In today’s world, there is basically a drug prescription for every ailment, from a sore throat to a broken ankle. We have been trained to turn to prescriptions for pain relief. In many cases, prescription drugs are the right option. But in some cases, they are not immediately necessary, especially with more minor injuries and strains. Here are three ways to help relieve pain without drug use.
Stretching
Many physical discomforts stem from using the body ineffectively, or even lack of use. If this is the cause of your ailment, you should always try some light stretching before turning to Advil or another prescription drug for relief.
For example, if you are experiencing, a headache, stomach ache, menstrual cramps, and any kind of muscle cramps or even psychological stress like anxiety, stretching the body can help provide some relief by increasing blood flow. Some of the best exercises and stretches you can do to help relieve muscle pain are stretches that focus on opening up the low back and abdomen, such as cat/cow stretch, and seated or laying down twist. Anything that opens the hips is also good, since we naturally tend to store a lot of tension in our hips. Before engaging in any new stretching regimen, be sure to consult your physician or local healthcare provider, like EMU health – Medical Clinic.
In addition, if you experience any of these body issues, one of the best things you can do is drink water, as many headaches and muscle cramps are caused by dehydration. Be sure to drink the recommended amount of eight cups of water per day, and even more if you are particularly active. Proper hydration can prevent many pain issues before they even have the chance to begin.
Revisit Your Diet
If you’re experience pain and discomfort in the body, the source may be internal: meaning the foods you’re putting into your body and how you’re currently fueling up. When the body is in pain, it’s typically because some muscle, joint, or ligament is inflamed. By switching the food and drink you ingest to an “anti-inflammatory diet,” you can automatically decrease some of these pain instances in the body.
An anti-inflammatory diet includes foods that reduce the body’s natural inflammatory responses (which may times arise to help protect the body from further injury). An anti-inflammatory diet involves replacing sugary, refined foods with whole, nutrient-rich foods, and also substantially increasing the intake of antioxidants, like those found in blueberries, strawberries, pecans, spinach, kale, sweet potatoes, and more.
By adjusting your diet to minimize inflammatory response, you can help cut pain off before it begins.
Essential Oils
Essential oils and other homeopathic medicines have become increasingly popular over the last several years. There are many natural essential oil remedies for reducing pain and treating other ailments. For example, peppermint oil can help treat pain caused by tension headaches, and also treat discomfort from stomach issues. Lavender oil is another popular oil for its soothing properties (which can help with sleep issues), as well as its anti-inflammatory and analgesic qualities.
Want to learn more about pain relief solutions? Contact EMU Health-Medical Clinic:
83-40 Woodhaven Blvd, Glendale, NY 11385 (718) 850-4368.