Using herbal treatments for pain is a new approach that people are following these days.
They are safer, more accessible, and better than prescription-based medicines, which explains why analgesic herbs are in demand. Talking about natural painkillers, many options can help.
Some of these plant choices are exceptionally helpful for pain. Kratom, marijuana, and wild lettuce have a considerably high ability to suppress pain. It is even historically evident that all of these plants are effective for therapeutic benefits.
The poppy plant has a few derivatives, which work to reduce the pain, i.e., hydrocodone, heroin, etc. But unfortunately, the safety level of these products is a question mark.
There is no need to take the risk by trying the controversial herbal products when you have Kratom, marijuana, and wild lettuce to control the pain. Here is why Kratom, marijuana, and wild lettuce are excellent choices for pain relief.
Marijuana (Cannabis) for pain
It is surprising for many people to know that marijuana is a plant with medicinal importance.
A leading benefit of marijuana is the ability to heal the body pain.
Many people are familiar with cannabis, which is another name of marijuana. They aren’t two different things.
History of marijuana makes it as ancient as 2700 BC. In 1500 BC, very first written reference about the medical use of marijuana in the Chinese pharmacopeia.
There are no such requirements to grow marijuana other than the temperature. It grows in all regions of the world except the cold climate zones.
Till the mid 20th century, marijuana was a common ingredient of pharmaceutical products. It was banned in 1941 by the American Medical Association.
The federal government categorized cannabis in schedule 1 drugs, which has a high risk of abuse.
But the research on marijuana is legal, which makes one thing clear that cannabinoids of marijuana plants help to reduce pain and inflammation. They also help to balance the after stress injury.
“British Journal of Anaesthesia” published a review on the therapeutic potential of cannabis in pain medicine. It explains that the opioid pharmacology is a way to understand the therapeutic significance of cannabis (marijuana).
Cannabinoids signaling takes place through G protein-coupled receptors, which are distributed all over the body.
The clinical trials show that cannabinoids help with managing neuropathic pain, but this experiment on a human model is not studied.
Due to the analgesic potential, cannabinoids are licensed as an antiemetic in chemotherapy, and it can prescribe to the patient for the neuropathic pain.
A research study published in “Neurology” studied a randomized but controlled trial of cannabis-based medicine on patients with multiple sclerosis.
It was a five-week-long double-blind, placebo, and parallel-group trial. The sample size was 66, all of which were patients of the central pain state.
The medicine tried on this patient was a whole cannabis-based product, given to the patients via an oromucosal spray.
Each spray had 2.7mg delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and 2.5 mg Cannabidiol. This cannabis-based painkiller showed terrific results in pain reduction and sleep regulation.
Not just the multiple sclerosis pain, another study from “The Journal Of Pain” explains smoking marijuana to be highly efficient in neuropathic pain. Similarly, a survey report published in Pain shows marijuana to be helpful for chronic non-cancer pain.
All of these are scientific evidence that marijuana helps to overcome pain. Marijuana has no physical addiction and withdrawal effects.
The reason why people are not sure about the medicinal potential of marijuana is its psychological effects.
For now, marijuana is legal in 29 states of the USA for therapeutic use, as certified by a medical provider.
Kratom (Mitragyna Speciosa) for pain
The incredible tree from Southeast Asia has a long history of medicinal usage. The literature published in various scientific journals elaborates Kratom as one of the best natural painkillers.
There are almost no side effects and absolutely no fatal records related to Kratom.
It is useful and safe for human usage. Small doses of Kratom show stimulatory results, and high doses are seductive.
Kratom is available in different varieties. For pain control, some particular strains and types of Kratom are helpful.
“The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association” published an article on the pharmacology of Kratom for its possible stimulatory, analgesic, and opioid-like effects.
It explains that in Asia, Kratom has been used over centuries to treat stress, fatigue, pain, diarrhea, opiate withdrawal, and much more.
The analysis on literature available on Kratom reveals that Kratom is one of the most frequent used self-management products for pain and opiate withdrawal.
The alkaloids Mitragynine and 7 OH Mitragynine are responsible for its medicinal effects. However, the US Drug Enforcement Administration does still not approve it for recreational use.
It is supported by another research conducted by “Department of emergency medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School.”
It is published in the “Addiction” journal and explains the efficacy of Kratom for self-treatment of opioid withdrawal.
The subject of this research was a patient who used Kratom for hydromorphone abuse’s withdrawal effects. As per evidence, Kratom turned out to be helpful against pain and other withdrawal effects.
The current scenario is that recently, the US Drug Enforcement Agency tried to add Kratom under Schedule 1 Drugs that are products with high potential for abuse.
Due to scientific evidence and public outcry, the Drug Enforcement Agency took back its decision about Kratom.
For now, Kratom and its products are available in many US states. It still challenges the state laws in a few regions.
Kratom is available in different forms, i.e., extracts, powder, tincture, supplements, etc. One should only use a suitable form of Kratom in a moderate dose.
Exceeding the suggested dosage often results in undesirable effects. These effects are not long-lasting and usually take 24 hours to go.
Wild Lettuce (Lactucavirosa) for pain
Wild lettuce is also a naturally growing plant in different regions of the world. The primary areas of its growth are Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America.
It made history when people started to use it as an alternative to opium in the 19th century.
The active compounds of wild lettuce include Lactucopicrin and lactucin. Like the alkaloids of Kratom, these alkaloids of wild lettuce also bind to the opioid receptors and help to reduce the pain.
Due to this ability, the drug manufacturers incorporate wild lettuce compounds in medicines for joints pain, UTI, asthma, and other infections.
Wild lettuce helps with diverse pain types like menstrual pain, joints pain, muscle pain, headache, migraine, and stress-related pain.
“Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences” studied sedative and analgesic activity of lactucin, which is an alkaloid of wild lettuce.
The study explains lactucin and its derivatives to be useful for painkilling and sedative properties in mice.
The analgesic potential was high at the dose of 15 mg and 30 mg. It was as good as ibuprofen. The analysis showed Lactucopicrin to be the most potent painkilling agent.
Wild lettuce is safe for human consumption in small to moderate doses. It may cause an allergic effect on people. It is better to try it for once to check sensitivity before using wild lettuce for daily pain relief.
Wild lettuce is not suitable for patients that have narrow-angle glaucoma. It can make the condition worse; it is better to avoid it in such a situation.
In some cases, wild lettuce can induce a toxic effect. As per a case report by “The BMJ,” wild lettuce has the potential to cause toxicity in patients.
All the patients reported with the particular manifestation, however, recovered within 48 hours at the intensive care unit without a chronic complication.
The causative agent among all these patients was diagnosed with wild lettuce intake. It suggests that everyone needs to follow a safe usage of wild lettuce for pain relief and other benefits.
Wild lettuce is available in extract form and supplements. It is legal in the USA, which means you can quickly get it from any health shop around you.
The bottom line
Pharmaceutical drugs are not the only way to get rid of the pain. The natural pain treatments are effective and better to use in place of standard analgesics. The use of herbal alternatives is a highly popular treatment for safety benefits.
Using medicines may not work; it causes side effects, allergic reactions, and dangerous interactions inside the body. In regard, natural therapies, i.e., use of herbs like Kratom, marijuana, and wild lettuce to reduce the pain and inflammation is a wise choice.
For pain relief, certain herbs like Kratom, marijuana, and wild lettuce have exceptional benefits to suppress pain and inflammation.
Controversial plants like poppy and all its pharmaceutical derivatives may not be a suitable option for its dangerous risks. Other plants are equally good with no side effects for the same purpose.