Natural Pain Remedies

Alternative Treatments for Pain Sufferers

Sep 7, 2009 Tanya Martinenko

Massage, chiropractic adjustments, exercise and herbal remedies can help with pain management.

Pain, both chronic and acute, can unpleasantly interfere with one's daily living, and if not treated, can negatively affect the pain sufferer's well-being.

Many people rely on conventional medications to treat pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Advil, and acetaminophen, or Tylenol, are common, over-the-counter pain relievers. These medications can be successful in treating pain in the short-term, but often have undesirable side effects, and pain sufferers may want to seek alternative forms of pain relief.

Massage, chiropractic treatment, exercise, and herbal remedies can all play a key role in helping with pain management and prevention.

Massage Helps Relieve Muscular Pain

Massage can have many benefits for those suffering with chronic or temporary pain. A massage will increase blood flow to sore, stiff joints and muscles, which are then warmed by the extra circulation. A massage is very soothing and relaxing, and this in itself can help to ease pain by releasing endorphins to the brain. Pain sufferers seeking to explore massage therapy should ensure that the massage therapist chosen is professionally certified before undergoing treatment.

Chiropractic Treatment Can Reduce Pain by Realigning the Spinal Column

Many pain sufferers seek out the services of a chiropractor because of chronic back and neck pain. Chiropractors focus on spinal manipulation (adjustment of the spine) as a means of correcting spinal joint restrictions and relieving pain, treating disc injuries, relieving stress on the associated discs and nerves, improving alignment and posture, which in turn helps to to alleviate pain.

Chiropractic adjustments can be a good non-surgical treatment option for individuals suffering from chronic pain. As with massage therapists, it is important to seek out the services of a licensed, professionally certified chiropractor.

Exercise and Pain Relief and Prevention

Exercise can help ease or decrease chronic pain. Keeping one's muscles toned through regular, gentle movements will prevent them from deteriorating and becoming weak. A weak muscle is a potentially painful muscle, so it's important to keep muscles strong and flexible.

Back pain is one of the most common types of muscular discomfort. Back pain exercises involve exercise of not only the back muscles, but also of those muscles that support the back, such as the abdomen and thighs. A good physiotherapist or chiropractor can recommend a variety of simple and appropriate exercises that can be easily performed at home.

Herbs and Supplements Can Provide Pain Relief

There are many herbal remedies on the market for pain sufferers who want an alternative to pharmaceutical painkillers. A few of the more common herbal remedies include:

Turmeric: Turmeric has long been used as an herbal remedy in both the Chinese and Indian systems of medicine. Curcumin is the compound in turmeric that is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties, which may aid in pain relief.
Feverfew: Feverfew, traditionally used for treating fevers, is also used as an herbal pain reliever, providing relief for arthritis, migraine and menstrual pain.
Bromelain: Commonly used as a digestive enzyme, bromelain also acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory, which can help provide pain relief for arthritis, inflammation and joint pain.
White Willow Bark: The natural basis for aspirin, white willow bark is still commonly used to treat many pain conditions, such as back pain, joint pain, fever, flu, and osteoarthritis. Many people use white willow bark as an alternative to aspirin because it is less irritating to the stomach.

Natural Versus Conventional Medicine

The natural pain relieving treatments mentioned above are not meant to completely replace conventional medicine, as both have their uses when it comes to pain management. A combination of both alternative and conventional medicine is a good way to get the best of both worlds. A family physician should always be consulted before undergoing any kind of medical treatment.

Further Reading:

For more on herbal remedies and supplements, read Health Benefits of Herbal Supplements

Get helpful tips how to deal with painful back muscles in Coping With Back Pain

The copyright of the article Natural Pain Remedies in General Medicine is owned by Tanya Martinenko. Permission to republish Natural Pain Remedies in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.