Neuropathic pain is a constant struggle for tens of millions of people worldwide. While opioids remain the dominant treatment option for pain relief, their severe side effects have scientists and patients searching for new solutions. One team is exploring the benefits of L-corydalmine. an extract from Corydalis yanhusuo W.T. Wang, a traditional Chinese herb. Experiments revealed that L-corydalmine reduced the expression of nerve growth factor, or NGF. Immune cells secrete NGF as they’re recruited to the site of nerve injury, which then activates pathways that signal pain to the brain. In rats, L-corydalmine blocked NGF from activating the MAPK pathway, which reduced symptoms of nerve pain in rats. This is the first experimental evidence that the herbal extract can relieve neuropathic pain in this manner, making L-corydalmine a promising therapeutic worthy of further study.