5 Aromatic Herbs that Have Been Proven to Be Effective for Relieving Pain
The CDC estimates that one in five adults in the U.S. lives with chronic pain. (1) If you have ever been one of these adults, you know that living with pain can profoundly impact your quality of life, your mental health and your general sense of well-being. Sometimes prescription medications or over-the-counter medications can offer some relief, but they can also come with some nasty side effects, especially with long-term use, and many of them are addictive substances that have contributed to our country’s opioid crisis.
Learning to manage chronic pain effectively without having to turn to these products can be incredibly empowering, but it can also feel like a very hit or miss process if you do not know where to start. Let’s take a look at some of the research that exists, particularly on aromatic herbs that have been found to helpful for relieving pain and inflammation.
Rosemary + Clove
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus, formerly Rosmarinus officinalis) and clove (Syzygium aromaticumi) are two culinary herbs that have both been found individually in research to have anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects. In at least two animal studies, researchers have also found that when the two are combined into a formula, they have synergistic antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties, which basically means that they work better together than they do individually. (2,3) In the herbal world, we like to think of this synergistic effect as one in which the whole (the combination of the herbs in one formula) is greater than the sum of its parts (the two individual herbs).
I like to work with this combination of herbs to help relieve inflammatory pain for some of my own clients. In this YouTube video, I show you how you can do the same using two different types of formulas.
Ginger
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a very warming spice that is perhaps best known for its affinity for the digestive system. Did you know that it can also be supportive for the musculoskeletal system? Because it is so warming, I find that it works especially well for people whose inflammatory pain tends to be accompanied by stiffness or poor circulation.
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 70 participants with rheumatoid arthritis were separated into experimental and placebo groups. Those in the treatment (experimental) group were instructed to take 1500mg of encapsulated ginger powder (two 750mg capsules) each day for 12 weeks. At the end of the study, researchers found that the participants in the ginger group had significantly lower levels of inflammation and significant improvement in immune function (rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition) compared with participants in the control group. (4)
In a separate trial, researchers found that a combination of turmeric, ginger and black pepper (a classic trio in herbal formulary) extracts was just as effective as Naproxen at reducing inflammatory markers in patients with chronic knee osteoarthritis. (5)
I like to work with ginger both in herbal tea and tincture blends and in topical use formulas made with infused carrier oils and / or ginger essential oil for clients with musculoskeletal pain and inflammation. I even have a salve recipe that features a combination of ginger and turmeric. You can find it here.
Elder
You might not think of elder (Sambucus spp.) as a particularly aromatic herb if you are only accustomed to working with the berries, but the flowers are actually quite fragrant and are utilized in aromatherapy! It is not the flowers we will be looking at today, though. Surprisingly, the berries have been found to offer some benefit as an analgesic.
Researchers have found that elderberries have a moderate pain-relieving effect and can be employed as an adjuvant pain killer to help relieve migraine, sciatica and neuralgic pains. (6) Additionally, ethnobotanical reports mention that the Cherokee people in North America have historically worked with black elderberry infusion internally to help relieve rheumatic pains. (7)
I usually work with elderberry tinctures for people with these types of pain, but you could also make a decoction or syrup with the berries.
Rose
Roses (Rosa spp.) offer us so much in the herbal apothecary. Their flowers give us hydrosols and essential oils, their leaves and roots can be used as astringents, and their hips (the little fruits produced in the fall) are often tasty and nutritious. (You can read more about the different species of roses and which ones I prefer for the apothecary in this article.) Rose hips have also been found to be helpful for relieving certain types of pain.
In one study, patients with rheumatoid arthritis were given encapsulated rose hip powder. They took five capsules each morning and another five in the evenings for 6 months. The researchers conducting the study found that participants taking the rose hip powder had significantly lower symptom scores based on the three types of questionnaires used as measures in the study. (8)
Additionally, a meta-analysis of three studies that have compared rose hip powder to placebo for people with osteoarthritis found that rose hip powder can help reduce musculoskeletal pain. (9,10,11) Research also indicates that a blend of rose hip juice concentrate and nettle (Urtica dioica) with devil’s claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) can help reduce inflammatory knee pain. (12)
Lemon Verbena
Lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora) is a delightful herb to grow. Its leaves smell exactly like lemon-scented Pledge furniture polish and it is delicately beautiful when the plant is flowering.
In one clinical trial, lemon verbena extract combined with fish oil helped reduce joint pain and stiffness in people who had been experiencing diagnosed joint pain for at least three months. The experimental group participants were given encapsulated lemon verbena extract (standardized) combined with fish oil EPA/DHA powder. They took six capsules per day with meals for five weeks, then a half dose per day for four more weeks. The greater decrease in joint pain and stiffness was observed in the lemon verbena group, along with a 78% decrease in LFI scores, which measure pain and its effects on function and daily living. (13)
A lemon verbena product was also found to help reduce serum markers of inflammation in a small study with participants suffering from MS. (14) Additional research in this area would be interesting to see. I have not come across any follow-up studies.
