Herbs for Musicians

This week’s word is: analgesic.

Analgesic is a word that you might associate with a doctor’s office. It sounds medicinal and scientific, doesn’t it?

Well, there’s a reason for that – and it is because herbs actually have medicinal properties!

Analgesic herbs help to relieve the sensation of pain.

Pain is an indicator that something is wrong in the body. It is an alert system that is telling us to pay attention. (By the way, emotional pain works the same way. It is an indicator that something is off and we need to address it.)

Pain can be acute, when we have an injury or a sudden illness or other health problem.

Pain can also be chronic, meaning that it occurs at least once a week for more than three months.

If acute pain is severe, or if you experience chronic pain, you must see a doctor to determine the cause of the pain, if possible.

Ideally, the source of the pain can be resolved, and the pain can go away. Unfortunately, even with medical testing, it is not always possible to pinpoint the cause of pain.

In these cases, ongoing pain needs to be managed rather than eliminated. Herbs are part of this process, but they are not the only part. Other aspects of pain management include nutrition, exercise, massage, acupuncture, yoga, and even counseling. Not all approaches work for every person. An approach to pain management needs to consider the experiences, abilities, and bodily constitution and energetics of the person.

So, I offer herbs as one aspect of pain management.

One herb with analgesic properties is Arnica. It should only be used topically, in an ointment, oil, or salve. I made a video on making Arnica-infused oil, which you can watch here:

Other herbs with analgesic properties include: Burdock, Cayenne Pepper, Ginger, Mustard Seed, Peppermint, Rosemary, Wild Lettuce, Willow, and others.

Before using any herbs, it is important to know all of their properties so you can choose herbs that best fit your needs.

For example, Rosemary can raise blood pressure; Wild Lettuce is a mild hallucinogen, and it is difficult to make a good preparation; Willow is the plant from which aspirin is derived, so if you have an allergy, you will want to stay away from that.

Remember to do research and speak to a doctor about your particular situation before using herbs. The herbal education I provide does not substitute for advice from a healthcare professional.

Analgesics are not the only properties that can help with pain. Others include anti-inflammatory properties, which I wrote about in my last newsletter. Herbs with anti-anxiety* and anti-spasmodic* properties can also help. Pain can also be worsened by or cause depression, so mood-boosting herbs can also help you manage chronic pain.

*These are more words I can cover in the future, but I’m guessing you can figure out what they mean!

Herbs will not make up for a poor lifestyle. We must first take care of ourselves through a healthy lifestyle with a proper amount of sleep, nutritious food, regular exercise and avoiding harmful substances as much as possible.

Reach out to me if you have any herbal questions!

Your Herbal Ally,

Heather

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