Do you suffer from back pain, aching joints, or sore muscles for extended periods? You are not alone. In fact, chronic pain is more common than you think, with an estimated fifty million adults in the US suffering from it while 19.6 million having experienced high-impact chronic pain according to a 2016 study by the National Center for Health Statistics.
One of the most common treatments for pain is analgesics or painkillers, but they are notorious for their side effects, which can range from mild drowsiness to more severe health problems like liver damage. If you are looking for alternative ways for managing pain, the following are four trendy ones that you might want to consider.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is one of the oldest practices in ancient Chinese medicine. In the past, many people thought of it as weird because of the uncommon procedure, which involves puncturing the skin with needles. Nowadays, however, acupuncture has gained popularity in the mainstream, especially when it comes to pain management. Some studies have found that acupuncture could be effective in treating back injuries, sports-related injuries, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia.
The science behind acupuncture is not yet clear, but some research suggests that it stimulates the release of endorphins, which are the chemicals responsible for blocking pain in the body. In the case of ancient Chinese doctors, they believed that health problems were a result of energy imbalance in the body. These imbalances are remedied by inserting needles into the body’s fourteen major meridians, or energy channels, in order to stimulate them.
Acupuncture may be useful for treating menstrual pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, headaches, and lower back pain. However, to ensure its efficacy and safety, it is important that you look for a well-trained professional acupuncturist who uses only sterilized needles.
Cannabis
Marijuana has been used since ancient times to treat various health conditions. An ancient Chinese surgeon known as Hua Tuo is often credited for being the first person in recorded history to apply cannabis for anesthetic purposes. In Ancient Egypt, cannabis was used in suppositories to alleviate pain caused by hemorrhoids, and Ancient Indian texts reveal that cannabis was frequently used to treat headaches, insomnia, gastrointestinal disorders, and other pain-related conditions.
Despite its many medical uses in the ancient world, it is only recently that cannabis has seen mainstream acceptance thanks to widespread legalization. Cannabis contains cannabidiol, better known as CBD, an active chemical compound well known for its anti-inflammatory, antitumoral, and anticonvulsant and neuroprotective benefits.
If you are thinking of using cannabis as a pain treatment, you might consider getting it in pure CBD oil form, which offers a host of health benefits minus the notable high commonly associated with cannabis. However, you must to do some research before buying one since CBD oils are quite trendy these days. Take a look into their labels if it contains 0.3% THC or less.
Keep in mind that although marijuana laws have relaxed in recent years, legislation varies across states and workplaces. Some companies may still ban marijuana use in the workplace even if they are in a state where weed has been legalized. Make sure you are up-to-date with the drug policies in your place of employment so you can secure necessary medical documentation and avoid any prickly situations.
Chiropractic Techniques
Founded in the 1890s by D. D. Palmer, chiropractic encompasses the diagnosis and treatment of medical disorders involving the musculoskeletal system, particularly the spine. The technique traces its origins to the folk medicine of bone setting and has evolved to include principles of vitalism, spiritual inspiration, and rationalism.
In the past, chiropractic was often viewed with suspicion and dismissed as pseudoscience. However, in recent years, mainstream health-care institutions and governmental organizations like the World Health Organization have recognized chiropractic to be a viable complementary and alternative health treatment.
Chiropractors treat the neuromusculoskeletal system without the use of drugs or surgery and mostly focus on manipulating, massaging, mobilizing, stimulating, or adjusting the spine and related tissues. The techniques are useful for treating headaches, neck pain, whiplash injury, and back pain. In addition to pain relief, chiropractic manipulation may also offer relief from stress and tension by enhancing blood flow.
Dietary Modifications
Recent studies have shown a link between diet and inflammation. Inflammation has a dual effect on your health. On one hand, it is your body’s natural way of fighting disease and kick-starting the healing process. On the other hand, chronic inflammation happens when your body’s immune system remains “turned on” even after you have recovered from an injury or illness.
This can have many adverse effects on your health, including constant pain in your muscles, tissues, and joints. Chronic inflammation has also been associated with fatal diseases like diabetes, some cancers, and heart disease. One way to treat pain caused by inflammation is to modify your diet.
Studies have consistently shown that foods high in sugar, artificial trans fats, and refined carbs can cause inflammation, so it’s best to cut back or completely eliminate these from your diet. Some studies have also shown that a mostly vegetarian diet can be helpful for people suffering from fibromyalgia. Aside from modifying your diet, you can also consider consuming dietary supplements like glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, and fish oils, which have shown certain effectiveness in treating knee osteoarthritis.
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