Natural Pain Relief, Part I – Overview
One of the reasons why people stay with painkilling drugs, such as OxyContin, despite severe side effects, a lack of efficacy due to tolerance, and the risk of addiction is that people do not believe, are not aware of the fact that there are natural – and effective – non drug alternatives available for relief and recovery from pain.
We are very much conditioned to think of pain relief in terms of using an OTC drug or prescription medication. We think of natural pain relief as being a herbal remedy, to be found in packaged doses at a health store, intended to be used more or less as a medication.
Doctors tend to think in terms of surgical intervention and drug use for the treatment of pain, and both can inhibit our natural healing capacity.
Traditional healthcare has pathologized pain, seeing it as being something that we do not want, don’t want to work through, or understand. Pain is regarded as a medical condition to be treated with drugs, medicated away.
Many feel that an absence of pain means health, or at least a capacity to soldier on.
True healing brings an absence of pain – because we have taken the time to understand the meaning of our pain – and worked to resolve its causes. In our haste to get pain relief we miss an opportunity to understand that pain is only a messenger – the delivery of a message that something, somewhere is not “well”, and is in need of healing.
Whether our pain is physical or caused by emotional tension, there will be natural methods that we can use to help mind and body to heal.
Physical pain and emotional distress are intertwined.
Emotional distress causes physical “symptoms”, physical symptoms such as pain cause psychological distress. Pain can be intensified by our emotional response to it.
Some insight into this intricate situation is provided by an unexpected side effect of antidepressant drugs.
Whereas painkilling drugs have long been known to have antidepressant effects, doctors are now finding that some types of antidepressant drugs provide effective pain relief.
The experience of “pain” is highly subjective – and is affected by many factors.
The main arguments in favor of using drugs for pain relief are based on extreme cases. When pain is acute and unbearable – drugs are put up as being the only humane option to provide respite, and dignity. There are many pain drugs available to ease the daily stress of living.
The main reason why we choose to use drugs of any kind, for pain relief, in preference to resolving, correcting what is causing the pain is that we feel overwhelmed and powerless to do otherwise than use drugs to overcome and deal with our pain.
At a psychological level, we don’t have the life skills, the hope and resilience to best resolve the causes of our pain - all we want is pain relief so that we can get on with living.
What we fail to understand in our dialogue with pain, is that it is our chosen way of living that defines our experience of pain.
Exploring the relationship between lifestyle, stress, and pain is a road less travelled. Some will refuse to go there. Pain is something beyond our control – and we need drugs to cure it.
An article on Spine Health is thoughtfully put together by Stephanie, with a list of pain relievers that are both natural and easy – that release your inner endorphins, for natural pain reduction.
Good food and good company – laughter is said to be the best medicine. Heat packs, cold packs have their benefits and bring symptomatic relief from muscular sprains, period pains, and headaches.
You can get movement and activity back into your life – with exercise, massage and joint mobilization techniques. Although it might be painful at first, the creaks and groans of exercise or subtle feelings of tension release brought on by a chiropractor are often the first symptom of regeneration and healing.
Getting outdoors brings the benefits of oxygenating the body, sunlight helps to bring healing, and can relieve depression. Getting out and about gives us an opportunity for new relationships and new ideas.
Sometimes rest, more sleep, deep relaxation is appropriate for pain – enabling natural healing to happen at a physical and emotional level.
Help for emotional pain can come through guided imagery, meditation, some people use hypnosis. We can also use techniques to realign our energy – pilates or acupuncture. – and last but not least – we need to make sure that we are getting enough quality sleep, exercise and nutrition.
Genuine natural pain relief is provided in a holistic context. Holistic healthcare methods use complementary healing techniques so as to mobilise body resources, raise awareness, and energy levels - use methods that enhance overall “wellness” in a person.
Dealing with pain by natural methods means giving up drug use, and usng a comprehensive approach to the complete resolution of what is causing the pain.
There are many types of natural help that people can use for pain relief in order to bring an end to physical and mental suffering.
The more we are willing to look beyond our pain and see it in perspective, the more in control we will feel.
Understanding and resolving our pain, using the comprehensive Narconon program brings total freedom from drug use and from drug addiction.
