8 Natural Ways To Experience Pain Relief During the Day

Aches and pains are a given in this lifetime. Some of us get the occasional headache while others deal with chronic pain conditions that affect their day-to-day. And while medicines can be helpful at the moment, some come with awful side effects, huge bills, and even dependency. For this reason, many people turn to natural remedies that are effective at eliminating pain, reducing inflammation, and promoting wellness in the body as a whole. But with so many methods to choose from, it can be overwhelming deciding where to start. Here are 8 natural methods to try on your way to healing:

1. CBD

CBD is the healing compound extracted from the cannabis plant that offers health benefits without the feeling of being under the influence. CBD offers many benefits which is why it is used to treat an array of ailments: epilepsy, migraines, and depression to name a few. With use, CBD has been proven to not only work as an anti-inflammatory agent in the body, but also acts as an analgesic—a pain-relieving substance. Edibles CBD can help you address body pain as well as improve the anxiety that comes with managing chronic pain.

2. Ice

There is a reason why ice is applied to a sprained ankle or a bump on the head: it reduces inflammation in acute areas. Any impact to the body due to force causes the area to swell up as a protective response. Applying ice to the area for 24-48 hours calms this response and eases pressure. Ice, cold packs, or even a bag of frozen veggies are effective at decreasing pain and inflammation, allowing for a quicker healing time.

3. Heat

Although ice is great at reducing pain and inflammation for acute places, it is not as effective at addressing pain and stiffness in muscles. This is where heat comes in. Applying heat to the affected area can help relax your muscles and reduce soreness, helping your body to better rehabilitate itself. For example, applying heat when cramping during mensuration is soothing because the heat is allowing the muscles to relax rather than continuously contract. Use heat to feel relaxed on your way to recovery.

4. Breathing

Taking deep breaths enables the sympathetic nervous system to transition out of a fight-or-flight state. A prolonged fight-or-flight response can lead to increased inflammation, high blood pressure, digestive issues, and body pain. Slow, deep breaths takes the body away from this response and eases it back into its natural state.

5. Stretching

Whether sitting at a work desk or sleeping in bed, we often spend an extended period in the same position every day. Empower the body to move the way it wants by incorporating stretches that elongate your form, extend your limbs, and open up your pelvis. While many people participate in yoga for this very reason, doing some solitary stretches in the morning and evening are just as helpful with loosening up the body to relieve pain.

6. Activity

Though stretching is great, activity as a whole is important for circulation, managing inflammation, and increase mobility. All of these things and more impact chronic pain, so incorporating exercise in your day-to-day can reduce pain overall. Walking, running, dancing, sports—no matter what you do, make sure you move!

7. Essential Oils

Essential oils are oils derived from plants and natural ingredients, and are used as aromatherapies, remedies, and perfumes. In this case, essential oils are used as remedies for pain and discomfort. Many essential oils require specific administration practices to produce results. For example, peppermint oil works well with addressing headaches and can either be defused or applied directly to the body. Lavender oil, however, addresses body discomfort and should only be used in a defuser. With so many to choose from, there’s surely an essential oil out there for you.

8. Acupuncture

An Eastern wellness practice that involves placing needles into the skin at particular pressure points, acupuncture is known to address an array of health issues. Fortunately, there’s not just one way to do acupuncture. Different arrangements of needles address different needs in the body according to the setup of our nervous system. Many benefits include improved sleep, better digestion, reduced migraines, and reduction in body pain. Acupuncture might just be the reset your body needs.

Pain Management

No matter where you fall on the pain spectrum, you deserve access to pain management methods that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. It doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated—it just has to be what works best for you. Maybe both heat and ice are helpful or maybe CBD does the trick. No matter what you choose, remain consistent in your method to receive the most impactful results. Whatever makes life better to live is worth doing; choose a life away from pain!