Safe Natural Anti-inflammatories For Pain Relief

As humans age, we start to slow down and develop body aches and pains; our pets go through many of the same changes. They develop arthritis and other issues as they grow older. In fact, there’s a 65% chance your dogs develops arthritis at the age of 7 and 30% chance your cats will develop it by age 6.

Humans usually opt for conventional medicine to address these body pains. These non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the top most remedy for humans and pets alike because they are great at suppressing inflammation. However, they also cause various side effects. The most common ones are vomiting, loss of appetite, depression, and diarrhea. There are also severe side effects like intestinal ulcers, seizures, liver failure, kidney failure, and even death. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are pretty strong drugs that suppress inflammation but they need to be metabolized which causes the liver disease. These drugs also block the release of protective hormones called prostaglandins in the stomach which can lead to stomach irritation and gastric ulceration.  Drug companies have since come up with supposed to be safer anti-inflammatory drugs but unfortunately studies also show that these newer, safer drugs also double the risk of heart attack and stroke.

So, what can we do to avoid these side effects? Are there options that offer relief without the severe side effects? Yes, that option exists and natural is probably the way to go. Here are some of the effective natural anti-inflammatory remedies you can try at home.

1.       Fish Oil

They are great and safe for both cats and dogs but it should be given at high enough doses over a longer period. The therapeutic dose would be 1000mg per 10lbs of body weight given daily. It has direct anti-inflammatory benefits and helps work in conjunction with conventional drugs or other natural anti-inflammatory herbs.

2.       Arnica 30c

Arnica 30c came from an herb  called Arnica. It is grown mainly in Siberia, central Europe and temperate climates in North America. This option is of the base homeopathic remedy which is a great relief for acute injury, muscle pain & stiffness, swelling from injuries. The dosage is 1 capsule per 10lbs of body weight every 2-4 hours for acute injury and 1 capsule per day for long term use. This remedy is not difficult to administer. You can just put the capsule under your dog’s lips and have him slowly absorb and/or swallow it.

3.       Quercetin

Quercetin is also known as “nature’s Benadryl”. This is a bioflavinoid, a naturally occurring component found in high concentrations in the peel of apples. Flavinoids are not just powerful antioxidants but it has anti-inflammatory anti-histamine characteristics too. This is great for cats and dogs that have urinary tract disease and going through painful, inflamed bladders. The dosage is 20-25mg per 10lbs of body weight to be given daily.

4.       Green tea

Believed to be one of the healthiest beverages on earth, green tea, it is loaded with antioxidants and nutrients that bring impressive benefits to our body. Your pet can enjoy the same benefits too. You can make a cup of green tea using a tablespoon of green tea then add that to your dog’s water twice a day. For specific dosage, we are looking at ¼ cup/10lbs daily or 10mg/10lbs daily.

5.       95% Curcuminoids

Curcumin is a potent anti-inflammatory and even proven to be more effective than ibuprofen. Aside from anti-inflammatory properties, it also contains antioxidants which make it great for arthritis and other joint pains. The dose should be 50-100mg per 10lbs of body weight daily – depending on your pet’s size or level of arthritis.

6.       Boswellia Serrata

Boswellia is an herb traditionally used in India to treat arthritis and help boost the immune system.  It’s also known as Frankincense and also used to treat other conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and heart disease. To get sufficient anti-inflammatory benefit, we are looking at the dose of 10-20mg per 10lbs of body weight per day.

95% Curcumin and Boswellia work especially well together. One study found that Curcumin and Boswellia in combination were more effective at relieving pain and inflammation than the NSAID Naproxen.

7.       Frankincense Essential Oil

Frankincense essential oil is basically resinous extracts derived from Boswellia tree. This oil may be used in two different ways. It can be applied topically by adding 2-5 drops mixed with 2 tablespoons of carrier oil like olive oil or coconut oil. Apply topically by massaging it onto dog’s knees and other sore areas. Another way is to take it orally. It must be cautiously given to your dog. Always dilute 1-2 drops of Frankincense essential oil in your dog’s water daily. Also, always remember not orally give any essential oil to your cat.

8. CBD Oil or Cannabidiol 

This is the non-psychoactive medicinal part of the cannabis plant which has research showing it to be a VERY effective Natural Anti-inflammatory. It is working well for Arthritis, pain relief, Auto-immune disease, including Allergies. 

The standard CBD dose is 1mg/10lbs of body weight twice daily. Dr Jones has a CBD supplement at www.thecbdsupplement.com