Well it sort of depends on the pain, it's cause & what you use or do??
Arthritis is helped by sam-e also a tablet containing both glucosamine & chondroitin (650 - 1000mgs of each in one tablet twice a day).
Then for other pain there's naturopathy, homeopathy etc etc.
Like I said, what pain, & what sort of alternative medicine are you looking at.
Surf the net/ use search engines or be more specific.
With natural meds though they do take longer to work as they have to get into your system etc but then can be not only more effective but safer too.