Are you looking for alternative pain management techniques to avoid taking pain pills? Look no further, find the best treatments here and live pain free.
In 2016 the CDC’s National Health Interview Survey found that one in five Americans live with chronic pain. About 8% of the people living with chronic pain said that it interferes with their daily lives.
If you are one of the millions of Americans living with pain, there is a way to manage your pain without taking pills. This article will cover the five best alternative pain management techniques that you can start using today to stay pain-free.
1. Acupuncture Therapy
The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes acupuncture as a treatment for more than 30 different diseases. One of the primary uses of acupuncture is for pain relief.
In Sixteenth Century China, many doctors believed that an imbalance in the body caused pain and illness. Acupuncture seeks to realign the body’s balance.
Disposable stainless-steel needles are used in acupuncture to stimulate energy-carrying channels known as meridians. Stimulating these channels corrects imbalances in the body.
Patients may experience a decrease in pain by increasing the release of endorphins, chemicals that block pain receptors.
Acupuncture can be used as pain relief without drugs or surgery. It provides holistic pain relief for those suffering from headaches, lower back pain, carpal tunnel, fibromyalgia, and myofascial pain.
It can be used as part of a comprehensive pain management program and may be an acceptable alternative to prescription pain medications.
2. CBG Hemp
CBG, or Cannabigerol, is one of the many cannabinoids found in the hemp plant. Discovered in the 1960s CBG is known as the mother cannabinoid because almost all of the other cannabinoids come from it.
CBG hemp flower is cannabinoid of the hemp plant that has not received as much attention as THC or CBD. Until recently high producing CBG hemp varieties were not available to growers.
CBG could have still been processed in the past, but it would have taken thousands of pounds of hemp to get a small amount of CBG. This is not the case anymore, and CBG is rising in popularity.
THCA, CBDA, and CBCA all start as CBGA before the hemp plant grows and matures. Linke CBD, CBD is legal to grow as outlined in the 2018 Farm Bill, and non-psychoactive. It contains less than 0.3% THC and cannot get you high.
Cannabinoids have been studied and have well-documented anti-inflammatory analgesic properties that have been shown to help patients suffering from neuropathic pain, cancer pain, and rheumatoid arthritis.
CBG provides wonderful alternative pain management solutions to people who live with all types of chronic pain.
3. Massage Therapy
If you are living with chronic back pain, give massage therapy a try. Many people suffering from pain, especially back and neck pain, have seen a reduction in pain from massage therapy.
Massage works to ease pain by increasing blood flow to sore joints and muscles. These areas experience a warming effect because of the extra circulation.
One study found a reduction in hand pain and an improvement in grip strength for patients who received four weekly hand massages and practiced self-massage at home. The patients also reported better sleep, less anxiety, and depression than the people in the control group who didn’t receive the therapy.
Massage therapy uses various degrees of pressure to provide relief. Some people find certain types of massage therapy painful such as deep tissue massage. Massage doesn’t have to be painful to be therapeutic.
Be sure to tell your massage therapist if you are experiencing pain during your massage session. They can find a pressure that is comfortable for you.
Lighter massage can still have many benefits and is relaxing. People who have fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome may only be able to partake in lighter massage therapy techniques.
Currently, no data suggests massage is harmful. However, there are some specific situations where massage therapy is not recommended.
Talk to your doctor before starting a massage therapy routine. They can tell you about the types of massage that can help your condition and what types of massage to avoid.
4. Gentle Exercise and Meditation
Another way to manage your pain symptoms and without taking non-opioid pain medication is through gentle exercises such as yoga or stretching. Gentle exercises can relax the body and mind helping patients practice healthier responses to pain.
Whether it is a relaxing yoga pose or a meditation on gratitude, these practices strengthen the flow of energy in your body and can help relieve some of your pain.
Relaxation has been shown to help heal chronic pain by turning off the stress response and directing the body’s energy towards other functions such as repair, immune functions, digestion, etc.
Consistent relaxation practices teach your body and mind to rest and feel safe rather than feel as if it is in a state of chronic emergency. Make stretching, yoga, and meditation a part of your pain management strategy to help bring gentle, drug-free relief.
5. Reiki Therapy
Reiki is an alternative therapy sometimes called healing therapy. Like acupuncture, it is based on Eastern beliefs that energy helps support the body’s natural healing process.
Reiki may be an option if you are looking for a natural way to ease pain and tension in your body.
During a reiki session, the practitioner puts their hands on your body or just above your boy to transfer energy and heal your pain. There isn’t much research on reiki, but many people say they feel the effects after a session.
Some studies have shown there is a positive effect for some people, but it is hard to measure, and no one knows what is causing the healing.
Reiki shouldn’t be used as a replacement for regular medical treatment but as a part of your overall pain management plan.
Reiki is centered around the belief that you can restore balance to the body through pressure, movement, or breathing. Others say that it relaxes your body making it more open to healing.
Try These Alternative Pain Management Techniques
Living with chronic pain is a reality that many people in America face. These five best alternative pain management techniques may provide relief to your pain and help your body heal.
Always talk to your doctor before starting a therapy regime, and alternative pain management techniques should not be used in place of other treatments unless directed by your doctor.
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