In his book The Green Pharmacy (St. Martin’s), James A. Duke, PhD, reports on quite a few herbs that can help alleviate the awful wrist and arm pain of carpal tunnel syndrome. This is what he advises…
“Willow bark, the original source of aspirin, contains chemicals (salicylates) that both relieve pain and reduce inflammation. You might also try other herbs rich in salicylates, notably meadowsweet and wintergreen.” With the willow bark, Dr. Duke makes a tea by steeping two teaspoons of dried, powdered bark or five teaspoons of fresh bark for 10 minutes, then straining out the plant material. For a cup of meadowsweet or wintergreen tea, use two teaspoons of dried leaves (meadowsweet also might have some dried flowers mixed in) in a cup of just-boiled water. Let steep 10 minutes. For all of the above, add a teaspoon of honey, if you’d like (these herbs can have a bitter or woody taste). If you have carpal tunnel syndrome, Dr. Duke advises drinking three cups of one of these teas a day.
Caution: If you’re allergic to aspirin, do not use willow bark, meadowsweet or wintergreen.
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