1. Natural Remedies for Pain
Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
Systematic review of 8 RCTs (n β 400+)
Dose: 500β2,000 mg/day powdered or capsule form; some trials used divided doses 2β3x/day
Duration: 3β12 weeks (OA and dysmenorrhea), acute doses post-exercise
Result: Reduced menstrual pain by ~25β30% vs placebo; improved OA pain scores
Ref: https://academic.oup.com/painmedicine/article/12/12/1808/1846834
Topical herbal agents (essential oils, ointments)
Multiple herbs (menthol, arnica, camphor, capsaicin) studied
Dose: Applied to affected area 1β3x daily
Duration: Ranged from days (acute pain) to 6β8 weeks (chronic OA pain)
Result: Consistent localized pain relief; fewer systemic effects than oral meds
Ref: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9785912
Boswellia (Frankincense)
Clinical studies (n β 545 across pooled trials)
Dose: 100β250 mg extract, 2β3x/day (standardized to 30β40% boswellic acids)
Duration: 4β12 weeks
Result: Improved joint pain and stiffness, better function vs placebo
Ref: https://www.healthline.com/health/pain-relief/surprising-natural-pain-killers
Curcumin / Turmeric
RCTs & meta-analyses (n > 700 total)
Dose: 1,000β1,500 mg/day curcuminoids; often with piperine for absorption; bioavailable forms effective at 500 mg BID
Duration: 4β8 weeks
Result: Pain & stiffness reductions comparable to ibuprofen or paracetamol
Ref: https://journals.lww.com/ebp/fulltext/2020/03000/does_curcumin_reduce_pain_in_patients_with_knee.14.aspx
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)
Meta-analysis of 10 studies (n = 786 treatment, 512 controls)
Dose: 300β1,200 mg/day orally; capsules often 300 mg taken 2β3x/day
Duration: 3β12 weeks
Result: Significant reductions in neuropathic and sciatic pain intensity
Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmitoylethanolamide
TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)
Meta-analyses and RCTs
Dose: Not a drugβdevice settings vary. Common protocol: 20β60 minutes/session, 1β2x daily
Duration: From days (post-op) to months (chronic pain trials)
Result: Reduced pain in knee OA, low back pain, neuropathy; benefits depend on intensity/frequency settings
Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcutaneous_electrical_nerve_stimulation
2. Natural Remedies for Anxiety / PTSD
Yoga for PTSD
Systematic review, 2024 (n β 500 across included trials)
Dose: Classes 1β3x/week, ~60 minutes each
Duration: β₯8 weeks, some programs up to 12β16 weeks
Result: Reduced PTSD and depression scores; improved emotional regulation
Ref: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165178124003834
Mind-body therapies (meditation, relaxation, mindfulness)
RCTs & reviews (n > 1,000 across pooled data)
Dose: Practices 20β45 minutes/session, often daily or several times per week
Duration: 6β12 weeks, sometimes longer
Result: Reduced PTSD severity, anxiety, improved sleep and affect regulation
Ref: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6508087
Herbal / dietary supplements (e.g. lavender, kava, passionflower)
Systematic review, 2022
Dose: Varies by herb (e.g. lavender 80β160 mg/day, kava 120β300 mg/day, passionflower ~260 mg extract daily)
Duration: 4β12 weeks
Result: Some herbs showed significant anxiolytic benefit vs placebo; mixed evidence for others
Ref: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1043661822001499
Yoga + Complementary/Integrative health for PTSD
VA systematic review (7+ trials, n β 400)
Dose: Yoga or integrative therapy 1β2x/week; 60β90 min sessions
Duration: 8β12 weeks
Result: Improved PTSD symptoms and quality of life vs usual care
Ref: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/txessentials/complementary_alternative_for_ptsd.asp
Real-time fMRI Neurofeedback (experimental)
Controlled trial, veterans with combat PTSD (n=31; 20 active, 11 control)
Dose: 3 sessions of neurofeedback training, ~30β45 min each
Duration: Short-term (weeks)
Result: Significant reduction in CAPS (PTSD) scores, esp. hyperarousal & avoidance symptoms
Ref: https://arxiv.org/abs/1801.09165