4 natural ways to reduce pain
Marissa Sandler is the CEO and co-founder of Careseekers. Previously a social justice lawyer and researcher for over 15 years, Marissa is passionate about helping people live with dignity and finding innovative solutions to problems.
Whether long term or recently acquired, pain can be debilitating.
It can get in the way of you participating in hobbies, day to day activities or prevent simple physical movements.
Over-the-counter pain medications and prescription analgesics can provide relief. However, they may have side effects that become unpalatable or you may just prefer to explore alternative options, especially when pain is ongoing.
Looking for alternatives? You may want to give these natural pain relief methods a try:
1. Use hot and cold therapy
Heat and cold therapy can be integrated into your pain relief routine. Though commonly used, there is still confusion on the best use of either option. Heat works best for pain resulting from muscular tension/inactivity, as it increases the circulation of blood to the area, reducing stiffness and pain. Cold works against inflammation by reducing blood flow to the area or numbing a region and reducing pain signals. Heat packs, warm baths, hot and cold gel packs and ice packs are all suitable options.
2. See a physical therapist
Using safe and well-established methods, physical therapists can teach you how to move in a way that alleviates the pain. Accredited physical therapists can assess and find the root cause of your pain and recommend techniques that will best serve your body. Some examples include massage, manipulation of joints/bones and hydrotherapy.
3. Seek out acupuncture and alternative medicine
Acupuncture is now a widely accepted treatment for pain management, particularly effective in osteoarthritis. The WHO has listed 40 conditions that may be treated with acupuncture, most of which are pain-related. While choosing an acupuncturist, it is important to check their credentials. There are also many avenues to pursue in alternate medicine that in some cases, have been extremely effective. Chinese medicine offers specific formulations for acute and chronic pain management. Its use is being studied and supported by The National Centre for Complementary and Integrative Health, of the US National Institute for Health.
4. Use music, meditation and relaxation techniques
Research shows that listening to music had effects on reduction of intensity of pain and dose of pain medications required. Additionally, music was found to be useful in managing the stress and negative thoughts aspects of the pain cycle. It is also known that other psychological techniques that help you take control of your pain such as self-hypnosis and biofeedback have been effective. There is a wealth of relaxing music and guided meditations (e.g. body relaxation) available online.