Where to Start when Seeking Natural Pain Relief

There are a great number of places to look for natural pain relief, for those who want to avoid the problems associated with pharmaceutical help. Physical therapy and gentle stretching are always a good, drug-free place to start healing from a healed injury that is causing chronic pain. 

Dietary Supplements

• Tumeric – used for centuries in Eastern medicine, Turmeric is a common spice that also has anti-inflammatory properties. In eight clinical studies, 500 mg of turmeric was given to people suffering from two common forms of arthritis twice daily, and they largely reported a reduction of stiffness and joint pain
• White willow bark – a natural source of aspirin that has been used by healers, possibly for centuries, white willow bark is an effective anti-inflammatory but also has similar side effects to aspirin, so take.   care must be taken for those who take other medications 

• Eucalyptus essential oil – a 2013 study found that people recovering from knee replacement who inhaled eucalyptus oil for 30 minutes, 3 days a wee, experienced increased pain relief as compared to placebo of almond oil
• Devil’s Claw – reportedly a good herbal source of pain relief for musculoskeletal and arthritis-related pain, studies have shown that over long periods of time, people who took Devil’s Claw supplements alongside traditional pain relievers were able to cut back on their pain medicine after several weeks, 60% more than those who used pain medicines alone.

CBD 

CBD has found a growing number of devoted fans in the last few years; there are some contraindications of taking CBD orally. For instance, it is advised to avoid the use of CBD if currently using immunosuppressant drugs, which are typically used to avoid the problem of transplanted donor tissues or organs.

Additionally, certain medications commonly prescribed for heart issues (Calcium Channel Blockers, aspirin), NSAID drugs (Aleve, Ibuprofen aka. Advil), corticosteroids (Medrol Dose-Pack, SoluMedrol), bronchodilators used for asthma or COPD (Ventolin), antibiotic medication (including Zithromax and Amoxicillin), and some medications commonly used for emotional or psychiatric problems (benzodiazepines like Xanax and Ativan, as well as the antidepressants Celexa, Lexapro) should not be combined with oral CBD without the approval of a medical practitioner.

Always ask your physician for advice before starting any oral supplement or dietary enhancers CBD topical preparations, however, have few or no drug interactions reported, so if adverse drug interactions are a concern, obtaining a CBD lotion or ointment might be the answer for those seeking natural pain relief from CBD. 

Deep Tissue Massage & Acupuncture

Scheduling a massage with hot rocks or a deep tissue massage is a good way to obtain relief from many types of pain. Acupuncture is an alternative medical treatment that originated in the east and is widely accepted by western practitioners as providing valid and tangible relief from pain. If free time or money is an issue, obtaining a massage chair or a massage gun is one way to get the benefits of deep tissue stimulation at home, whenever the time is available. 

High-quality massage guns are less expensive than massage chairs, topping out in price around the $500-$600 range. More economical models are being introduced as they gain in popularity, opening the door to a wider audience regularly. 

Maintain a Positive Attitude

The power of positive thought is a well-documented way to positively affect health problems. Staying active, and keeping connected to loved ones who can give much needed emotional support, is an easy way to stay positive and shower the body with good thoughts. Try to avoid negative people and needlessly stressful situations when aiming for a life that is healthy, happy, and pain-free.