When most of us experience pain our first reaction is to take over-the-counter or prescription painkillers. This is perfectly understandable because you’ll want the pain to subside as fast as possible! Some people are open to trying natural alternatives to painkillers, and if you are one of them, these six solutions may be of interest to you. For those with chronic pain, there are many alternative medicine options out there that you might want to check out. Natural solutions may not always be suitable, and so it’s best to speak to your doctor first and then decide what medication would be suitable for you.
- Capsaicin
Capsaicin is an ingredient in chili peppers, you can buy a capsaicin-based cream which is an effective form of pain relief. The ingredient helps to reduce pain, particularly muscle or neuropathic pain. You can purchase the cream from health stores online, or get more information from your doctor.
- CBD
CBD, or cannabidiol, is derived from the cannabis plant. CBD does not have any intoxicating effects, and it can provide many health benefits. Studies have indicated that CBD is effective for reducing anxiety and depression symptoms. It’s also useful for pain relief, especially at concentrations of 1000mg or higher. Havard Health discusses a study by the European Journal Of Pain, suggesting that, ‘using an animal model, CBD applied on the skin could help lower pain and inflammation due to arthritis.’ CBD oil products have also shown great potential for treating neuropathic pain. Since CBD oil is natural, it may not have as many side effects as traditional pharmaceutical drugs. People who want to try something organic and yet effective can use CBD oils for topical application in conjunction with other CBD edible products that may help to relieve pain from within. You can do a quick Google search for ‘best CBD oil UK‘ or any other location you dwell in to find a bevy of CBD suppliers in your area.
3 . Turmeric
Turmeric is a popular spice that’s used in cooking, particularly for making Indian food dishes. Turmeric contains curcumin, which can protect the body from free radicals. The spice has a strong anti-inflammatory effect, so it’s a great painkiller. Turmeric is considered an effective remedy for joint pain and headaches. Turmeric can be purchased as a spice, in the form of capsules, or you can even buy Turmeric tea.
- Acupuncture
Acupuncture uses fine needles to target pressure points on the skin, it’s a type of Chinese medicine that’s been used for centuries. According to Health Line, it’s a ‘minimally invasive method to stimulate nerve-rich areas of the skin surface to influence tissues, glands, organs, and various functions of the body’. The body responds to acupuncture by pain modulation, triggering an immune system response, and encouraging circulation. As well as pain relief, acupuncture is believed to be beneficial for conditions such as migraines and anxiety.
- Meditation
Meditation is a practice that can help us to de-stress, calm our minds, and pay attention to the present moment. Meditation can be used to heal difficult emotions, reconnect with the body and mind, and practice mindfulness.
According to Everyday Health, ‘Researchers who assigned 109 patients with chronic pain to either a mindfulness meditation program or a waitlist found that those who did the meditation reported more pain relief, than those who did not.’ To get started with meditation try apps like Headspace or The Mindfulness app. Some people may prefer to use medicinal, plant-based aids to help bring their mind to a meditative state. Such plants, such as cannabis for example, can be obtained (albeit in places where its use is legalized) through dispensaries like as hibrid, that often have a variety of strains for you to try and see which works best.
Some strains can especially help calm the anxious, never-ending monologue in the head, and thus could make for better meditation practice. Some compounds in cannabis, as mentioned above (CBD), are said to be beneficial for pain relief as well! You may want to look into how you can use a dry herb vaporizer if that is a method you would like to try to get the best effects, or you can experiment with a variety of other ways and compare your experiences so you are getting what you need through this form of painkilling.
Some chronic pain conditions can be difficult to manage. You might have tried several conventional pain killers, and have experienced little relief. In these situations, regenerative pain management may be a suitable step moving forward.
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