeric with piperine in capsule form is a powerful anti-inflammatory that studies say can ease arthritis-related joint pain. (It can also soothe skin irritation and kill bacteria that may cause acne or psoriasis.)
Slippery elm, in capsules or lozenges, is considered GRAS (generally accepted as safe) and if other remedies aren't easing your acid reflux, you may want to try it.
Ginger soothes an upset stomach, digestive woes and nausea. And the Arthritis Foundation says that three studies found that ginger relieves joint pain better than a placebo.
For more information check out "Natural Support for Joint Pain" and "8 Natural Products for Heartburn and Acid Reflux" -- with a Dr. Oz video -- at iHerb.com/blog. And sign up for the free newsletter that helps you stay in tip-top health at LongevityPlaybook.com.
Dr. Mike Roizen is the founder of www.longevityplaybook.com, and Dr. Mehmet Oz is global advisor to www.iHerb.com, the world's leading online health store. Roizen and Oz are chief wellness officer emeritus at Cleveland Clinic and professor emeritus at Columbia University, respectively. Together they have written 11 New York Times bestsellers (four No. 1's).
(c)2024 Michael Roizen, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
(c) 2024 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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