I hope you found this brief article helpful and that you are able to find relief from your pain soon!
If you would like to study aromatic herbs in-depth with me, please check out the Herbal Aromatherapy Certification Program.™ In it, we learn about more than 100 aromatic herbs as we study aromatic plants from the garden to the still to the apothecary.
Much love,
Erin
About the Author
Hi there, I’m Erin! I am the main instructor here at Floranella. I am a clinical herbalist, aromatherapist, artisan distiller and organic gardener based in the Pacific Northwest. Here at Floranella, I teach people how to work with plants safely and effectively from the garden to the apothecary. Thanks for being here! I’m glad you stopped by.
References
Dahlhamer J, Lucas J, Zelaya, C, et al. Prevalence of Chronic Pain and High-Impact Chronic Pain Among Adults — United States, 2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018;67:1001–1006. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6736a2
Déciga-Campos, M., Beltrán-Villalobos, K. L., Aguilar-Mariscal, H., González-Trujano, M. E., Ángeles-López, G. E., & Ventura-Martínez, R. (2021). Synergistic Herb-Herb Interaction of the Antinociceptive and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Syzygium aromaticum and Rosmarinus officinalis Combination. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 2021, 8916618. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/8916618
Beltrán-Villalobos, K. L., Déciga-Campos, M., Aguilar-Mariscal, H., González-Trujano, M. E., Martínez-Salazar, M. F., Ramírez-Cisneros, M., Rios, M. Y., & López-Muñoz, F. J. (2017). Synergistic antinociceptive interaction of Syzygium aromaticum or Rosmarinus officinalis coadministered with ketorolac in rats. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie, 94, 858–864. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2017.07.166
Aryaeian, N., Shahram, F., Mahmoudi, M., Tavakoli, H., Yousefi, B., Arablou, T., & Jafari Karegar, S. (2019). The effect of ginger supplementation on some immunity and inflammation intermediate genes expression in patients with active Rheumatoid Arthritis. Gene, 698, 179–185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gene.2019.01.048
Heidari-Beni, M., Moravejolahkami, A. R., Gorgian, P., Askari, G., Tarrahi, M. J., & Bahreini-Esfahani, N. (2020). Herbal formulation "turmeric extract, black pepper, and ginger" versus Naproxen for chronic knee osteoarthritis: A randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial. Phytotherapy research : PTR, 34(8), 2067–2073. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6671
Młynarczyk, K., Walkowiak-Tomczak, D., & Łysiak, G. P. (2018). Bioactive properties of Sambucus nigra L. as a functional ingredient for food and pharmaceutical industry. Journal of functional foods, 40, 377–390. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2017.11.025
BRIT NAEB
Willich, S. N., Rossnagel, K., Roll, S., Wagner, A., Mune, O., Erlendson, J., Kharazmi, A., Sörensen, H., & Winther, K. (2010). Rose hip herbal remedy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis - a randomised controlled trial. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology, 17(2), 87–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2009.09.003
Christensen, R., Bartels, E. M., Altman, R. D., Astrup, A., & Bliddal, H. (2008). Does the hip powder of Rosa canina (rosehip) reduce pain in osteoarthritis patients?--a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Osteoarthritis and cartilage, 16(9), 965–972. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2008.03.001
Rein, E., Kharazmi, A., & Winther, K. (2004). A herbal remedy, Hyben Vital (stand. powder of a subspecies of Rosa canina fruits), reduces pain and improves general wellbeing in patients with osteoarthritis--a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised trial. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology, 11(5), 383–391. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2004.01.001
Winther, K., Apel, K., & Thamsborg, G. (2005). A powder made from seeds and shells of a rose-hip subspecies (Rosa canina) reduces symptoms of knee and hip osteoarthritis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Scandinavian journal of rheumatology, 34(4), 302–308. https://doi.org/10.1080/03009740510018624
Moré, M., Gruenwald, J., Pohl, U., & Uebelhack, R. (2017). A Rosa canina - Urtica dioica - Harpagophytum procumbens/zeyheri Combination Significantly Reduces Gonarthritis Symptoms in a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Double-Blind Study. Planta medica, 83(18), 1384–1391. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0043-112750
Caturla, N., Funes, L., Pérez-Fons, L., & Micol, V. (2011). A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study of the effect of a combination of lemon verbena extract and fish oil omega-3 fatty acid on joint management. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 17(11), 1051–1063. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2010.0410
Mauriz, E., Vallejo, D., Tuñón, M. J., Rodriguez-López, J. M., Rodríguez-Pérez, R., Sanz-Gómez, J., & García-Fernández, M. (2014). Effects of dietary supplementation with lemon verbena extracts on serum inflammatory markers of multiple sclerosis patients. Nutricion hospitalaria, 31(2), 764–771. https://doi.org/10.3305/nh.2015.31.2.8319