Natural alternatives to acetaminophen

Curcumin/Wikipedia

If you are one of the tens of millions of people who have been depending on acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol and related products, Panadol) for pain and/or fever relief, then the recent recommendation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expert panel to remove prescription pain killers Vicoden and Percocet from formularies because they contain acetaminophen may give you pause.

Some people are worried that the FDA may soon decide to remove acetaminophen as a stand-alone product from consumer shelves as well. Given the potential dangers of acetaminophen (see below) and its possible withdrawal, it may be time to consider some natural alternative remedies for acetaminophen.

Dangers of acetaminophen
Experts have long known that acetaminophen use carries with it possible liver damage, and even death. According to the FDA, from 1998 to 2003, acetaminophen was the main cause of acute liver failure in the United States. A 2007 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there are 1,600 cases of acute liver failure each year in the United States, and acetaminophen is the most common cause.

And that’s not all. According to a report in June 2006 issue of Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, between 1990 and 1998, each year there were an estimated 56,000 emergency room visits, 26,000 hospitalizations, and 458 deaths related to acetaminophen overdoses. 
 

Mentha piperita (peppermint)/Wikipedia

Natural alternatives to acetaminophen for fever
To help reduce fever, especially in children, here are a few ideas:

• Take a vinegar sponge bath. Pour ¼ to ½ cup of white vinegar into a tub of warm water and soak in it for about 10 minutes. Make sure to keep the bathroom temperature warm as well.
• Drink strong elderflower or peppermint tea. Have several cups until the fever breaks.
• Try herbal tea ice pops. This is a cool way for children (and big children) to enjoy herbal tea, since some people are not fond of the taste of some herbal remedies.
• Keep hydrated. Focus on water, herbal teas, sparkling water with lemon, low-salt broths, and products like Emergen-C and other fizzy vitamin drinks without sugar.

Natural alternatives to acetaminophen for pain
Some natural pain relief remedies to consider include the following. Talk to your doctor before giving any of these remedies to children.

• Skullcap: The leaves of the Scutellaria lateriflora are used for medicinal purposes. Remedies can relieve joint aches and pain, fibromyalgia pain, tension headache pain, and help muscle spasms. Suggested doses are 1 to 2 grams daily of the dried herb; 2 to 4 ml (40 to 120 drops) of fluid extract three times daily; or 500 mg twice daily of the capsule or tablet. It is not usually given to children.
• Capsaicin: This is the active ingredient in chili peppers, and it is available in a cream or gel and applied topically to relieve nerve, joint, and muscle pain. It works by interfering with substance P, a chemical involved in transmitting pain signals to the brain. It is usually applied three to four times daily.
• Curcumin: The herb turmeric contains curcumin, a substance that can block substance P from sending pain messages to the brain. A suggested dose is 400 to 600 mg taken three times daily for pain and inflammation.
• White willow bark: Before there was aspirin, there was white willow bark (Salix alba). This herbal remedy contains salicin, which converts to salicylic acid in the stomach and is helpful in relieving pain, fever, and inflammation. A suggested dose is 1 to 2 dropperfuls of white willow bark tincture daily.

You can find the natural remedies mentioned in this article at many Phoenix-area stores and pharmacies, including Sprouts Farmers Market, Healthy Habit Health Foods, and the Natural Medicinary.

You may also enjoy reading the following:
“Six natural alternatives to ibuprofen”