Pain is an inevitable part of human life. The feeling of pain isn’t alien to anyone, no matter what their age is. While we can count on pharmaceutical pain killers to bring pain relief, going natural is often the best approach to healing acute or chronic pain. Here are some natural ways one can get rid of pain without having to spend a bomb on it.
Every person perceives pain differently.
What causes Physical Pain?
Pain is our body’s way of indicating physical damage. Pain tells us that we must take action to avoid further damage.
Our nerves detect tissue damage and send signals about the damage through the spinal cord to the brain. These nerves are called nociceptors.
Let’s say, You are gardening. And end up touching some thorns in the rose bush. Nociceptors in your body will transmit this information to your brain through a reflex arc in your spinal cord. Causing an immediate contraction of the muscles. This contraction will pull your hand away from the thorny surface.
You will still feel the pain.
Largest Causes of Pain
- Cancer
2. Arthritis (Osteo and Rheumatoid)
3. Operations
4. Injuries
5. Spinal Issues
Types of Pain
1. Acute Pain – an intense form of pain.
2. Chronic Pain – lasts longer. Sometimes continuos sometimes in intervals.
Fast Facts on Pain
- Chronic pain affects 20.5% of the world population.
- 70% of those affected by chronic pain syndrome are women.
- Pain impacts the quality of life of 2 out of 5 adults.
According to the Institute of Medicine, the annual cost of lost workplace productivity due to pain is over $297 billion.
How do we Heal this Pain?
It’s important to understand that natural remedies are the safest way to alleviate physical pain. They sometimes take time but they do not cause as much harm as strong medicines may cause.
Top 10 Natural Pain Killers That We All Need in Our Kitty
1. Taichi
Tai Chi is an exercise therapy for your body and mind. It helps in managing chronic pain conditions. Practising Taichi increases muscle strength and stamina.
As per Harvard Medical school, Tai chi benefits people with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, tension headache, and other ongoing, painful conditions.
Ideally to be once or twice a week.
2. Yoga
Yoga for pain combines gentle breathing with relaxation poses to restore healing in your body. One can hold these poses for a couple of minutes to release tension. Killing pain naturally. This type of restoration Yoga is done with the use of props.
Yoga heals mind, body and soul. One must practice it twice or thrice every week.
3. Water Therapy (Also known as Aquatic Therapy)
Aquatic therapy is an amazing way to naturally relieve pain. The treatment and exercises are done in water. Doing so relaxes the body and alleviates pain. Immersing body in water has compressive effects, increasing blood flow by about 225%.
Triathlete Dave Cummings suffered a severe injury and damaged his back. With the help of Aquatic Therapy, he could regain his mobility.
Consult your medical practitioner before starting this therapy.
4. Essential Oils
Using essential oils is an excellent remedy for aches and pains. Oils like Lavender Oil, Eucalyptus Oil, Chamomile and Rosemary Oils relieve pains, reduce inflammation naturally. Ginger Oil works wonderfully too.
Various studies show the healing properties of essential oils.
A study done in 2012 showed that inhaling Lavender Oil reduced the severity of migraine in people.
Essentials Oils vary in purity and strength. So be sure to buy from a reliable source.
Take precautions while using essentials on your skin.
Massaging once a day with well suited essential oils helps reduce pain.
5. Heat Therapy (Also known as Thermotherapy)
Heat Therapy in the form of heating pads, heated gel pads or hot bath alleviates pain naturally and in the most inexpensive way possible. It is drugless pain relief and oftentimes absolutely free.
6. Keep Hydrated
Well, it turns out. Water not only keeps our skin supple but works as a natural pain killer too. Water is an important component of your spinal discs. Drinking enough water ensures a healthy spine.
Drinking 8-10 glasses of water every day keeps you sufficiently hydrated. You can adjust your water intake as per your body weight, exercise regimen etc.
7. Herbs
Herbs are one of the best pain treatments by our Mother Nature. Herbs like Ginger, Ginseng, Feverfew, Turmeric treat an array of aches and pains naturally.
8. A Good Dose of Outdoors
Stress, anxiety, depression is a common norm of someone suffering from chronic or acute pain. Research proves spending time in nature reduces stress, anxiety and depression.
One can go outdoors at least once every day or 2-3 times in a week.
9. Massage Therapy
Massage helps in relieving pain, we all know that. What we do not know is that Massgae therapy is the most ancient form of healing pain, used by civilizations.
What’s amazing to know is that Massage therapy not just helps humans but our pets too in relieving their aches and pains.
10. S-T-R-E-T-C-H
One can do stretching exercises to elongate our muscles. It also helps in preventing injury. Stretching improves our range of motion making body movements easier. Stretching is another way of killing pain naturally.
Do let us know in the comment section below, your views on healing pain. Do you think we should maintain a balance between medicines and natural ways to relieve pain?
