Combating the Opioid Crisis: Natural Remedies for Pain

Forty-six. That’s how many Americans die each and every day from drug overdoses involving prescription opioid pain medication. That’s nearly two every hour, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest estimates.

There’s no question the nation is in the midst of an opioid addiction crisis, with President Donald Trump recently declaring it a national emergency. But it’s also true that many Americans suffer from pain, with one in six struggling with the discomfort of arthritis and joint pain, a leading cause of disability.

Dr. David Brownstein, a board-certified family physician and medical director for the Center for Holistic Medicine in West Bloomfield, Mich., tells Newsmax Health a variety of natural remedies can be as effective — or more so — than prescription opioids.

Brownstein’s prescription for combatting the opioid crisis includes turning to natural remedies as a first-line and a change in attitude so doctors and patients start to think of pain medication as a last resort — at best.

In addition to taking glucosamine and Boswellia Serrata supplements, Brownstein recommends the following strategies to manage and reduce pain and the symptoms of arthritis:

Be physically active. Walking, bicycling, and swimming can reduce arthritis pain and improve mobility, physical function, mental health, and quality of life.

Maintain a healthy weight. People can reduce their risk of developing arthritis — and ease the pain of it — by controlling their weight and avoiding injuries.

Read more at News Max Health