White willow bark is used for conditions that cause pain, inflammation, or fever, such as:

• Acute back pain
   

• Fever
   

• Flu
   

• Joint pain
   

• Osteoarthritis
   

• Pain

People take white willow bark instead of aspirin because it does not appear to be as irritating to the stomach lining. It may be because the salicin found naturally in white willow bark is only converted to the acid form after it is absorbed by the stomach. There have been few reported side effects. However, the same side effects as aspirin may theoretically occur, especially at higher doses: ringing in the ears, ulcers, stomach burning, pain, cramping, nausea, gastrointestinal bleeding and liver toxicity, rash, dizziness, and kidney impairment.

Tart cherries

Both sweet and tart cherries and cherry juice have long been used by traditional healers as a folk remedy for gout, because cherries are thought to lower urate levels in the body.

Tart cherries are used for conditions involving inflammation and pain, such as:

• arthritis
   

• gout
   

• muscle pain
   

• back pain
   

• diabetes
   

• neurodegenerative diseases

Both sweet and tart cherries contain phenolics, naturally-occurring plant compounds that have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant effects.

Other names: Capsicum frutescens, Capsicum annum, capsicum cream, cayenne pepper, chili pepper, hot pepper, paprika, pimiento, red pepper

Capsaicin (pronounced cap-SAY-sin) is the active ingredient in chili peppers. It's what gives chili peppers their kick.

Capsaicin cream is primarily used to relieve pain and itching. Conditions it is used for include:

• Back pain
   

• Bursitis
   

• Fibromyalgia
   

• Joint pain
   

• Muscle pain
   

• Nerve Pain
   

• Osteoarthritis
   

• Pain due to diabetic neuropathy
   

• Phantom pain after amputation
   

• Post-herpetic neuralgia
   

• Post-surgical neuropathic pain
   

• Pruritis (itching)
   

• Rheumatoid arthritis

When it is applied to the skin, capsaicin cream has been found to deplete substance P—a neurochemical that transmits pain—which desensitizes a person to pain.

Capsaicin cream produces a temporary reduction in pain, so it must be used regularly to provide prolonged pain relief.

The main side effect of using capsaicin cream is that it can cause an uncomfortable burning sensation in the area.
Other side effects are coughing and skin redness. Higher doses can cause pain, inflammation, and skin blisters.
There have been no reported drug interactions with topical capsaicin cream.