Pain can be difficult to endure. Acute pain can impede daily activities, be distracting and cause worry. Chronic pain lasts more than three months and has stopped responding to traditional pain medication. As well as limiting physical activities, chronic pain inhibits socializing with friends and family. It negatively affects emotions and thinking. There are a multitude of both traditional pain relief options prescribed and over the counter medications that can be used. Sometimes these are used with less than stellar results. Fortunately, there are a number of natural options to alleviate pain, whether persistent or passing, due to muscle sprains, arthritis, osteoarthritis, injuries or migraine headaches. For centuries, man has looked to nature to supply remedies to pain. More recently, man has looked to alternative actions to help either manage pain or banish it completely. The following list of treatments that forgo typical pain reducing drugs may well help get rid of your pain.
The use of essential oils has become wide-spread as of late. There is ease in using them either by inhaling the steam or applying directly to the skin of a painful area via a carrier oil, often olive oil. Lavender can be used to relieve migraine pain. It also is useful to aid in sleep and to mitigate stress which often causes pain. Besides this oil, rosemary and peppermint essential oils work to treat tension headaches, sore muscles and inflammation. Eucalyptus oil also relieves inflammation and swelling. Both eucalyptus and peppermint oils should not be used around children.
Adding raw ginger to food aids in alleviating muscle pain, exercise related inflammation and speeds recovery. Turmeric is a spice that helps with circulation and blood thinning. Pain relief and inflammation are also addressed due the main ingredient found in turmeric. This spice is easily incorporated in food as it is delicious in curry, veggies and soups. The main ingredient found in chili peppers is applied topically as a cream or gel. When applied it actually stings, but then it does relieve muscle and joint pain.
Not surprisingly, there are a number of foods that can help reduce pain, primarily muscle pain, arthritis and headaches. These are a few of them. Cherries are antioxidants which function as an anti-inflammatory and pain blocker. Grapes, peanuts and berries, as well as red wine, have a substance which promotes brain health, long life and is an antioxidant. A substance found in both pineapple and papaya fights osteoarthritis pain and rheumatoid arthritis inflammation. Coffee is also a pain reliever. It assists in helping with headache pain. However, drinking too much coffee is not a good thing on its own.
Both heat and cold work to relieve pain. An ice pack or ice bath reduces inflammation due to injury when applied locally. Heat, such as a heating pad or a hot bath or shower, will help with muscle aches and spasms. Neither should be used for too long in a row. The best methodology is to alternate heat and cold in smaller timelines.
Acupuncture can alleviate osteoarthritis, lumbar back pain as well as pain in your neck. It may also help to reduce migraine headaches. Yoga is an ancient art that has been shown to lower stress which aids in lowering pain. The act of measured breathing, stretching and relaxation offers you a high level of self-involvement in managing your pain. In that same vein is exercise. Physical activity releases a hormone that allows you to withstand higher levels of pain.
