Pain Relief, M–Y

Origanum majorana

Traditionally turned to for digestion, gas and bloating.

Peucedanum ostruthium

Traditionally turned to for digestion, the skin and aches.

Filipendula ulmaria

Traditionally turned to for immunity, digestion and the skin.

Argemone mexicana

⚠ Toxic — the seeds and their oil cause serious poisoning (epidemic dropsy) and must never be eaten or mixed into food oils.

Mentha nemorosa

Traditionally turned to for digestion, nausea and gas.

Rhoeo spathacea

Traditionally turned to for fever, inflammation and skin conditions.

Myrtus communis

⚠ Essential oil: avoid in small children (respiratory spasm risk).

Morinda citrifolia

Traditionally turned to for immunity, digestion and liver.

Origanum heracleoticum

Traditionally turned to for immunity, digestion and aches.

Passiflora edulis

Traditionally turned to for anxiety, sleep and inflammation.

Caesalpinia pulcherrima

Traditionally turned to for fever, inflammation and skin conditions.

Mentha × piperita

Traditionally turned to for digestion, aches and coughs.

Matricaria discoidea

Traditionally turned to for digestion, the nerves and aches.

Turnera ulmifolia

Traditionally turned to for libido, urinary tract and inflammation.

Rubus idaeus

Traditionally turned to for the skin, energy and aches.

Drosera rotundifolia

Traditionally turned to for aches, coughs and spiritual work.

Ruta chalepensis

Traditionally turned to for menstrual regulation, evil eye protection and digestive issues.

Parthenium hysterophorus

Traditionally turned to for pain, headache and fever.

Cytisus scoparius

⚠ Broom's principal alkaloid, sparteine, acts on the heart — it slows conduction, steadies rhythm, and dilates the coronary vessels — and it stirs the smooth muscle of gut and womb.

Urera baccifera

Traditionally turned to for aches and cleansing.

Sesamum indicum

Traditionally turned to for skin conditions, wound healing and hair growth.

Peperomia pellucida

Traditionally turned to for the skin and aches.

Potentilla anserina

Traditionally turned to for digestion, the nerves and aches.

Agave sisalana

Traditionally turned to for wounds, cuts and skin infections.

Herniaria glabra

Traditionally turned to for the skin, aches and cleansing.

Sorghum vulgare

Traditionally turned to for diarrhea, dysentery and stomach pain.

Citrus aurantium

Traditionally turned to for anxiety, insomnia and digestive problems.

Hypericum perforatum

⚠ Major drug interactions — reduces the effect of antiretrovirals, the contraceptive pill, blood thinners, and antidepressants.

Urtica dioica

Traditionally turned to for leaves, gout adjunct) and nutritive (iron.

Passiflora foetida

Traditionally turned to for pain, arthritis and headache.

Helianthus annuus

Traditionally turned to for the skin, aches and the heart.

Acorus calamus

⚠ Contains β-asarone (a carcinogen; banned as a food additive) — use only a β-asarone-free chemotype (the triploid/tetraploid strains) or properly processed root, avoid in pregnancy, and never prolonged or high-dose.

Galium odoratum

⚠ Contains coumarin — fine in small culinary or tisane amounts, but high or repeated doses bring headache, nausea, and dizziness, and it thins the blood; avoid alongside anticoagulants and in pregnancy.

Tamarindus indica

Traditionally turned to for fever, constipation and diarrhea.

Thymus vulgaris

Traditionally turned to for bronchitis and pharyngitis.

Nicotiana tabacum

Traditionally turned to for spiritual cleansing, insect bites and toothache.

Lycopersicon esculentum

Traditionally turned to for skin conditions, wounds and burns.

Acmella uliginosa

Traditionally turned to for the skin and aches.

Jatropha gossypiifolia

⚠ The seeds and their oil are violently purgative and toxic — never swallowed.

Curcuma longa

Traditionally turned to for digestion, aches and cleansing.

Mucuna pruriens

⚠ The pod hairs are intensely irritant and the seeds are rich in L-dopa — potent, unsafe to self-dose, especially with Parkinson's medication or in pregnancy.

Verbena officinalis

Traditionally turned to for the skin, aches and coughs.

Chrysopogon zizanioides

Traditionally turned to for anxiety, insomnia and nervous tension.

Mentha aquatica

Traditionally turned to for digestion, the nerves and aches.

Persicaria hydropiper

Traditionally turned to for the skin, aches and women's health.

Sinapis alba

Traditionally turned to for digestion, the skin and aches.

Salix alba

⚠ Acts like aspirin — never give to children (Reye's syndrome risk), avoid with blood thinners, and not in the last trimester of pregnancy.

Ageratum conyzoides

Traditionally turned to for wounds, cuts and fever.

Origanum vulgare

Traditionally turned to for immunity, digestion and aches.

Dioscorea villosa

Traditionally turned to for aches and women's health.

Betonica officinalis

Traditionally turned to for digestion, the skin and aches.

Chenopodium ambrosioides

Traditionally turned to for intestinal worms, parasites and digestive issues.

Achillea millefolium

Traditionally turned to for immunity, digestion and the skin.

Spondias mombin

Traditionally turned to for diarrhea, dysentery and fever.