Natural Solution for Chronic Pain?
Addictive Pain Killers, or a Natural Healthier Solution for Chronic Pain?
The pain killer approach or opioids such as: Morphine, codeine, oxycodone, hydrocodone and fentanyl, make up one of the most commonly abused drug classes. These drugs are not only addictive, but do not address the true underling cause of one’s pain. At their best they are a short term band-aid only covering up the underlying problem. At their worst they can lead to slowed breathing and death if too much is taken.
Drug addiction has been called the fastest-growing drug problem in the US by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The number of deaths from opioid painkillers like hydrocodone and oxycodone rose nearly four-fold in 10 years, between 1999 and 2009. Hydrocodone itself is a synthetic heroin, it’s indistinguishable from any other heroin as far as your brain and body is concerned. Therefore, if you’re hooked on hydrocodone, you are in fact a heroin addict.
So why do medical doctors prescribe these harmful drugs?
Doctors who are in school right now are, in the best case scenario, only getting 12 hours or less of pain management control in a 6 year curriculum. Because of this, doctors are ill trained to deal with chronic pain and therefore give out prescription medication to their patients that are both harmful and addictive.
Natural ways to deal with chronic pain include:
- Chiropractic adjustments: According to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine patients with neck pain who used a chiropractor and/or exercise were more than twice as likely to be pain free in 12 weeks compared to those who took medication.
- Massage: Massage releases endorphins, which help induce relaxation, relieve pain, and reduce levels of stress chemicals such as cortisol and noradrenaline – reversing the damaging effects of stress by slowing heart rate, respiration and metabolism and lowering raised blood pressure. It is a particularly effective therapy for stress-related tension, which experts believe accounts for as much as 80 to 90 percent of disease.
- Acupuncture: Researchers concluded that acupuncture has a definite effect in reducing chronic pain, such as back pain and headaches, more so than standard pain treatment.
- Relearn proper posture: The Gokhale Method addresses the root cause of physical pain, which is typically caused by improper posture. The method teaches you to reclaim your primal posture, which is the way your body was designed to stand, sit and move. You can also try Foundation Training developed by Dr. Eric Goodman to treat his own chronic low back pain.
If you have chronic pain of any kind, understand that there are many safe and effective alternatives to prescription and over-the-counter painkillers. These are the types of pain remedies that provide excellent pain relief without any of the health hazards that pain medications often carry.
- Curcumin: Curcumin is the primary therapeutic compound identified in the spice turmeric. Osteoarthritis patients who added only 200 mg of curcumin a day to their treatment plan had reduced pain and increased mobility. In fact, curcumin has been shown in over 50 clinical studies to have potent anti-inflammatory activity.
- Boswellia: This herb contains powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Boswellia works well with many rheumatoid arthritis patients.
- Bromelain: This protein-digesting enzyme, found in pineapples, is a natural anti-inflammatory.
- Cetyl Myristoleate (CMO): This oil, found in fish and dairy butter, acts as a “joint lubricant” and an anti-inflammatory. Used as a topical preparation to relieve ganglion cysts and a mild carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Evening Primrose, Black Currant and Borage Oils: These contain the fatty acid gamma linolenic acid (GLA), which is useful when treating arthritic pain.
- Cayenne Cream: This spice comes from dried hot peppers. It alleviates pain by depleting the body’s supply of substance P, a chemical component of nerve cells that transmit pain signals to your brain.
- Astaxanthin: Has very potent anti-inflammatory properties and in many cases works far more effectively than prescription drugs like NSAIDs.
- Ginger: This herb is anti-inflammatory and offers pain relief and stomach-settling properties.
Based on a article written by Dr. Joeseph Mercola.
For more information on using Chiropractic Care as a natural solution for chronic pain contact us today.
