How To Relieve Aches & Pains Naturally — The Right Way

Ever have a muscle injury that was slow to heal? Achy joints? Back pain, neck strain, sore muscles, or overly tired feet? 

Recurring pain—whatever that looks like for you—can feel like a constant reminder that you're not functioning at 100%. And if you've ever experienced it, you've probably thought, there's gotta be a better way to treat this than popping painkiller after painkiller.

According to integrative medicine expert Tieraona Low Dog, M.D., who's spent three decades helping patients relieve chronic pain naturally and holistically, "the conventional approach to pain has been very simplistic. [With ibuprofen,] we're just blocking a pathway that leads to inflammation, but this doesn't work long term for chronic pain, and it can be wrought with side effects. Plants offer another opportunity to address everywhere pain hurts—sleep, mood, energy—as well as the inflammation and pain itself. It's often a more gentle yet effective way."

Low Dog's talking about the herbs and botanicals that have a long, deep history of providing pain relief. (Case in point: Aspirin came from a plant called willow bark, thanks to its pain-reducing effects.) "Life was hard 500 years ago," she says. "Everything was manual, and people had a lot of wear and tear on their joints. We have a rich pharmacopoeia of plants that people have used for hundreds and hundreds of years for pain. But we've forgotten about it because we've pushed prescriptions and we've had easy access to over-the-counter meds."

Since pain is a byproduct of inflammation, the AM + PM Liquid Formula includes the anti-inflammatory power players of the plant world like turmeric and broad-spectrum hemp extract—all in the specific doses clinically proven for efficacy and bioavailable forms for better absorption. The formula also includes corydalis, one of the most common plants used for pain relief in traditional Chinese medicine, and adaptogens rhodiola for fighting fatigue in the morning and ashwagandha for better sleep and relaxation at night. Another ingredient that helps alleviate restlessness and promote sleep is California poppy, a plant Low Dog has used with her patients in practice for 30 years.

To be clear, "we're fortunate to have prescription medications for severe, debilitating types of pain," explains Low Dog. "With Rightful, we're talking about the millions of people who live with joint pain, musculoskeletal pain, back pain, neck pain, and muscle tenderness."

Regardless of your type of pain, Low Dog adds that a natural approach to pain relief involves more than just a plant-based remedy alone. "There's a lot that goes into the art of healing to help someone who's been dealing with pain for a while—plants are just one part of it."