If you are living with pain, then you have probably tried many of the usual treatments such as medication, physical therapy and maybe even surgery. Much of the pain we feel comes from inflammation–a defensive response that causes tissues to swell and amplifies the signal from pain nerves. Could a more natural approach be the way to go??
Many of our clients here at JerseyShore Myofascial Release Center have found tremendous relief from pain with our gentle hands-on treatment sessions and home stretching programs to open up the fascial system and relieve restricted blood vessels, nerve and muscle fibers but occasionally they need a little something additional and this is where we suggest trying some natural remedies to boost the bodies ability to heal and combat pain. Remember to always check with your physician before using any supplements. Here is a list of the top ten remedies for natural pain relief to use in addition to your Myofascial Release sessions.
Fish oil can also ease the inflammation and pain caused by many chronic conditions. The dose used in the most convincing research is 2 to 4 grams of DHA + EPA daily. Although beneficial omega-3 fatty acids are available from other sources, experts say that fish oil has the best evidence.
Researchers found that eating 3 g of fish fats a day relieved the joint pain, inflammation, and morning stiffness associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In another study of rheumatoid arthritis patients, daily supplementation with 2.7 grams of EPA and 1.8 grams of DHA resulted in striking reduction in the number of tender joints and increase in the time span before fatigue appeared. Various other studies have put forth that the same dosage of fish oil can reduce the severity of Crohn’s disease by more than 50 per cent.
White Willow Bark. White willow bark decreases pain by blocking the production of inflammatory prostaglandins. White willow bark is also a very effective fever reducer. It is said to contain a compound called salicylic acid and aspirin (acetyl salicylic acid) is a synthetic form of this compound. White willow bark provides all pain-relieving benefits of aspirin. Conventionally is safer then aspirin and other synthetically derived salicylate based anti-inflammatory drugs. No contra-indications and serious side effects have ever been reported by medical science. It is said to provide relief to headache, toothache, backache or even arthritis.
It is important to keep in mind that white willow bark should not be taken with aspirin, and should be avoided by people with gastritis or ulcers. It should not be used by children under 16, because of the associated possibility of developing Reye’s syndrome in children during a viral infection.
Feverfew. For long-term relief, feverfew helps stop headaches before they occur. A member of the sunflower family, feverfew relaxes blood vessels in your brain and prevents them from constricting, a primary cause of migraines. In one recent study on migraine sufferers, researchers found that after 16 weeks of treatment with feverfew extract, attacks had decreased from almost five per month to just under three a month. Feverfew works best to stave off migraines rather than treat ones that have already developed, but keep in mind that it takes one to two months to see benefits. It is suggested to take 100 to 200 mg daily.
Vitamin D. This vitamin, which comes from foods and is also produced in the body as a result of sun exposure, has become a hot topic among pain researchers. A number of studies have linked low levels of vitamin D with increased levels of chronic pain.
One 2009 study looked at the vitamin D levels of people with chronic pain who were using opioid painkillers. Those who had a deficiency of vitamin D needed almost twice as high a dose of medication to control their pain.
Personally, this has helped my own chronic pain issues from fibromyalgia and it is also beneficial for bone and joint pain .
Capsaicin. Derived from chili peppers, capsaicin may soothe pain when applied to the skin. Topical capsaicin seems to be helpful for all sorts of pain. Studies have found it can help relieve pain from rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, psoriasis, shingles, and diabetic neuropathy. It may also offer natural pain relief for back pain, fibromyalgia pain, and headaches. Capsaicin temporarily desensitizes pain-prone skin nerve receptors called C-fibers; soreness is diminished for 3 to 5 weeks while they regain sensation. Nearly 40 percent of arthritis patients reduced their pain by half after using a topical capsaicin cream for a month, and 60 percent of neuropathy patients achieved the same after 2 months, according to a University of Oxford study. Patients at the New England Center for Headache decreased their migraine and cluster headache intensity after applying capsaicin cream inside their nostrils.
Arnica: For acute injury or post surgery swelling
This herb comes from a European flower; although its complete healing mechanism is still unknown, it does have natural anti-inflammatory properties. Taking oral homeopathic arnica after a tonsillectomy decreases pain, say British researchers, and German doctors found that it reduces surgery-related knee swelling.
Release your inner endorphins. These natural chemicals block pain signals from reaching your brain. Endorphins are the body’s natural pain relievers, and they can be as strong as many of the strongest pain relievers. Endorphins also help alleviate anxiety, stress and depression — conditions that often accompany and exacerbate chronic pain. The body produces endorphins during aerobic exercise. A “runner’s high” is not just for those running long distances — any activity that gets your blood pumping for a sustained period will release pain relieving endorphins into your system.
Eat cookies This is my personal favorite. Research shows that eating sweet foods like cookies, chocolate or ice cream, helps reduce the sensation of pain. If your looking to skip all those extra calories, enjoying a smell that is both sweet and pleasant has also been shown to reduce the perception of pain. Aromatherapy works great for this also.
Feel the heat. Applying some form of heat — a hot water bottle, gel-filled pad heated in the microwave, electric heating pad, or hot bath — can go a long way in easing your pain. Benefits of heat are twofold: it increases the flow of healing oxygen and nutrients to the damaged area, and it suppresses pain signals being sent to your brain.
Cool it with ice. Ahh, how this cools down inflamed and sore tissues. Acute pain almost always comes with some level of inflammation, and ice is the best natural way to reduce it. Ice also helps by acting as a local anesthetic, and by slowing the nerve impulses, which in turn interrupts the pain-spasm reactions between the nerves in the affected area.
These are just a few of the natural remedies that we at Jersey Shore Myofascial Release Center have found to aid in pain relief. What are some of your favorites?
