There are more than 100 million adults in the United States that deal with some sort of pain every single day. More than half of these people feel that they have little or no control over their pain… and countless others have turned to narcotic medication to manage the discomfort on a daily basis.
Some people have been on medication for so long and their tolerance is so high that the medicine does absolutely nothing for their pain.
In all my years of being a health care professional, I’ve seen a lot more people suffer from pain due to various issues than from Diabetes, heart disease and cancer. That’s a lot of pain!
It seems like I’ve been getting a higher than usual number of requests from my clients for herbal pain ointment, so this week I’d like to share some holistic steps you can take to help manage pain in your life.
Is Your Pain Chronic or Acute?
Essentially, pain is the body’s way of telling the brain that something is not quite right. It may be an indication that we’re out of alignment, there’s something growing in the body that shouldn’t be there or an adjustment is needed. It’s a clue that we need to pay attention to correct something.
There are two types of pain: acute pain and chronic pain.
Acute pain is when you’re walking down the street and you bump your ankle. You’ll think, “Ouch, that hurts!” The sharp pain you feel in that moment in your ankle is acute.
Chronic pain is when you’ve bumped your ankle, it’s painful, but you don’t get it checked by a doctor. Maybe you’ve fractured a bone, but you don’t know because you haven’t seen a professional. Despite the continued pain, you never go to see anyone and you have an ongoing aching sensation in your ankle for months or even years.
After so much time, it’s possible that you’ll forget how you hurt your ankle in the first place. The fracture will likely heal improperly and the body will be out of alignment, which will cause ongoing pain.
In general, any pain that lasts longer than 6 weeks is considered chronic pain.
Natural Solutions to Relieve Pain
Finding pain relief is important. When people suffer from ongoing pain, they can’t concentrate as well, their sleep becomes interrupted and their natural energy resources are quickly depleted.
Mindful Meditation. Many of us try to ignore or “work through” pain, but when we pay attention to and acknowledge our pain, it helps shift our consciousness. Mindful meditation reminds us that instead of trying to only solve the pain with an outside solution, we can also work on it from the inside. Studies suggest that the greatest benefit of mindful meditation is an enhanced ability to cope with any physical discomfort that may occur.
Many people experience anger, irritability and moodiness when they suffer from chronic pain. When you begin to practice mindfulness, you’ll find that coping with pain is easier. You will likely also find that irritability, anger and depression are reduced as the body and mind work together more harmoniously.
Self-Care Massage. Take good care of yourself when you’re experiencing pain through massage. Use coconut, almond or sesame oil and start with your feet: rub them lovingly and thank them for supporting you. Next, move on to your ankles, your legs, your knees, and continue until you reach the top of your head. With each new body part, give thanks and show appreciation.
At the end of your meditation, thank the Universe for allowing you to have time to check in with your body and go about your day. You will feel better.
Are you looking for natural solutions to manage chronic pain? I would love to talk to you about how I can help. Click HERE to set up a complimentary call with me to talk about what you can do today to find relief from your pain.
Wishing you peace to your mind, wellness to your body and tranquility to your spirit.
Namaste,
Rochel Marie Lawson, RN, AHP, CMS
The Queen of Feeling Fabulous and The Wellness Architect
Blissful Living 4U 