Pain is a small word that wreaks havoc on the lives of millions of people all over the world. Whether it’s a minor headache or migraine, back pain or menstrual pain, arthritic pain, or muscle soreness, it’s an uncomfortable condition that is often debilitating. It can make it difficult to carry out daily activities and enjoy life to the fullest.
People who suffer from pain of any type will tell you how it affects every aspect of their lives. And they aren’t exaggerating. It can affect your physical and emotional well-being, causing stress, anxiety, and a lack of sleep. Whether you have chronic pain or acute discomfort, finding relief can be a challenge. But, finding the right way for managing pain is as much important – if not more – as popping pills.
So, if you are tired of constantly taking medications to overcome pain, we are here to share some amazing methods for relieving pain that you can try at home.
Understand The Cause Of Your Pain
Before running off to your kitchen to try home remedies or making important changes in your routine, you must understand the type of pain that’s bothering you. If you don’t exactly know about the cause of your pain, you can seek answers to the following simple questions.
- Can you accurately locate the origin to your pain?
- Is it acute or chronic?
- Does it affect your muscles or joints?
- Does the pain radiate to other areas?
- What are the factors that alleviate and exacerbate the pain?
Once you have the answers to these questions, you can understand your pain better and make appropriate changes or additions to your lifestyle to deal with it. Note that it’s also important to consult a doctor before making any big decisions regarding your pain. However, you don’t have to resort to medications or invasive procedures to relieve your pain. There are several natural and non-invasive ways to manage pain at home, using techniques that have been used for centuries.
How To Treat The Pain At Home?
1. Use Natural Pain Killers
Whenever we feel pain in any area of our body, our first instinct is to grab the nearest pain medication and down it with a glass of water. While that may be helpful for cases such as menstrual pain or simple headaches, we all know medications come with side effects and addictive potential. Therefore, it’s better to reach for natural painkillers instead of ones that may potentially harm you in the long term. The best part about natural painkillers is that you already have them in your home!
Clove
Clove has been used for centuries in traditional medicine practices to relieve pain and soothe inflammation. This spice that comes from the buds of the clove tree contains several compounds, including eugenol, which has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.
Clove oil (eugenol) can be used to relieve pain since it has a numbing effect. Additionally, it can reduce inflammation by inhibiting the production of certain enzymes that cause irritation, redness, and swelling.
It can be used to treat arthritic pain, toothache, headache, and cold. You can apply clove oil directly on the affected area and massage it gently. However, we advise you to dilute it since it can be irritating to the skin.
Boswellia
Boswellia, also known as Indian frankincense, is an herbal supplement that’s used for pain relief and management in many areas of medicine. It works by inhibiting the production of inflammatory molecules such as leukotrienes and cytokines.
This is mostly useful for managing pain associated with inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and other joint disorders.
Turmeric
Turmeric is another natural compound that’s an excellent pain reliever. The active constituent in turmeric is curcumin which is known for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Several studies have shown that turmeric can be effective in treating various painful conditions, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other inflammatory joint disorders. It’s also beneficial for headaches, menstrual cramps, and postoperative pain.
There are multiple ways to consume turmeric for pain. You can grind the spice or use dried turmeric powder and mix it into milk or smoothies. You can also mix turmeric powder into water and apply it to the affected area.
2. Use CBD-Based Products
Recent research and first-hand experience of countless people worldwide suggests that cannabidiol is a potent pain reliever. Extracted from the cannabis plant, it’s an active ingredient that interacts with the endocannabinoid system and reduces pain and inflammation.
The best way to use cannabidiol for pain relief at home is to use CBD-based products orally or in massage therapy. There are many reliable brands that allow you to buy CBD products online. Order an oil or cream of your choice and use it to massage the painful part. You will surely love the magical experience.
3. Stretch, Exercise, And Meditate
Often people suffering from chronic pain find it difficult to move the affected part of the body. Contrary to popular belief, the best pain management starts with stretching sore muscles and exercising.
Exercising helps increase physical function and promotes muscle healing. It’s also a surefire way to release endorphin, which is the ultimate hormone that helps in relieving pain. In addition to exercise, meditation also works wonders to treat pain at home. It helps us de-stress and relax. It’s also a great way to combat anxiety and depression that comes from constant pain and discomfort.
4. Make Sure You Are Eating Right
Many people have unhealthy coping mechanisms when it comes to pain, anxiety, stress, or depression. We tend to distract ourselves with junk food. What we forget about this is the harmful effects of junk food on our bodies. Hence, if you want to deal with your pain without consuming pills, it’s important to make sure you are eating right.
You must incorporate foods that are rich in fiber, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory content. A good diet will help relieve pain by inhibiting inflammation and promoting the healing process of our body. So, instead of going for processed and junk foods, choose fruits, vegetables, and other foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals. It will definitely change your life for the better.
5. Try Aromatherapy
After the growing popularity of using essential oil for pain and several other mental conditions, scientists got curious and conducted studies of their own. To their surprise, multiple studies proved the efficacy of essential oils for treating pain and inflammation.
Aromatherapy is one of the best ways to use essential oils such as rosemary oil, lavender oil, and peppermint oil to relieve pain at home. It seems like a big word, but once you understand how it’s done, the therapy is quite easy. You can use some drops of essential oil and rub it on the areas of pain. Another way is to inhale the oil through a diffuser or just drop a few drops on your pillow and sleep on top of it. This technique works by stimulating the olfactory system, which is part of the brain that is responsible for our sense of smell.
When essential oils are inhaled or applied topically, they can stimulate the release of certain neurotransmitters and hormones, which can help reduce pain and inflammation.
6. Learn Mind-body Techniques
Mind-body techniques are a group of therapies that use the mind’s ability to influence physical health and well-being. These techniques focus on the connection between the mind, body, and spirit, and aim to promote relaxation, reduce stress, and improve overall health and well-being. Mind-body techniques can be effective in managing pain by helping to reduce stress and anxiety, which can exacerbate pain symptoms.
It helps us regulate our bodily function and control our mind to promote positive thoughts and positive mechanisms of the body. Its vast category includes complex techniques such as biofeedback or Cognitive-behavioral therapy.
However, some wonderful mind-body techniques that can be done at home are breathing exercises, mindfulness, and Taichi. This will help you gain more control of your body and pain.
7. TENS Machine
If nothing works for you, it might be time to invest in a TENS machine. The Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation machine has gained quite popularity for treating pain effectively and easily.
The machine comes with attached electrodes and a battery-operated device that sends small electrical impulses to our bodies. These impulses block pain signals from the brain and spinal cord and help relieve pain. The machine is easy to use and doesn’t cause hindrance in any activity. You can just set it up, continue with your work, and get pain relief within a few minutes.
Final Outlook
When you are in pain, all you want is to find relief. As much as it’s important to consult a specialist and find the exact cause of your pain, you can’t ignore the need for pain relief. In conditions like that, it’s better to use simple yet effective methods to manage your pain at home and then consult a doctor when you are in the right state of mind and body.
