Natural relief from back pain

Pickleball, pool parties, woodland hikes—summer is full of chances to stay active, which protects against heart disease, diabetes, depression and dementia.

-  —Melissa Gotthardt

But back pain can sap our ability to exercise and join social activities. And taking NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen may not deliver the relief you need: In a Dutch study, the meds provided only marginal back pain relief. To nip pain effectively, just...

Smooth on an herbal gel

An herb known as arnica montana has been used as a natural pain reliever for centuries. And a study in the European Journal of Sport Science suggests that applying an arnica gel to sore back muscles can ease pain within 72 hours. Experts credit compounds in arnica with blunting the action of COX-2, an enzyme that amps up pain-producing inflammation. And as authors of a study in the journal