People experience body pains for a variety of reasons. Chronic pain is pain that lasts for a prolonged period of time — sometimes for many years. It is often the result of arthritis causing degeneration within joints or damage to soft tissue that is causing lingering discomfort and limiting motion. Acute pain, on the other hand, lasts for a short period. It often results from an accident or other trauma.
Regardless of what is causing your body pains, or how long you have been experiencing it, you may not want to resort to pharmaceuticals to relieve it. Luckily there are many natural remedies for pain that are backed by science. In many cases, they can address the root cause of pain instead of masking the symptom. So, the next time you are in pain, try one of these natural options for relief before you head to the medicine cabinet.
1. Herbal Creams and Ointments
Sometimes, especially with minor aches and body pains, a topical cream is the best approach to treating pain. CBD cream is becoming more popular thanks to the legalization of hemp products. It disrupts pain receptors in the brain to relieve pain quickly. It also works to reduce inflammation to encourage healing of an injury. Similarly, topical ointments and patches that use menthol and capsaicin produce a sensation of heat or cold to confuse pain signals between the affected area and your brain.
2. Heat Therapy
Creating the feeling of heat isn’t the only way to use it to your advantage when things hurt. Applying hot compresses or soaking in a warm tub can relieve stiffness and improve mobility in joints. In addition, it improves circulation and relaxes muscles and soft tissue fibers to encourage healing.
3. Acupuncture for Body Pains
Acupuncture is an ancient natural treatment that involves a practitioner inserting very thin needles into the skin. These are placed along meridians of the body thought to stimulate circulation and the flow of energy. Research has shown that acupuncture is effective at treating body pains, particularly pain that is chronic in nature.
4. Therapeutic Massage
Body pains caused by injury or overuse, or that is exacerbated by stress and stiffness, may benefit from a therapeutic massage session. A therapist will target affected areas and work out constrictions and tight spots. In addition to relaxing muscles, massage is also a great way to combat stress. Since elevated stress levels are directly linked to increased pain and illness, that makes massage an excellent choice for pain relief.
5. Aromatherapy for Body Pains
Nature has been shown to reduce body pains and encourage healing. Aromatherapy is a way to use those qualities to your advantage, no matter where you are. It uses essential oils made from medicinal plants to target the olfactory nerve. This allows an almost direct connection to the amygdala — the emotional center of the brain. As you inhale certain scents, such as peppermint and lavender, your brain reduces pain signals. There is strong research that aromatherapy can reduce pain, inflammation, stress and anxiety.
6. A Good Night’s Sleep
Sleep is a crucial part of each day. Most adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep each night to be fully rested and ready for the next day. Signs of sleep deprivation include achiness and increased pain. If you haven’t been getting enough shuteye, try going to bed an hour earlier for a few nights to see if it helps.
7. Gentle Exercise
While the last thing you might want to do when you are in pain is exercise, some gentle forms have actually been shown to lessen body pains and improve range of motion. Yoga and tai chi are both excellent examples. They encourage gentle stretching of muscles and relaxing of joints while also helping to strengthen support muscles and connective tissues. If that sounds like more than you can do to start off, try learning a few foam roller exercises that are designed to address specific types of pain.
You don’t have to resort to prescription, or even over the counter, medicines to treat some types of pain. Natural alternatives like gentle stretching, acupuncture, and topical creams can help. Talk with your doctor before you take anything new if you don’t know what is causing your pain or you have any pre-existing conditions.
