There are over two million Americans who are addicted to prescription pain medicines. Most of these contain opiums. If you hate the thought of taking drugs when you are hurting for fear that you get addicted, then there are several types of pain control treatments that you may want to consider. While these drug-free treatments are less studied than traditional drugs, there is anecdotal evidence of their effectiveness. You may want to consider these four.
Massage Therapy
If you have ever woken up with sore spots from an old unhealthy bed and when you rubbed the area it felt better, then you have practiced a form of massage therapy. Many studies indicate that massage therapy helps to increase serotonin in the body. This natural reaction helps people feel less pain and allows them to get better sleep. Massage therapy has also been shown to be effective in increasing range of motion and lowering anxiety. In fact, up to 89 percent of Americans believe that massage can be effective in treating pain. Nearly one in three Americans say that they have gotten a massage to help with their own pain. If you or your partner want to do professional-grade massages yourselves, instead of paying thousands of dollars for regular massages, you can purchase Earthlite massage supplies online and take classes until you’re as good as a pro.
Acupuncture
More mainstream doctors than ever before are recommending acupuncture to their patients to treat chronic pain. People who give acupuncture treatment apply needles, heat and massage to various parts of the body. It has been shown to be particularly effective in treating chronic pain along with pain in the lower back, knees, neck and headaches. Acupuncture can even be used on pediatric patients where the use of traditional pain medicines is often limited. The evidence of the effectiveness of acupuncture is so strong that some insurance companies are starting to cover the cost of treatments. The aging population and the opium epidemic is likely to increase the use of acupuncture in the future.
Hypnotherapy
The use of hypnotherapy may help break the stress-pain cycle. Hypnotherapy works by affecting the affective part of the brain to suggest that people no longer experience pain. It has been shown to be particularly effective in the treatment of chronic pain, although it can be used to treat burn patients, child labor, dental problems and surgical procedures. It is often found to be most effective when coupled with a comprehensive pain management plan.
Essential Oils
Many people find that using essential oils helps them manage pain. Some like basil, peppermint and lavender have been shown to be particularly effective in reducing inflammation in the body while others like balsam fir, spruce and palo santo have been shown to help reduce muscle and bone pain. Still, others like marjoram, thyme and rosemary may be effective in treating joint pain. Essential oils can be diffused, rubbed with a carrier oil on the body part that is hurting or used in many different ways.
The opium crisis has led to many Americans choosing not to take medicines containing opium for fear of getting addicted to them. Instead, Americans are turning to more natural treatments including massage therapy, acupuncture, hypnotherapy and essential oils. If you are experiencing pain like muscle sprains, then you may want to try one of these treatments before popping a pain pill in your mouth.
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