9 Natural Therapies for Pain Relief

The older I’m getting, the more I’m wishing that there a pill or elixir that would magically cure chronic pain!

Unfortunately there isn’t – and even if there was, it would probably come with unwanted side effects.

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However, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the range of more natural alternatives that are now available, and the amount of research indicating that they actually can help.

Acupuncture

The World Health Organisation recognises more than 30 diseases or conditions that can be helped by acupuncture treatment, including pain management. Acupuncture involves stimulating certain points on the body using very fine needles. When this stimulation occurs, the nerve fibres send out signals to the brain which releases chemicals such as endorphins that help with the pain relief.  

Frequency Specific Microcurrent 

My local naturopath offers a treatment known as Frequency Specific Microcurrent or FSM. Using very low levels of electrical currents, it seems to work in a similar way to acupuncture, and is useful for pain relief as well as reducing inflammation, stiffness, stress and anxiety.

Yoga

Yoga has been used to help with pain – particularly back pain - for hundreds of years. Yoga increases core muscular strength through stretching and balance, and promotes relaxation through mindfulness and breathing techniques. A safe, sustained practice may just turn that chronic pain into chronic healing!

Hypnosis

You might be surprised to learn that many people suffering from the pain of arthritis and fibromyalgia find that hypnosis effective is an effective treatment. The idea is not to convince you that you don’t have any pain, but rather to help you manage the fear, anxiety and stress caused by the pain.

Chiropractic Treatment

Did you know that Chiropractic is the most common non-surgical treatment for back pain?  By properly aligning the body’s muscular-skeletal frame, chiropractic helps restore mobility to your joints and muscles.

It is particularly beneficial when the body has suffered a traumatic event such as a fall or other accident. Treatment includes spinal or joint manipulation and therapeutic exercises.

Massage

Massage therapy provides pain relief and relaxation, supporting your overall wellbeing. Regular massage helps to reduce the stiffness caused by chronic pain, inactivity and muscle tension.  

Herbal medicine

Herbs such as ginger, willow bark and turmeric, have been highly prized for their strong anti-inflammatory properties for thousands of years. Today, natural therapies such as naturopathy and acupuncture utilise herbal medicine to relieve the pain of osteoarthritis, migraines and more.

When it comes to natural therapies for pain relief, this really is just the tip of the iceberg and studies are constantly bringing new options to light – from Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) to prolotherapy.

So don’t let pain slow you down or stop you from being able to get out and enjoy life.  Getting older is a privilege that’s not always afforded to everyone!