Tame leg cramps with tomato juice

At least one in five people regularly struggle with leg cramps. The culprit?
Potassium deficiencies, which occur when this mineral is flushed out by
diuretics, caffeinated beverages or heavy perspiration during exercise.
But sip 10 ounces of potassium-rich tomato juice daily and you'll not only
speed your recovery, you'll reduce your risk of painful cramp flare-ups in
as little as 10 days, say UCLA researchers.

Cure migraines with coffee

Prone to migraines? Try muscling-up your painkiller with a coffee chaser.
Whatever over-the-counter pain med you prefer, researchers at the National
Headache Foundation say washing it down with a strong 12- ounce cup of
coffee will boost the effectiveness of your medication by 40 percent or more.
Experts say caffeine stimulates the stomach lining to absorb painkillers more
quickly and more effectively.

Fight breast pain with flax

In one recent study, adding 3 tablespoons of ground flax to their daily
diet eased breast soreness for one in three women within 12 weeks.
Scientists credit flax's phytoestrogens, natural plant compounds that
prevent the estrogen spikes that can trigger breast pain. More good
news: You don't have to be a master baker to sneak this healthy
seed into your diet. Just sprinkle ground flax on oatmeal, yogurt,
applesauce or add it to smoothies and veggie dips.

Heal mouth sores with honey

Dab painful canker and cold sores with unpasteurized honey four times
daily until these skin woes disappear, and they'll heal 43 percent faster
than if you use a prescription cream, say researchers at the Dubai
Specialized Medical Center in the United Arab Emirates . Raw honey's
natural enzymes zap inflammation, destroy invading viruses and speed
the healing of damaged tissues, say the study authors.

Beat bladder infections with blueberries

Eating 1 cup of blueberries daily, whether you opt for them fresh, frozen
or in juice form, can cut your risk of a urinary tract infection (UTIs) by
60 percent, according to researchers at New Jersey 's Rutgers University .
That's because blueberries are loaded with tannins, plant compounds
that wrap around problem-causing bacteria in the bladder, so they can't
get a toehold and create an infection, explains Amy Howell, Ph.D. a scientist
at Rutgers University .

Heal sinus problems with horseradish

Latest studies show sinusitis is the nation's number one chronic health
problem. And this condition doesn't just spur congestion and facial pain,
it also makes sufferers six times more likely to feel achy all-over. Horseradish
to the rescue! According to German researchers, this eye-watering condiment
naturally revs up blood flow to the sinus cavities, helping to open and drain
clogged sinuses and heal sinus infections more quickly than decongestant sprays
do. The study-recommended dose: One teaspoon twice daily (either on its own,
or used as a sandwich or meat topping) until symptoms clear.

Wash away pain injuries with water

Whether it's your feet, your knees or your shoulders that are throbbing,
experts at New York 's Manhattan College , say you could kick-start your
recovery in one week just by drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water
daily. Why? Experts say water dilutes, and then helps flush out,
histamine, a pain-triggering compound produced by injured tissues.
"Plus water is a key building block of the cartilage that cushions the
ends of your bones, your joints' lubricating fluid, and the soft discs in
your spine," adds Susan M. Kleiner, Ph.D., author of the book, The
Good Mood Diet. "And when these tissues are well-hydrated, they
can move and glide over each other without causing pain." One
caveat: Be sure to measure your drinking glasses to find out how l
arge they really are before you start sipping, she says. Today's
juice glasses often hold more than 12 ounces, which means five
servings could be enough to meet your daily goal.

Give your back some TLC with grapes

Got an achy back? Grapes could be the ticket to a speedy recovery.
Recent studies at Ohio State University suggest eating a heaping
cup of grapes daily can relax tight blood vessels, significantly
improving blood flow to damaged back tissues (and often
within three hours of enjoying the first bowl). That's great
news because your back's vertebrae and shock-absorbing discs
are completely dependent on nearby blood vessels to bring them
healing nutrients and oxygen, so improving blood flow is essential
for healing damaged back tissue, says Stengler.

Relax painful muscles with peppermint

Suffering from tight, sore muscles? Stubborn knots can hang around
for months if they aren't properly treated, says naturopath Mark
Stengler, N.D., author of the book, The Natural Physician's Healing
Therapies. His advice: Three times each week, soak in a warm tub
scented with 10 drops of peppermint oil. The warm water will relax
your muscles, while the peppermint oil will naturally soothe your
nerves -- a combo that can ease muscle cramping 25 percent more
effectively than over-the-counter painkillers, and cut the frequency
of future flare-ups in half, says Stengler.

Prevent digestive upsets with pineapple

Got gas? One cup of fresh pineapple daily can cut painful bloating
within 72 hours, say researchers at California 's Stanford University .
That's because pineapple is natually packed with proteolytic enzymes,
digestive aids that help speed the breakdown of pain-causing proteins
in the stomach and small intestine, say USDA researchers.

Soothe foot pain with salt

Experts say at least six million Americans develop
painful ingrown toenails each year. But regularly
soaking ingrown nails in warm salt water baths
can cure these painful infections within four days,
say scientists at California 's Stanford University .
The salt in the mix naturally nixes inflammation,
plus it's anti-bacterial, so it quickly destroys the
germs that cause swelling and pain. Just mix 1
teaspoon of salt into each cup of water, heat to
the warmest temperature that you can comfortably
stand, and then soak the affected foot area for 20
minutes twice daily, until your infection subsides.

