6 Holistic Approaches to Treat Chronic Pain

6 Holistic Approaches to Treat Chronic Pain : We believe pain to be the most straightforward medical complaint to treat, but it is not always true. Contrary to popular belief, pain is a complex web of multiple factors. Due to this complexity, pain cannot be treated simply as a seasonal allergy or flu. People frequently take an over-the-counter pill in hopes of relieving pain, but it is not the solution at all times.

Moreover, when pain lasts for longer than three months, namely chronic pain, it gets even harder to treat it using a single approach, i.e., medication.

According to CDC, chronic pain impacts a staggering 50 million US adults, of which 20 million suffer high-impact chronic pain. It puts people in a constant battle against aches that interrupts their daily activity. Our body, in chronic pain, sends stress signals to the brain, further heightening the sense of perception. It becomes a vicious cycle that is quite hard to break.

Treating Chronic Pain

Whatever the underlying cause of chronic pain, its treatment should always take a multidisciplinary track. An approach that considers the mental, emotional, and spiritual needs in addition to the physical demands of the human body and applies multiple treatment modalities would serve better. In simpler words, this approach is named holistic pain management. In this regard, the five element theory suggests that imbalances in the elements can contribute to illnesses such as chronic pain and inflammation. By incorporating all-inclusive strategies like acupuncture, herbal medicine, and dietary changes, we can help our body heal and restore the balance of these elements.

Below are a few holistic solutions to end your search for pain relievers.

Acupuncture

Traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture believes in healing the body by restoring the healthy flow of an energy or life force called ‘chi.’ It involves inserting thin needles into the acupuncture points on the body. Since these needles are almost the width of a hair strand, it generally does not hurt even after being left in place for up to forty minutes. Sometimes the practitioner may manipulate the needles by applying heat or low-level electrical pulses.

Western practitioners see it as a way of healing muscles and stimulating nerves to promote better blood flow and pain relief. According to a study, acupuncture can help alleviate various pains, ranging from migraine and tension headaches to ameliorating side effects of cancer treatment. It is effective in healing pain in the knee, lower back, and neck.
Meditation Training

More than eighteen million adults have used meditation as one of the mind-body techniques to cope with chronic stress and relieve pain. It effectively lowers stress hormones, decreases muscle tension, and relieves pain. While meditating, in a way, you are controlling your thoughts and redirecting them from stressful stimuli such as pain. There are several different types of meditation and mind-body techniques that you may want to try. A few of them are listed below:
- - Mantra meditation
  - Mindfulness meditation/vipassana
  - Yoga- involves concentrating on the center of your body
  - Qigong- a Chinese mind-body technique
There’s no one strict style of meditation. Some techniques focus on breathing and progressive relaxation, while others may engage you in guided imagery. You can find a meditation group or learn from YouTube videos if you are new to meditation.
Therapeutic Massage

For generations, we have believed in rubbing away the pain with massage. According to a study, massage is a patterned and purposeful manipulation of your soft tissues and muscles that helps reduce sustained tension and spasms alongside the reduction in stress to promote overall well-being.

Chronic pain puts your body in an overworked condition. With all the energy directed to the site of pain, the rest of the muscles are usually tired and tensed. Massage improves blood flow and lymphatic drainage, removing toxins from the body and boosting the immune system. It also increases the levels of happy hormones in the body- dopamine and serotonin- and decreases cortisol levels by 31%.
Chiropractic Care

The chiropractic field focuses on controlled force on a spinal joint. It is concerned with the alignment of your back muscles through hands-on manipulation, which improves the spine’s mobility. There is a wide range of treatments offered by a chiropractor, such as;
- Spinal manipulation can reduce pain and nerve irritability, increasing the range of motion by gently realigning the spine using controlled pressure on affected vertebrae.
- Postural exercises help to reduce stress on the back.
- Ergonomic training mainly reduces your chance of straining back by teaching you how to walk, sit, or stand correctly.
- Temperature therapy involves the use of either hot or cold to reduce pain.
Herbal Supplements

With prescription medications having high rates of adverse effects, herbal medicines are considered a safe alternative. For years, herbal medicines have been effective in treating varying ailments. Some popular supplements include fish oils, EPA Fatty acids, glucosamine, chondroitin, melatonin, omega-3/DHA, and many more. These supplements provide direct relief by reducing inflammation and support overall well-being. Examples include vitamin B, which improves nerve health, primrose and ginger to relieve chronic muscle pain primarily associated with fibromyalgia, and white willow bark for rheumatoid arthritis.
Biofeedback Program

The program uses mind-body connections and teaches patients to become aware of their physiological processes and learn to control them. These processes are usually involuntary things going on in the body, such as brain waves, blood pressure, heart rate, and muscle tension.

A variety of chronic pain and other associated conditions are treatable using this therapy. In this therapy, patients will have sensors installed on their bodies and their physiological data is often viewed digitally. Biofeedback helps you modify your physiological responses to specific triggers and is considered self-regulatory therapy.

Conclusion

Chronic pain can take a toll on you mentally and takes you into the deepest furrows of dull mood, physically and emotionally. It often leads you to jump on the wagon of medicines, including opiates and barbiturates, which may open the gate to addiction. Even when not abused, they can build tolerance until you need more significant doses for the same relief. Do not let this unrelenting chronic pain hinder your day-to-day activities. You can try to stay two steps ahead by reading and exploring the world of holistic pain management to keep your daily functioning unaffected. We hope this guide helped you learn about non-pharmaceutical solutions for chronic pain management.