Alternative Therapies for Pain Management
We all go through pain throughout our lives for one reason or another. We’ve gathered info on quite a few different remedy options to ease that pain naturally!
Hot and cold packs are simple-to-use pain-control tools that have been widely employed for many years. When applied singly or in combinations, these techniques often provide relief not only from the itself, but, in some cases, from any accompanying swelling.
Heat
Pain from backaches, arthritis, an similar disorders often respond well to heat therapy. By increasing the temperature in selected areas of the body, this treatment enhances blood circulation and helps muscles to relax, reducing stiffness and increasing mobility.
Heat can be applied to the affected area through a number of means, including hot water bottles and electric heating pads. Often, moist heat works better than dry heat. Some electric heating pads are capable of producing moist heat, as are some gel packs. Hot showers and wet towels are other means of concentrating moist heat on a painful area. Poultices can also be effective (see this post for details) and, for certain disorders, Sitz Bath (this healing Home Yoni Steam Kit works wonders.)
Use all forms of heat therapy with caution. Monitor the intensity of the heat and the duration and frequency of the treatment. Do not allow yourself to fall asleep while using an electric heating pad. Regardless of the heat source, a good rule of thumb is twenty minutes on, twenty minutes off. After removing the heat, firmly rub or massage the affected area. This will both dissipate the heat and help relieve tension. Do not massage the area if it is inflamed or has just sustained a serious injury. Never massage the area if you have phlebitis or other vascular problems.
An intense alternative would be Far Infrared Sauna Therapy.
Cold
Because of its ability to prevent swelling, cold packs are often the treatment of choice directly following a strain, sprain, or other injury. In such cases, cold packs alone should be used during the first twenty-four to thirty-six hours. Cold packs can also help relieve certain types of chronic pain.
Ice packs are probably the most common means of applying cold. These packs can simply be applied to the painful area, or they can be rubbed on the area using a circular motion for five to seven minutes. Lower back pain seems to be particularly responsive to ice rubs. Cold gel packs, which are kept in the freezer between uses, are also effective, and, because of their pliable consistency, are often more comfortable than ice packs. If none are available, a pack of frozen peas works just as well and can mold to the area. When you are done with it, mark the bag so it can be used over again for this purpose (do not eat them) and place it back in the freezer.
Like heat therapy, cold therapy should be used with caution. Wrap ice packs, gel packs, or frozen peas in a towel before applying them to the affected area. Then apply the packs for no more than twenty minutes at a time.
Because cold pads immediately start to rise in temperature when applying to the body, Cryotherapy may be a great alternative, especially if your pain is chronic or comes from an injury.
Heat and Cold
In some cases, alternating hot and cold treatments work best. For a painful and stiff neck,for instance, try using a warm shower to relieve tension. After the shower, use a five- to seven minute ice massage to reduce swelling an further relieve pain.
Experimentation is the best way to discover whether heat, cold, or alternating heat and cold best relieves your discomfort. If several applications on one type of treatment-say, heat-do not provide any relief, try the opposite treatment. If your pain persists, and especially if you are not sure of its cause, consult your health provider. The ultimate Contrast Therapy is Cryotherapy immediately followed by Infrared Sauna.
Counterirritants
A variety of over-the-counter topical products, such as capsaicin cream, Ben-Gay, and Icy Hot, can be used in lieu of a heat pack to treat localized pain. Cayenne is a major counterirritant and works to stimulate blood flow to the affected area, acting much like heat. Glucosamine/Chondroitin MSM Ultra Rx Joint Cream from Nature’s Plus, Treatment from Heel Inc, and many other natural products found in health food stores are good for arthritis, inflammation, bruising, and sprains. While such products may be relatively convenient and easy to use, they should be used with discretion. Do not apply anything but ordinary clothing to an area that has been treated with a counterirritant. Heating placed over treated areas can increase the medication’s rate of absorption into the skin, thus causing serious damage.
Herbs
Many herbs have been used for centuries for their pain-relieving properties. Some of the include:
Angelica, black haw, cramp bark, kava kava, rosemary, and valerian root are good for pain related to cramps and muscle spasms.
Caution: Kava kava can cause drowsiness. It is not recommended for pregnant women or nursing mothers, and it should not be taken together with other substances that act on the central nervous system, such as alcohol, barbiturates, antidepressants, and antipsychotic drugs.
A tea made of blue violet, catnip, chamomile, gotu kola, licorice, rosemary white- willow, or wood betony is effective in relieving tension and nerve pain.
Caution: Do not use chamomile if you are allergic to ragweed. Do not use during pregnancy or nursing. It may interact with warfarin or cyclosporine, so patients using these drugs should avoid it. Licorice root should not be used during pregnancy or nursing. It should not be used by persons with diabetes, glaucoma, heart disease, high blood pressure, or a history of stroke.
