Holistic techniques often complement conventional treatments like medication. For instance, chiropractic therapy such as spinal manipulation has proven successful at relieving pain.
Although prescription painkillers provide relief for many, they also can have serious side effects ranging from nausea to heart complications. So what other solutions exist?
Acupuncture
Acupuncture, which involves stimulating specific points on the body with needles, is an alternative form of treatment for pain management and management of various conditions, including back and neck pain, headaches and osteoarthritis. Although many are skeptical of acupuncture’s efficacy in relieving acute or chronic pain conditions; studies have proven its efficacy for acute as well as chronic discomforts by activating natural painkiller chemicals within our brain that act like painkillers; additionally it increases blood circulation to relieve pressure in affected areas by providing more oxygen and nutrients into that area that might otherwise cause more severe discomfort than otherwise would otherwise exist – providing relief without needing medication!
Acupuncturists insert hair-thin needles into specific acupuncture points on the body. Each point corresponds with an organ in your system and addresses both physical and emotional concerns. Acupuncture can be extremely relaxing and has been proven to reduce stress levels. Furthermore, research suggests it affects the central nervous system by altering how pain signals are processed by the brain as well as increasing neurotransmitter production for better symptoms management.
Combining acupuncture with other forms of treatment is certainly possible, though you should consult your physician first as some complementary therapies could conflict with certain chemotherapy drugs.
As a rule, the best way to manage pain is through finding a combination of therapies that works for you. This could involve anything from acupuncture and cognitive-behavioral therapy or massage therapy sessions together to acupuncture alone; depending on your circumstances you may find relief within just one visit; alternatively multiple sessions may be needed until something works better than ever for you – the key here is experimenting until you discover which works for your unique circumstances.
Massage
Massage therapy involves manipulating soft tissues (muscles, tendons and ligaments) with strokes such as stroking, pressing, or kneading to relieve pain, relax muscles, stimulate them for improved performance and tone the body. Massage may help relieve stress and anxiety. Studies indicate it may reduce pain in patients suffering from cancer, fibromyalgia or chronic neck and back conditions; however more research must be completed before drawing definitive conclusions regarding its efficacy on such conditions.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, the branch of NIH that oversees scientific research into alternative therapies, has intensified its own investigations of mind-body therapies for pain management. Numerous clinical trials have demonstrated how massage, acupuncture and other alternative therapies may play a crucial role in relieving discomfort and controlling chronic illnesses.
However, it’s wise to be wary of fad therapies that promise quick fixes or miracle cures, particularly those promising quick fixes or miracle cures. Relying solely on one therapy to manage long-term diseases such as arthritis or fibromyalgia may be risky and costly; furthermore it would be prudent to stay away from treatments promoted on websites requiring your credit card number for payment purposes.
Mind-body therapies go beyond surgery or drug therapies by also targeting emotional aspects of pain. Meditation, yoga and guided imagery are examples of such practices; these have proven successful with migraines, cancer, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis patients as well. While spiritual beliefs don’t need to be adhered to for these therapies to work; many find them soothing and calming while increasing empathy and compassion in themselves.
Yoga
Yoga is an ancient physical and spiritual discipline dating back millennia. It focuses on breathing, flexibility and strength as ways to improve mental and physical health, relax stress levels and manage them more effectively. Yoga can also serve as a safe form of exercise when performed under qualified guidance; and can even help people living with chronic pain conditions improve quality of life while alleviating symptoms.
Yoga helps those living with arthritis and other chronic diseases manage pain, reduce stress and anxiety levels, improve sleep and balance, as well as maintain a healthy weight. It may also be used to alleviate migraine or tension-type headaches as well as knee osteoarthritis pain relief. Furthermore, it’s an ideal choice for weight loss or managing blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Studies indicate that regular yoga practice may help improve heart health by lowering blood pressure and improving overall condition of the body. Before undertaking any yoga-related activities, however, it is wise to first speak to your healthcare team as this may interfere with any medications or medical treatments being administered at that time.
Yoga is a philosophy, science and art which seeks to align body, mind and spirit for health and harmony in daily life. Although non-religious in its practice, yoga shares common ideas among religions. Yoga seeks to achieve Samadhi (the blissful state of meditation with God). Yoga derives its name from two Sanskrit words meaning to “bind or harness something”, thus offering individuals a means of becoming one with their infinite universal self while healing through self-discovery and personal growth.
Meditation
Meditation has been found to reduce pain, stress, and anxiety; it may even help people cope with chronic musculoskeletal pain more effectively; however, scientific research into its effectiveness remains in its infancy.
Meditation, as defined by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), can be defined as “a practice that uses an object of focus (such as breath, image or sound) to achieve calmness, physical relaxation and psychological balance in order to cope with illness.” Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years by various spiritual traditions worldwide and more recently is increasingly being integrated with traditional treatments for illness management by medical professionals.
Meditation takes many forms, from guided imagery and music therapy, to mindfulness-based relaxation techniques like mindful breathing. Research has proven these therapies effective at relieving pain from conditions such as fibromyalgia and cancer; there’s even evidence suggesting meditation can improve health, happiness and self-control.
These techniques may help patients cope with symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia while also decreasing opioid usage.
Although alternative therapies have shown promise in helping reduce musculoskeletal pain, they should never replace traditional medical therapies. Before trying any alternative methods or making any decisions based on them alone, patients should consult their doctors first to ensure there won’t be any conflicts with conventional remedies.
Alternative therapies may provide patients with an effective means to manage their pain without resorting to opioid medications, and reduce adverse side effects associated with prescription opioids. Cognitive-behavioral therapy combined with these alternative techniques is especially helpful, giving control back over one’s own discomfort while decreasing adverse reactions of prescription opioids. There are multiple techniques available and may even be combined with others like massage therapy or nutritional supplements for maximum effect.
Diet
Diet is an integral component of pain management. Studies have demonstrated how changes to eating habits can dramatically lower pain levels and enhance quality of life among chronic pain patients, while providing vital nutrition can prevent symptoms from returning or reappearing in the first place.
Diets that include refined carbohydrates, saturated fats and processed foods can increase inflammation and pain sensitivity. Conversely, diets rich in anti-inflammatory nutrients found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats and lean proteins may reduce inflammation and alleviate symptoms of pain.
Diet is an invaluable way to manage pain, but each individual’s needs vary significantly. Working closely with healthcare providers to identify triggers or sensitivities that impact pain levels is critical in finding effective strategies. A food diary or elimination diet are two effective techniques for pinpointing triggers that exacerbate discomfort symptoms.
Towery et al conducted a study that demonstrated how switching to a plant-based diet resulted in significant improvements to chronic musculoskeletal pain patients’ pain and functioning scores, due to reduced inflammation levels and supplementing it with high fiber diet.
People living with chronic pain may believe they have no other options to manage their condition besides taking heavily prescribed medication, but alternative therapies can significantly ease pain levels and provide a more holistic approach to treating the source of discomfort. People looking for natural solutions should consider consulting practitioners such as Chinese medicine specialists or naturopaths in order to learn about all available non-pharmacologic treatment solutions.
