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?

Jersey Shore Myofascial Release Center is excited to announce the addition of their NEW Massage Therapist, Pepi Spurr.  Pepi has an extensive background in sports massage/deep tissue, pregnancy massage, and mastectomy scar release and has been practicing for over 15 years .  She is also one of the only massage therapists in Toms River practicing La Stone therapy.

La Stone therapy is similar to hot stone massage but it uses 54 hot stones, 18 cold stones and one room temperature stone and can only be performed by someone who is certified to be a La Stone therapist.  This is to prevent any insufficient training that can be a problem with hot stone massage.

La Stone Therapy is a trademarked style of therapy that uses both hot and cold stones to massage the body.  Although cold stones do not sound very relaxing, they actually have been scientifically and medically proven to have a beneficial effect and can bring relief to tired and sore muscles.  Alternating between heat and cold both stimulates and relaxes the circulatory system, which helps detoxify the body.  The heated stones bring oxygenated blood to the area of application , increasing lymph flow and metabolism , while  the chilled marble stones create a dramatic movement of fluids within the body by pushing away the unwanted congestion, inflammation and blockages.   In this way the use of alternating temperatures brings about healing, balance and rejuvenation.  This can also aid in the balancing of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual energies.  The use of the alternating hot and cold stones , allows the therapist to penetrate and gently work the tissues at a deeper level than is possible in traditional massage.  This makes LaStone Therapy a very good detoxification program combined with Myofascial Release and an excellent immune system booster.

LaStone therapy begins with gentle stretches and swedish massage to warm up the body’s muscle tissues and then the therapist uses both the hot and cold stones as an extension of her hands while continuing the massage.  Stones of varying weight are also placed on the body’s key energy channels, including the seven main chakras.  Chakras are the openings for life energy to flow into and out of our aura. Their function is to vitalize the physical body and to bring about the development of our self-consciousness. They are associated with our physical, mental and emotional interactions.

The combination of La Stone and Myofascial Release therapy can help balance the bodies energy field, and enhance personal awareness.  During these treatment sessions, many clients report a release of stuck emotions which has led to relief from fatigue and irritability and a decrease in pain and tension throughout the body.  Clients often leave their treatment session in a deep state of relaxation.

Call Jersey Shore Myofascial Release center today at 732 223-9335 to book your appointment.

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