Natural Relief for Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is an extremely common condition among Americans today; whether one suffers chronic pain from a work-related or automobile injury or accident, fibromyalgia, arthritis, herniated disc, or some other type of chronic pain condition. Conventional medical treatment for chronic pain includes over-the-counter or prescription pain medication; however, not everyone can tolerate this medication. Others simply may not want to take medication and prefer treating their pain naturally. No matter what your reasons, there are plenty of alternative ways to treat chronic pain, which I will discuss in this article.

Acupuncture: Acupuncture is a part of traditional Chinese medicine. The theory behind acupuncture is that we have energy that flows through us called qi (pronounced chee). This energy flows through channels called meridians. We get ill and feel pain when this qi is blocked, according to the theory. Acupuncture, which uses very thin needles is supposed to unblock the meridians, allowing qi to flow freely again, which helps us heal from pain and disease. Acupuncture needles are placed at specific point on the body, depending on what type of condition you suffer from or where your pain is located.

According to scientific research, acupuncture is effective for chronic pain, such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, and chronic back pain.

Herbs: Another form of natural relief for chronic pain is found in herbs. There are several herbs that are effective for reducing inflammation and pain. For instance, ginger relieves the ache associated with arthritis pain. The Doctors Book of Herbal Home Remedies suggests taking one teaspoon of ginger everyday for the relief of arthritis pain.

Boswella is another herb that is especially good for arthritis as it helps reduce the breakdown of cartilage in the joints, which is caused by arthritis. Boswella also improves blood flow to the joints and interrupts the chemicals in our bodies that are responsible for inflammation and pain. In order to reduce arthritis pain, the Doctors Book of Herbal Home Remedies suggests taking four 400-500mg capsules of boswella each day.

Finally, turmeric is also a good herb to take for reducing the chronic pain of arthritis. According to the Doctors Book of Herbal Home Remedies, turmeric was equally as effective as Butazolidin, a popular anti-inflammatory medication, for relieving the pain and inflammation associated with arthritis in a research study. It is recommended one take one 400-500mg capsule of turmeric three times each day in order to reduce arthritis inflammation and pain.

Although I do not know of any current studies on turmeric's effectiveness on fibromyalgia, I have heard it does work on relieving some fibromyalgia pain.

Exercise: Exercise is another good natural pain relief tactic for chronic pain. It may seem counter-intuitive, but the right kind of exercise can lessen the amount of pain you feel. The Arthritis Foundation has an exercise program, specifically designed for individuals suffering from arthritis. The program is also good for individuals suffering from fibromyalgia. The exercise program consists of water exercise and mat exercise classes. You need a doctor's note stating you can participate in these classes in order to be accepted into the class.

You can find local classes sponsored by the Arthritis Foundation, visit the Arthritis Foundation's website and enter your zip code in the box towards the bottom of the page.

Physical Therapy: Physical therapy is another way to naturally relieve pain without the aid of medication. Physical therapy focuses on teaching you how to stretch and exercise in ways that will help you hurt less, not more. Physical therapy is especially good for fibromyalgia, car accident injuries, and work-related injuries.

Sleep: Getting enough quality sleep is very important for fibromyalgia pain. In fact, some doctors think it is so important, they believe once quality sleep is restored, individuals with fibromyalgia will no longer be in pain.

If you suffer from fibromyalgia, and already do not have good sleep hygiene, you may want to develop it. Go to bed and wake up at the same time each night and day. Do not watch television before you go to sleep, but rather, do something quiet before bed, such as read, write in your journal, or listen to soft music. If you go to bed and do not fall asleep within 20-30 minutes, get up and do a quiet activity until you feel sleepy. Make sure your sleep environment is quiet, dark, and cool, but not cold.

Pain Patches and Creams: Pain patches can be another good source of natural pain relief. You can get different type of pain patches and creams over the counter that act as local anesthetics. For instance, IcyHot, Thermacare Heat Therapy patches, and StopPain. These products may be useful for people suffering from arthritis, fibromyalgia, or other types of chronic pain.

However, some people with fibromyalgia (like me) cannot tolerate many of the pain therapy products sold over the counter. For these people, Salonpas pain patches might be of help. Salonpas pain patches do not tend to burn my skin the way other pain products on the market seem to.

If you prefer natural pain relief to pain medication or if you cannot tolerate the side effects of pain medication, you may want to try some of the suggestions provided above. Always discuss any changes you want to make to the treatment of your medical condition with your doctor before doing so.

Sources:

Wikipedia: Acupuncture:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acupuncture

Tyler. T. E. The Doctors Book of Herbal Home Remedies: Cure Yourself With Nature's Most Powerful Healing Agents. (2001). Rodale Books.

Arthritis Foundation:
http://www.arthritis.org/offering-programs.php