If you’re suffering from chronic aches, pains, or headaches, you might turn to acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) for relief. But at the same time, you might be worried about the risks of taking acetaminophen over and over again. After all, what if your pain tends to stick around for days or weeks? The good news is that acetaminophen isn’t your only option for pain relief. What can you use instead? Check out these 3 natural acetaminophen alternatives:

Turmeric

Known as the spice that makes curry yellow, turmeric has been used as a medicinal herb in India for thousands of years. But turmeric isn’t just great for adding flavour to a dish. It’s also a powerful acetaminophen alternative that relieves aches and pain. And it’s all thanks to the healing properties of curcumin, a key compound in turmeric. Science shows that curcumin reduces levels of enzymes in the body that cause inflammation. That’s why it can reduce pain from sprains, strains, bruises, and joint inflammation.

Ginger

These days, it’s common to find ginger in juices and smoothies. And although it tastes good, ginger does more than add a zing to your cool summer drink. Like turmeric, ginger has been used as a natural anti-inflammatory agent for thousands of years. And these days, you can use it for everything from arthritis and muscle soreness to headaches and menstrual cramps. But that’s not all. You can even use this acetaminophen alternative to boost your circulation during those cold winter days.

Incorporate ginger into your diet by boiling ginger root in water for 10 minutes before straining the liquid and sipping it as a tea. And if you’re short on time, you can always buy ginger tea bags instead.

Peppermint essential oil

You’re probably familiar with peppermint as the flavour used in mint and baked goods. That’s why you might not know that it can relieve pain too. You can use peppermint essential oil as an acetaminophen alternative to reduce headaches by applying it to your wrists, massaging it into your temples, and inhaling the scent. You can also massage it into your skin or add it to bath water to relieve muscle soreness. And if you have a fever, try applying peppermint oil to the back of your neck and the bottom of your feet.