Capsaicin, an ingredient in cayenne (capsicum), can provide pain relief when regularly applied to the affected area. Now available in zostrix, an over-the counter topical cream, capsaicin is thought to relieve pain by limiting the production of a neural pain transmitter called substance P. Although the application of capsaicin may cause burning sensation at first, repeated use keeps nerves from replenishing their supply of substance p, so that pain is not transmitted to the brain. In studies, capsaicin has been used to control the pain of neuralgia, diabetic neuropathy rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and cluster headaches. Cayenne may also help to alleviate pain if taken orally in capsule form.
Hops, kava kava, passionflower, valerian root, wild lettuce, and wood betony have muscle-relaxing properties an may help to relieve lower back pain.
Caution : Kava kava can cause drowsiness. It is not recommended for pregnant women or nursing mothers, and it should not be taken together with other substances that act on the central nervous system, such as alcohol, barbiturates, antidepressants, and antipsychotic drugs.
Essential oils of jasmine, juniper, lavender, peppermint, rose, rosemary, and Thyme have been effective in the treatment of a variety of types of pain.
Migraine Relief from Natural Care is an herbal blend that has been effective in relieving migraines.
Fresh papaya juice and/or fresh pineapple is highly recommended for the treatment of inflammation, heartburn, ulcers, back pain, and digestive disorders
Saffron has been found to be effective in treating abdominal pain after childbirth.
Hypnotherapy
Like meditation and visualization, hypnotherapy is a method by which a qualified physician or therapist can induce a positive mental state in an individual. The therapist attempts to quiet the person’s conscious mind to make the unconscious mind more accessible. Hypnosis is designed to generate a state of deep relaxation in which there is a heightened receptivity to suggestion through the calm repetition of words and statements. Once an individual is in this state, the practitioner provides simple verbal suggestions that help the mind block the awareness of pain and replace it with a more positive feeling, such as a feeling of warmth. If the pain is the result of an earlier injury, the practitioner may also help the individual more clearly remember the incident—a practice that often helps alleviate anxiety and thus reduce pain.
Hypnotherapy enhances positive imagery, helps to reduce anxiety, and induces a deep level of relaxation. During a hypnotic state, the mind is highly focused and fully aware of the situation, enabling the person to concentrate without being distracted. During hypnosis, breathing and pulse rate slow down, and blood pressure may drop. No one can be forced into hypnosis. You must be a willing participant in the process. Good rapport between therapist and client is important. Hypnosis has been used successfully to control back pain, joint pain, burn pain, and the pain of migraines and other headaches. This technique can be a valuable self-help tool, as you can learn to hypnotize yourself whenever you need it. However, self-hypnosis must first be learned from a licensed psychologist, a certified hypnotherapist, or another professional with experience in hypnotherapy.
Magnet Therapy
Magnet therapy has been used in the Far East and Europe for some time and is becoming popular in the United States. It is said that magnets can be used to provide relief from pain and to hasten healing. Double -blind studies on the effectiveness of magnet therapy have shown that there is no scientific basis to conclude that small magnets of the type sold for the purpose can relieve pain or influence the course of disease. Many of today’s products actually produce no significant magnetic field at the skin’s surface, and none beneath. The initial study that is cited by magnet marketers is the pilot study done at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, where researchers found that magnets could provide significant relief for the pain of post-polio syndrome. However, other subsequent studies, such as one done at the New York College of podiatric Medicine, reported no effect on patients suffering from heel pain. Researchers at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Prescott, Arizona, conducted an elaborate study on back pain and found no evidence to support the claims of the magnet manufactures.
Magnets are believe to work by increasing circulation and blood flow to affected areas, which in turn reduces swelling and inflammation. Arthritis, asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, infections, migraines, osteoporosis, ruptured disks, sports injuries, and tennis elbow are a few of the conditions that are said to be helped by magnet therapy, so far, studies have shown that blood circulation is not affected by magnets.
Despite the decidedly mixed results of scientific research, the decision to try magnet therapy is one that each individual must make for him-or herself. If you are using magnets for pain relief and they seem to be working, by all means do not discontinue their use. However, if you do choose to use magnets, understand that they should not be used during pregnancy or in the presence of pacemakers, insulin, pumps, and automatic defibrillators. People who take anticoagulants or use drug patches also should not use magnets. And on a practical note, keep your magnets away from your computer’s hard drive and storage disks.
Massage
Massage involves the manipulation of muscles and other soft tissues. It is beneficial in treating a wide range of conditions, including muscle spasms and pain, soreness from injury, and headaches. Massage works to relieve pain in a number of ways: by promoting muscle relaxation; by increasing lymphatic circulation and thereby possibly reducing inflammation by breaking up scar tissue and adhesions; by promoting blood flow through the muscles; and by promoting drainage of the sinus fluids.
Massage is not advisable for everyone. those with a history of phlebitis, high blood pressure, or any other vascular disorder should not receive any type of deep muscle massage performed with strong pressure. Always check with a physician before receiving deep muscle massage. Massage should not be performed on inflamed areas or on individuals with malignant or infectious conditions. a variety of massage therapies are currently in use. Each is based on a different theory and utilizes specific techniques. the following bodywork systems represent those most widely used.
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