We are living longer, we are pushing ourselves harder, so it's no wonder that misuse of pain-killers accounts for 75 percent of the overall problem of prescription drug abuse. Where can we turn for pain relief where we won't risk a descent into a maelstrom of addiction?

How about our refrigerator?

Long before we complained about the lower back pain we got from binge-watching Netflix, our ancestors were returning from their mastodon hunts and reaching for some relief. They couldn't even spell “aspirin” let alone pop two with a glass of water, so what did they do? Probably chowed down on a leaf-bowl of blueberries. That food, and many others, have been killing pain in our bodies for millennia, and are great natural alternatives to the Big Pharma offerings today.

The capsaicin that makes chili peppers so hot has long been an active ingredient in pain killing patches and creams. But consumed, it tricks your brain into releasing endorphins that will actively combat pain.

If you suffer from the pain of rheumatoid arthritis, salmon is a delicious choice for a natural pain-killer. It is packed with the marine omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), both potent anti-inflammatory agents.

Oleocanthal, a phenylethanoid found in extra virgin olive oil, acts as a natural anti-inflammatory by inhibiting COX-2 enzymes in the same way ibuprofen does. Note that not every brand contains this pain-killer, so check the label – or see if it leaves that peppery, burning sensation in the back of your throat (that's theoleocanthal!)

You may have used red wine to kill some other pains in your checkered past, but you should know that a compound in the skin of red grapes, called resveratrol, could ease the disk swelling that can lead to back pain. But take it easy: too much red wine has a reputation for causing more grief than any amount of pain killer can wipe away...

Studies indicate that 200 to 600 milligrams of magnesium per day may reduce your chance and frequency of migraine headaches. So start popping pumpkin seeds instead of jujubes.

Ginger has been a staple in the medicine pouch of every healer since Hippocrates made house calls, but it's usually valued for its anti-nausea, stomach-soothing properties. It's also a potent natural anti-inflammatory that helps reduce pain and inflammation.

And what health benefits don't blueberries have? They'll improve your memory, help your heart, and lower your blood sugar, so it shouldn't come as any surprise to learn they are natural pain-killers as well. Better still, frozen blueberries can have the same or even more nutrients than fresh, so you can enjoy the amazing benefits of this multi-purpose berry all year long!