Natural Pain Management Options

Meditation and hypnosis are relaxation methods that you might try to relieve your pain. Some people don’t realize the power that your mindset – your mood and stress levels – have over how much pain you’re in.

You might find that your pain goes from an 8 on the pain chart to a 5 or 6. This type of alternative pain therapy helps you get more mileage out of your other pain relief strategies.

Deep breathing can help. Prevention Magazine had an article about how deep breathing is commonly used in childbirth to alleviate pain – but it’s not just for women delivering a baby!

At the very least, deep breathing is an opportunity for you to learn how to make the pain matter less, and not focusing on it will naturally alleviate it to some degree.

Acupuncture is a holistic practice for dealing with many things – pain being one of them. It might sound like having small needles strategically placed in your body would increase pain, but it’s just the opposite.

You might even be able to manage your pain just through your nutrition choices. Caffeine, for example, has been known to contribute to headaches. Sometimes a lack of caffeine, like when you’re weaning yourself off of sodas, can cause a headache.

There are also fun ways to manage pain that have proven effective. These are off-the-wall pain relievers that you may not have considered. They include:

• Looking at pictures of loved ones
• Shouting words (swear words for some, not for others)
• Smelling an apple – green in particular
• Socialization with friends
• Listening to music

No one should have to live in a state of pain. Even infrequent bouts can cause many people to have increased anxiety and stress. Make sure you stay aware of the frequency and length of these episodes and talk to your doctor to see what kinds of options you have.

Remember that not all doctors think alike. You may want to have a second or third opinion so that you get a well-rounded view of what you can do to manage and hopefully eliminate your pain for good.