For the longest time, chronic pain has been the waterloo of many individuals, whether engaged in long term body building or not. This truth has separated the herd so to speak, into two. The first group is completely dependent on chemical means to control chronic pain (back region, thigh, etc) and regularly pop “pain pills” to last the day. The second group on the other hand, is more experimental and is unfettered by convention. This group is the one who searches for alternative means to control the pain, without sacrificing one's liver to different painkillers.

Because the problem is chronic, meaning, recurring or cyclical, people should never be completely dependent on synthetic or artificial painkillers because these take a toll on the human liver. These chemicals, efficient as they may be, may be causing more harm than good by forcing the human liver to work harder than normal.

What kind of alternative worlds lay out there, far from the alluring sights of painkillers and surgery? The answer is quite simple: food. Surprisingly, food not only sustains, but is also able to heal and ease the symptoms of chronic pain.

Nature's painkillers

Did you know that alfalfa can be consumed to help alleviate the more debilitating effects of chronic pain? Because alfalfa naturally has increased portions of chlorophyll (the green pigment found in varying degrees in plants), alfalfa fights arthritis inside the human body, easing the symptoms and reducing the swelling.

If you think you won't be able to cook with alfalfa that much (or as much as you would want to), you have the choice of purchasing either the dried capsule form (it works just as well) or the juice form (taste varies per brand). An important thing to remember here is that whatever alfalfa-based supplement you are planning on consuming should have high amounts of chlorophyll.

Chamomile is another of nature's natural painkillers. Chamomile not only eases sore muscles but also provides a soothing presence to the human psyche, easing tensed auras and providing better sleep to the person who consumes it. Chamomile is often available as tea, and it is recommended that you consume it as often as you can for best results. There is no overdose- take as much or as little as you wish.

Ginger on the other hand, is a pain specialist. Taken in its tasty raw form, ginger eases inflammation and draws away excessive amounts of fluids away from sites of pain or strain. If you wish to test the effectiveness of this particular natural painkiller, you can simply chew a few slices, or if you want, you can make a tea by boiling a few slices for half an hour.

Sage is another effective pain-killing herb that has not received its proper amount of attention from people. Simply because it is known for being a dish ornament rather than a pain killer, it should be remembered that sage actually has anti-inflammatory properties. In other regions of the world, sage is actually consumed not only as a spice or an ornament but as a healthy tea.