Natural And Nurturing: 3 Holistic Pain Management Tips

Before reaching for pharmaceutical pain relievers, try these holistic, natural pain management treatments

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Did you know that a third of all Americans have taken to alternative medicines to manage episodes of pain or other health problems?

As CNN reports, it’s not at all uncommon for people to return to the basics of the natural world to help themselves get through tough health times. Fish oil is the most popular of these holistic medicines, but there are a lot of additional offerings with numerous benefits — such as avoiding the side effects that modern pharmaceutical products can have, to developing a body that is more in tune with nature.

To get you on the road to a pain-free life again, here are three the best pain management tips from the holistic health world:

1. Acupuncture

People who experience chronic pain often find themselves swearing by acupuncture. Some of the most common pain conditions treated by acupuncture include joint pain and back problems. Those who experience back pain benefit from acupuncture because the treatment targets toxins released as a result of painful and debilitating back conditions such as sciatica. While it’s not clear exactly how it helps relieve pain, it’s believed that it might assist the brain in releasing some of the chemicals the human body associates with pain relief.

While acupuncture used to be seen as something strange and unusual, it’s now much more mainstream and will likely continue to be a popular holistic pain management technique in the coming years. It’s believed that part of the popularity of acupuncture in recent times lies in increased understanding about how simple it is and how small the needles actually are.

2. Exercise

Perhaps the most original holistic pain management tip of them all, exercise is vital to make sure you don’t let the pain take over your life. By getting out and about and starting gently at first, your body will begin to recover its natural pain relief abilities. Exercise provides you with physical health benefits needed to cut down on pain issues by giving your brain the chance to release the endorphins which keep moods balanced and happy — something that is vital if you’re experiencing chronic pain.

Even if you’re a little concerned about committing to an exercise regime, there are plenty of simple options you can start off with before building up to more complicated routines. Basic aerobic exercises, such as walking, come with a wide range of health benefits no matter what your age or condition. Try cycling or a dip in the local swimming pool, or using a cross trainer in the gym. Often these sorts of exercises are cardiovascular in nature, which mean they will improve your heart and blood flow.

3. Temperature Treatments

The natural world is full of extremes of temperature, and if pain is something you’re going through, you can make the most of this to aid your recovery. To relieve arthritis pain, applying heat patches is a great way to make sure your joints and muscles can relax, rather than remaining tense all day long. Cold items, like ice cubes, can also work well. Remember to keep them wrapped in a towel or other protective layer.

Applying cold is believed to be particularly effective when it comes to pain relief because reduces the amount of swelling your body experiences, which is why it’s often used in the event of a sporting or exercise injury. In addition, it’s believed that using cold items cuts down on the amount of activity your nervous system carries out in the part of your body where the pain is. Likewise, it’s thought that sensitivity to the pain is also reduced due to the lower temperatures in that area. Given all these benefits, cold treatment — or cryotherapy, as it is known — is one of the leading options for people who are searching for a holistic and natural way to relieve any pain they are experiencing without needing to visit the pharmacy or take complicated, side effect-heavy medicines.

Opting for the popular pharmaceutical routes isn’t the only option you have when it comes to relieving your pain. For those who want to increase their connection to their natural environment as a way of managing pain, it’s clear that there are plenty of ways this can be done. So try acupuncture at the hands of a professional, exercise, or make the most of hot and cold temperatures in a relaxed environment like your home. Any of these natural remedies will help with pain relief and enhance your enjoyment of life.

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You may also enjoy reading Living Medicine Free | A Painful Awakening, by Audrey Michel