Pain: it is something we all struggle with at some point in our lives. For some, it is a temporary malaise. For others, it is a chronic burden. And for those of us in between, we suffer from menstrual cramps. It seems like there is no way to escape it!
Fortunately, there is a path toward pain relief removed from prescription or over the counter medication. Some people may find that those are the right options for them, and that is fantastic! If you are more hesitant about using drugs, that is fine too. There is no wrong answer when it comes to your pain relief and your body.
Without further ado, here are 6 all natural sources of pain relief.
CBD
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a derivative of the marijuana plant. It is one of many of the marijuana plant’s available extracts, of which there are more than one hundred. There are so many applications for CBD that to describe them all would take up too much space here.
Some may be iffy on using CBD to treat their pain and related symptoms. There is a lot of stigma surrounding the use of marijuana and its many derivatives, but even the most skittish of CBD users do not need to fear any sort of “high” resulting from their use of the stuff.
The vast majority of CBD products are either isolated from the compound which makes people “high,” colloquially known as THC, or are derived from hemp as opposed to the traditional marijuana plant we associate with getting that “high.”
There are topical creams and ointments as well as ingestibles, such as oils, pills, food items, and even drinks that can provide a precise CBD dose to suit your needs.
Chiropractic Medicine
Chiropractic medicine is truly underappreciated when it comes to pain relief. In fact, a good chiropractor can benefit you in numerous ways removed from immediate relief.
“Regular chiropractic therapy may help you improve mobility over time and increase your quality of life over time,” says Brett Franson of Franson Chiropractic. In addition to immediate relief, chiropractic medicine can offer patients the ability to restore range of motion and gradually reduce symptoms with regular treatment.
Magnesium
Magnesium has been found to provide great relief to migraine sufferers, but there is no reason it can’t work for your pain, too. The best thing about this all natural source of pain relief is that there is no downside to ingesting it. You can only be the better for it—so long as your source is whole food and plant-based.
Quinoa, various types of nuts, avocado, and tofu are all great sources of plant based magnesium. If you are not sensitive to dairy, certain fortified yogurts might also be a great option for you.
Cold and Heat Therapy
This seems like such an obvious one that you may question why I am even listing it here, but alternating between hot and cold on any source of pain on your body can be a HUGE boon to your relief efforts. This method is most effective when paired with other modes of relief, but it is cheap and easy.
All you need is a reusable hot pack, cold pack, or one that can double as both. Usually, hot packs are to be heated up in the microwave, but there are some that heat up via other means or autonomously if you do not have access to a microwave.
Turmeric
Turmeric is such a powerful and versatile little spice. Not only does it offer delicious and poignant, Southeast Asian style dishes, but it also has noted anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation has long been targeted as the root cause of pain, so incorporating as many inflammation busting foods as you can into your diet is an absolute must for sufferers.
The worst that can happen by making a turmeric a staple in your food is that you will find the quality and deliciousness of your dishes to increase. Yum!
Yoga
You have probably heard it a thousand times before. “Get into yoga!” all of your newly formed diehard yoga enthusiast friends say. That’s right—the ones that ask that you refer to them as yogis from now on.
The truth is that yoga can be a little daunting. The exercise boasts so many passionate and vocal converts that it is easy to get turned off at the prospect of joining their cultish devotion. But there is a reason that so many yogis commit fully to the mindful practice of yoga: it really works!
Not only does it increase flexibility and tone your muscles, but it is great for alleviating pain in both your mind and body. Of course, not all yoga classes are the same, and neither are all yoga poses. There are likely quite a few in your area, however, that specifically target those who suffer pain.