Meadowsweet herb (Filipendula ulmaria)*

A gentle pain reliever that contains methyl salycilate, an aspirin-like chemical. Unlike aspirin, it does not usually irritate the gastrointestinal tract, nor does it thin the blood. Meadowsweet is actually used for excessive gastric acid secretion, hiatal hernia and nausea.

St. John's wort flowers (Hypericum perforatum)*

An amphoteric to the nervous system which makes it useful as an antidepressant and an anti-anxiety agent. St. Johnswort is used locally and internally for nerve and spinal injuries, nerve pain (Galeotti, et al 2010), sciatica, and shingles.   

Willow bark (Salix spp.)*

Long used for its salicin content for reducing fevers and for relief of pain caused by arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, bursitis, back pain and headaches. In several clinical trials Willow bark was found to be as effective as conventional therapy for treating low back and arthritic pains, with fewer adverse events (Beer and Wegener 2008, Chrubasik et al 2001 and Chrubasik et al 2000). Willow also contains tannins which make it effective for diarrhea with intestinal spasms.

Corydalis yanhusuo rhizome (Corydalis yanhusuo)*

Used in Chinese Medicine to relieve pain caused by blood stagnation. It can be used orally and topically for hematomas, muscle pain and sprains. Yanhusuo is also used to treat gynecological pain, headaches, abdominal pain and insomnia due to pain.

Indian Pipe fresh whole herb (Monotropa uniflora)*

This unusual saprophyte (non-chlorophyll containing plant) was used by Native Americans and Eclectic physicians for pain. Its action is similar in effect to nitrous oxide at the dentist—you are conscious and aware of pain, but distant from it. It raises the pain threshold and our ability to tolerate pain. Used with analgesics and anti-inflammatory herbs, it can be an effective part of pain management.

Jamaican Dogwood bark (Piscidia piscipula)*

One of the strongest non-narcotic herbal pain killers (analgesics). It is used especially for menstrual (dysmenorrhea) and facial nerve pain or spasm (Trigeminal Neuralgia, temporomandibular joint pain). This tropical bark can also be used for back pain, acute pain and spasms of the bladder, vagina or musculoskeltal system.

Bibliography:

Beer AM, Wegener T. Willow bark extract (Salicis cortex) for gonarthrosis and coxarthrosis – Results of a cohort study with a control
group. Phytomedicine. 2008 Nov;15(11):907-13., P. [ed.] 

Chrubasik S, Eisenberg E, Balan E et al. Treatment of low back pain exacerbations with willow bark extract: a randomized doubleblind
study. Am J Med. 2000 Jul;109(1):9-14.

Chrubasik S, Künzel O, Model A et al. Treatment of low back pain with a herbal or synthetic anti-rheumatic: a randomized controlled study. Willow bark extract for low back pain. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2001 Dec;40(12):1388-93.

Felter, HW and Lloyd, JU. King's American Dispensatory, 19th ed., Cincinnati, 1905.

Galeotti N, Vivoli E, Bilia AR, et al. St. John’s Wort reduces neuropathic pain through a hyperin-mediated inhibition of the protein kinase Cgamma and epsilon activity. Biochem Pharmacol. 2010 May 1;79(9):1327-36.

Webster, H. Dynamical Therapeutics, San Francisco, 1898.

Weiss, R. Herbal Medicine, Classic Edition, Stuttgart 2001.

Wichtl, M. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals. Boca Raton, 3rd ed., 2004.