End endometrial pain with oats

The ticket to soothing endometriosis pain could be a daily bowl of oatmeal.
Endometriosis occurs when little bits of the uterine lining detach and grow
outside of the uterus. Experts say these migrating cells can turn menstruation
into a misery, causing so much inflammation that they trigger severe cramping
during your period, plus a heavy ache that drags on all month long. Fortunately,
scientists say opting for a diet rich in oats can help reduce endometrial pain for
up to 60 percent of women within six months. That's because oats don't contain
gluten, a trouble-making protein that triggers inflammation in many women,
making endometriosis difficult to bear, explains Peter Green, M.D., professor
of medicine at Colombia University .

Tame chronic pain with turmeric

Studies show turmeric, a popular East Indian spice, is actually three times
more effective at easing pain than aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen, plus
it can help relieve chronic pain for 50 percent of people struggling with
arthritis and even fibromyalgia, according to Cornell researchers. That's
because turmeric's active ingredient, curcumin, naturally shuts down
cyclooxygenase 2, an enzyme that churns out a stream of pain-producing
hormones, explains nutrition researcher Julian Whitaker, M.D. and author
of the book, Reversing Diabetes. The study-recommended dose: Sprinkle
1/4 teaspoon of this spice daily onto any rice, poultry, meat or vegetable dish.

Prevent PMS with yogurt

Up to 80 percent of women will struggle with premenstrual syndrome
and its uncomfortable symptoms, report Yale researchers. The reason:
Their nervous systems are sensitive to the ups and downs in estrogen
and progesterone that occur naturally every month. But snacking on
2 cups of yogurt a day can slash these symptoms by 48 percent, say
researchers at New York 's Columbia University . "Yogurt is rich in
calcium, a mineral that naturally calms the nervous system,
preventing painful symptoms even when hormones are in
flux," explains Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., a professor of
gynecology at Yale University .

Fight tummy troubles with fish

Indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel diseases...if
your belly always seems to be in an uproar, try munching 18 ounces of
fish weekly to ease your misery. Repeated studies show that the fatty
acids in fish, called EPA and DHA, can significantly reduce intestinal
inflammation, cramping and belly pain and, in some cases, provide
as much relief as corticosteroids and other prescription meds. "EPA
and DHA are powerful, natural, side effect-free anti-inflammatories,
that can dramatically improve the function of the entire
gastrointestinal tract," explains biological chemist Barry
Sears, Ph.D., president of the Inflammation Research
Foundation in Marblehead , MA . For best results, look
for oily fish like salmon, sardines, tuna, mackerel,
trout and herring.

Chase away joint and headache pain with cherries

Latest studies show that at least one in four women is struggling with
arthritis, gout or chronic headaches. If you're one of them, a daily
bowl of cherries could ease your ache, without the stomach upset
so often triggered by today's painkillers, say researchers at East
Lansing's Michigan State University . Their research reveals that
anthocyanins, the compounds that give cherries their brilliant
red color, are anti-inflammatories 10 times stronger than
ibuprofen and aspirin. "Anthocyanins help shut down
the powerful enzymes that kick-start tissue
inflammation, so they can prevent, as well
as treat, many different kinds of pain,
"explains Muraleedharan Nair, Ph.D.,
professor of food science at Michigan
State University. His advice: Enjoy 20
cherries (fresh, frozen or dried) daily,
then continue until your pain disappears.

Erase earaches with garlic

Painful ear infections drive millions of Americans to doctors' offices
every year. To cure one fast, just place two drops of warm garlic
oil into your aching ear twice daily for five days. This simple
treatment can clear up ear infections faster than prescription
meds, say experts at the University of New Mexico School of
Medicine. Scientists say garlic's active ingredients (germanium,
selenium, and sulfur compounds) are naturally toxic to dozens
of different pain-causing bacteria. To whip up your own garlic
oil gently simmer three cloves of crushed garlic in a half a cup
of extra virgin olive oil for two minutes, strain, then refrigerate
for up to two weeks, suggests Teresa Graedon, Ph.D., co-author
of the book,Best Choices >From The People's Pharmacy. For an
optimal experience, warm this mix slightly before using so the
liquid will feel soothing in your ear canal.

Heal heartburn with cider vinegar

Sip 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar mixed with 8 ounces of water
before every meal, and experts say you could shut down painful
bouts of heartburn in as little as 24 hours. "Cider vinegar is rich
in malic and tartaric acids, powerful digestive aids that speed
the breakdown of fats and proteins so your stomach can
empty quickly, before food washes up into the esophagus,
triggering heartburn pain," explains Joseph Brasco, M.D.,
a gastroenterologist at the Center for Colon and Digestive
Diseases in Huntsville , AL.

Cure a toothache with cloves

Got a toothache and can't get to the dentist?
Gently chewing on a clove can ease tooth pain
and gum inflammation for two hours straight, say
UCLA researchers. Experts point to a natural compound
in cloves called eugenol, a powerful, natural anesthetic. Bonus:
Sprinkling a ¼ teaspoon of ground cloves on meals daily may also protect
your ticker. Scientists say this simple action helps stabilize blood sugar, plus
dampen production of artery-clogging cholesterol in as little as three weeks.

20 Natural Pain Cures From Your Kitchen

Make muscle pain a memory with ginger
When Danish researchers asked achy people to
jazz up their diets with ginger, it eased muscle and
joint pain, swelling and stiffness for up to 63 percent
of them within two months. Expert's credit ginger's potent
compounds called gingerols, which prevent the production of
pain-triggering hormones. The study-recommended dose: Add at least
1 teaspoon of dried ginger or 2 teaspoons of chopped ginger to meals daily.