In recent years, individuals and families have opted for alternative medicine and treatments for pain management and relief. Some chose these because they don’t want to be dependent on the prescribed drugs, while for others, those medications are typically too expensive and even ineffective. For instance, people suffering from chronic pain usually need to undergo drug therapies and surgeries.
But fortunately, those are not the only available choices for people experiencing pain in their bodies. Complementary and alternative therapies have made their way into the healthcare industry. Professionals of these holistic treatments offer low-risk and natural methods to help reduce the pain. For today’s blog, we’ve gathered some well-recognized alternative medicine techniques for pain management.
1. Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been around for many years, with some theories claiming the practice existed for thousands of years. This ancient Chinese healing art makes use of hair-thin needles and inserts them into certain points of the skin to regular movement within the meridian system of the body. In fact, pain is added to the list of medical problems by the World Health Organization, which this practice can helpful.
There are also tons of researches that confirmed acupuncture to be an effective treatment for body pain. Acupuncture has been used by millions of people to treat several chronic pain conditions include shoulder pain, neck and back pain, chronic headache, and osteoarthritis.
2. Aromatherapy
Another popular complementary therapy on our list is aromatherapy. This alternative remedy uses essential oils to help relieve body pain in a natural way. These essential oils are substances found within different parts of plants such as roots, stems, and petals. Some studies found that certain oil may help with pain relief. Lavender, bergamot, rose oil, and even essential oil blends are said to help reduce pain associated with migraines, inflammation, and periods.
As the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not regulate essential oils, experts recommend purchasing from reputable brands. Essential oils and blends in the market may contain harmful ingredients that can potentially worsen your condition.
3. Chiropractic
While chiropractic care is now a mainstream choice, it is still considered a form of alternative treatment for pain management and relief. This therapy involves manipulating the body’s alignment for pain relief and improving the body’s function. Experts consider chiropractic to be a system of therapy since it can include other forms of treatments such as ergonomic training, exercise and postural education, and manipulative and manual therapies.
The best part is, most chiropractors work with other pain professionals, primary care doctors, and surgeons to provide better treatment for patients experiencing body pain. Specialists of this treatment also use a wide range of products and strategies to promote effective pain relief. It’s best to find an experienced practitioner to ensure if this is the best choice for you.
4. Hypnotherapy
Numerous studies found that hypnotherapy can help reduce the pain associated with different chronic pain conditions. In fact, other findings indicate that it’s even more effective in pain relief compared to non-hypnotic interventions like physical therapy. Generally, this alternative therapy is a vital part of many treatment programs designed for numerous medical and psychological conditions.
Hypnotherapy aims to help people gain control over their physical bodies or awareness state, include symptoms of pain. In most cases, this alternative treatment can reduce chronic and acute pain and even help people save money in surgeries.
5. Herbal Supplements
Today, you now find a huge array of plant-based or herbal supplements beneficial for pain relief. Aside from reducing pain, some of these supplements can also support the overall health and wellness of a patient. Depending on the patients’ condition and the quality of herbal supplements, they can potentially give direct relief by improving joint health and reducing inflammation.
Some of the famous herbs used for pain relief include willow bark, cloves, turmeric, aloe vera, Boswellia, eucalyptus, ginger, and even green tea. Take note though certain herbs may interact with drugs currently taking for pain or other conditions, which can be dangerous to your health. Kindly seek your physician’s advice before trying out any herbal remedy.
Alternative pain management treatments surely offer amazing benefits for everyone, from naturally reducing health risks to addressing emotional health too. However, keep in mind that this article is meant to provide only medical information, not professional advice for people experiencing pain. It is not advisable to forge any alternative pain therapies or any conventional treatment without your physician’s guidance. It is dangerous, especially if you’re suffering from more serious health problems.
