The opioid crisis claims over forty-seven thousand lives each year, which makes finding non-addictive methods to treat pain a crucial step to ending it. However, finding painkillers that aren’t addictive and don’t have other negative side effects can be easier said than done.
If you have pain that you struggle with and don’t want to turn to the pharmaceutical industry to resolve it, don’t lose hope. There are many natural, organic pain relief methods available to you if you know where to look. Below, we’ve listed seven of the safest, most well-known, and most effective natural remedies for pain.
1. Acupuncture for Pain Relief
Using acupuncture to relieve pain is one of the oldest methods in the book. Acupuncture has been shown to help people cope with osteoarthritis, musculoskeletal pain, and tension or migraine headaches. While little is understood about how this ancient Chinese healing technique works, anecdotal evidence suggests that it can help.
Another good thing about acupuncture is that it’s regulated by the state. Many states require any would-be acupuncturists to pass examinations and obtain the appropriate licenses. So you can rest assured that you won’t have to settle for a back alley stick and poke to get the relief you need.
2. Yoga to Relieve Chronic Pain Isn’t a Stretch
It’s no stretch to say that the more you move, the less muscle, nerve, and joint pain you have to deal with. Many conditions like arthritis get worse if you remain stationary. Yoga combines many pain relief techniques already used in physical therapy like stretching and mindfulness meditation.
Yoga incorporates self-care, breathing exercises, and many other relaxation methods. This also makes it an exceptional method for managing the stress and anxiety that comes along with chronic pain.
3. Treat Pain With Temperature Adjustments
Adjusting the body’s temperature is one of the oldest, most accessible types of organic pain relief. It’s so common that doctors will make it a regular part of treatment for strains and sprains: Elevate and ice the afflicted area.
Whether you should use heat or cold for pain relief depends on the cause of the ache. If the cause is muscle pain or stiffness, then heat makes for the best treatment method. You can use heating pads, hot baths, or hot water bottles to help ease this type of pain.
If the cause of your pain is an acute injury or inflammation, then you should treat it with cold instead, as the increased blood flow from the heat might worsen your symptoms otherwise. Applying a cold compress or ice can slow the nerve responses and interrupt pain signals.
4. Essential Oils for Organic Pain Relief
Another common method of organic pain relief is to use essential oils to alleviate your symptoms. Some common essential oils used to alleviate pain include:
- Lavender essential oil: Most commonly known for its sleep-inducing effects, this oil can also reduce headache pain
- Rosemary essential oil: The rosemary plant has been shown to help reduce seizures and inflammation
- Peppermint essential oil: Peppermint is one of the oldest natural remedies for pain, which also has antimicrobial properties
- Eucalyptus essential oil: Eucalyptus plants can help reduce swelling and inflammation, which will relieve pain
You can find many of these essential oils online or in local natural foods markets. However, it’s recommended that you mix or dilute these oils with a base oil like olive or avocado oil, as they can be a bit intense for skin contact. You should also take care to mind your dosage, as too much of certain essential oils can cause serious side effects.
5. Get Spicy With Capsaicin
Capsaicin, the chemical most well-known for causing that mouth-burning sensation when you eat spicy food, can provide natural pain relief. How it accomplishes this is a matter of debate in the scientific community. Current research suggests that it does this by means of disrupting the skin’s pain receptors, making the nerves less sensitive to the deeper cause of your pain.
You can find many topical creams or patches with capsaicin in them online or in stores. Just make sure that you’re using gloves to apply them, as any accidental exposure to your eyes will lead to serious pain.
6. Chill Out With CBD (or THC)
The pain-relieving benefits of CBD and other marijuana byproducts like THC has been well-documented for years. This documentation is a cornerstone of the fight for marijuana legalization for medical and recreational use. CBD oil can reduce pain, stiffness, and anxiety symptoms.
7. Herbal Supplements Can Help
Herbal supplements are among the most common methods of organic pain relief on the market. There are a host of choices available to you, including but by no means limited to:
- Ginger: This herb, proven to settle an upset stomach, has shown serious promise in the field of pain relief
- Turmeric: This herb gets used to reduce inflammation, which can help alleviate pain
- Kratom: A relative newcomer to the field, strains like Yellow Vein Kratom have shown promise in alleviating chronic pain
- Feverfew: An old, traditional medicine with somewhat mixed reviews that nonetheless shows promise in treating migraines
When purchasing such herbal supplements, there’s a certain level of risk, as their claims don’t get double-checked and verified by the Food and Drug Administration. Make sure to check your formulations and customer reviews before you make your final purchase.
Looking for More Organic Pain Relief Solutions?
Finding a method of organic pain relief is crucial to living a better life. However, the above methods may or may not work to alleviate your specific symptoms. If that is the case, you have other options.
To discover what these options may be and how they can work for you, check out our blog. We update you each day with more helpful articles to assist you in living your best life!