Treatments For PAIN

Are you in pain but avoid going to the doctor because you hate hospitals? There are many of us who’d rather like to suffer from pain than visiting a doctor. We either hate the smell and feel of hospitals, or don’t like the idea of popping pills. So why not consider alternative treatments for pain management?
Pain is one of the most common causes for seeing a doctor worldwide. It is the major symptom in many physical ailments and may adversely affect the functioning capacity of an individual and deteriorate the quality of life. Pain may spring from a broken bone, dislocated or worn-out joint, bruised muscle, strained or sprained ligament, impinged nerve or irritation of nerve roots.
What is alternative pain treatment?
Pharmaceutical medications may not be the only means of pain relief available to you. Nowadays, alternative treatments for pain management are becoming increasingly popular. The term alternative treatment refers to a therapeutic intervention or medical treatment that does not enjoy adequate scientific documentation or approval as a safe and effective means to treat a specific medical condition.
But nowadays, a marked craze for various alternative treatments is noticeable among the masses. People have realized that pharmaceutical drugs are not free from side-effects. So they think that the alternative treatment forms are a better option to rely upon. Our focus of discussion now will be on the various alternative treatments for pain management. Each type differs from one another in terms of principles and methodology.
Are they safe?
Yes, these methods are almost always safe. And in fact these are safer than most of your allopathic medications and treatments because they aren’t accompanied by side effects.
Alternative pain treatments like acupressure and acupuncture are safe, and so are mind-body therapies. Most treatments that will use medication will also be herbal-based.
7 Top pain relief alternative therapies
The various alternative treatments or therapies for pain management are discussed below:
1. Mind-body therapies                                                                                                                                                                                                                            These therapies encompass various modes of treatment directed to enhance the mind’s ability to control bodily functions and symptoms of the diseased body. Hypnosis, meditation, bio-feedback, guided imagery and relaxation techniques are some approaches that fall under the label of the mind-body therapies. These approaches claim that they can alleviate chronic pain-related discomfort.
2. Acupuncture and acupressure
Acupuncture is a mode of treatment that originated in China in the 16th century. It involves the use of very fine needles that are poked into the patient’s body. This method of treatment fosters the balance of energy in the body. The needles are poked in certain points of the body and this stimulates the vital energy meridians of the body. The World Health Organization certifies acupuncture as an effective pain relief method. Acupressure‘ is based on the same theory as acupuncture. But here, instead of needles, pressure is applied at the distinct points of the body.
3. Chiropractic treatment and massage
Chiropractic treatments claim to alleviate pain in patients suffering from back and neck pain. But their effectiveness as a pain management mode is still very much under research. Massage, if done perfectly, can relieve pain. It takes off pain by boosting blood circulation and eliminating tension and stiffness from the affected region of the body. Massaging can also stop the production of certain pain-generating chemicals in the body. Massaging like chiropractic treatments can lessen back pain and neck pain.
4. Therapeutic touch and Reiki
These methods claim to energize the self-healing processes within the patient’s body. These methods do not require any physical proximity between the patient and practitioner. It is a flow of positive energy that can travel through any medium and brush aside pain or any other bodily disorder. The efficacy of these modes of treatments is yet to be proved.
5. Herbal remedies
There are many pain relief herbs like capsaicin, turmeric, fever few, devil’s claw, kava kava, ginseng and ginger. But before using these herbs, one needs to consult a doctor because sometimes some herbs may react with other medications and produce undesirable side-effects.
6. Nutritional supplements
Certain nutritional supplements can alleviate pain and there is a definite evidence of this in the various scientific studies. Fish oil supplements, chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine sulfate are some among the many nutritional supplements that can manage pain.
7. Pain healing dietary approaches
It is believed that by curbing the intake of dietary fat and switching over to pure and raw plant food, one can get relief from pains and aches. This dietary change actually checks the inflammatory response in the body and thereby eases pain.
So now you know about the various alternative treatments for pain management. But remember that none of these measures are scientifically proven. If you don’t want to try anything that isn’t backed by science, allopath treatment is your only solution. It is, however, recommended to consult your doctor before opting for any of these.