10 Natural Pain treatments and Proven remedies For pain

I’ll start with asking, “what is pain”? Pain is subjective, meaning it’s what you feel and is associated with undesirable feelings or discomfort. The American Pain Society is a well-respected authority on the topic, and they describe pain as “an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage” ¹. In order to focus on this challenging subject, we will introduce 10 natural pain treatments.

I will explain my professional exposure in treating patients experiencing pain. The focus is not only on people that feel acute but also chronic pain. For example, acute pain happens in an instant and goes away over a short period. On the other hand, chronic pain can be constant or intermittent and last over a long period of time.

What is the next step after introducing acute and chronic pain? The next step is to transition into the causes of pain. One of the most significant concepts of pain is understanding how to treat it. Furthermore, in an attempt to treat pain, we have to ask what is causing it and where is it coming from?

A remarkable introduction to pain

Stepping into the medical world after graduating from nursing school was really a remarkable introduction to healthcare. As a nursing student, I had received teaching on how to utilize non-pharmacological treatments to treat pain. Alternatively, many of our holistic teachings as a nurse become lost in the hospital setting.

When referring to pain in the clinical setting, healthcare providers tend to focus on the immediate relief of pain. Doctors view pain based on a results-oriented model. A health practitioner thinks of pain relief as “How can I resolve this discomfort as quickly as possible?”. The goal is to return you to normal and make you comfortable again.

Typically, nurses use non-pharmacological approaches to treat pain first. The immense disconnect between the healthcare team is that everyone is not on the same page. Hospital employees are judged based on numbers and pressured to resolve issues quickly. Consequently, healthcare workers are rushed and cannot focus on natural pain education or holistic pain reduction techniques because those teachings take longer.

Acute Pain

A characterization of acute pain is reporting the chief complaint that something hurts. The definition of acute pain is pain that occurs suddenly and is usually sharp. Acute pain doesn’t usually last more than 6 months. This pain stems from something specific, and it will also improve or resolve on its own.²

What are some causes of acute pain? A broken arm, surgical incision, sprained ankle, and minor or superficial wounds are all examples of problems that would lead to acute pain. Additionally, there are many other issues that can lead to acute distress. Provided here is just a short list to give you an idea of what it means when referring to acute pain.

A current focus on treating pain with opioids has led to a major epidemic. The opioid problem is not just confined to the United States but throughout the whole world. Most doctors don’t understand the concept of using complementary therapies alongside the pharmacological approach to target acute pain. In my opinion, we need to start treating acute pain through a more integrative approach.

Chronic pain

Pain that is chronic is a long-term discomfort that lasts longer than 6 months. The definition of chronic pain is a long-term discomfort that can result from a disease, injury, or other health condition. Chronic pain can be constant or intermittent, meaning it comes and goes over time. Pain that is chronic usually does not resolve on its own and requires a multidisciplinary approach.³

What are some causes of chronic pain? Osteoarthritis, major surgical procedures, neuropathy, or a broken bone that healed improperly are all examples of problems that would result in chronic pain. The list of ailments and disease processes that cause chronic pain is long. Of course, some simple issues can become complicated and lead to chronic pain as well.

Most people suffering from chronic pain rely on pain medication to treat their discomfort. I believe that opioids work, and people should not be discouraged from using narcotics to treat chronic pain. Providers should prescribe drugs, specifically narcotics, to a certain point. To clarify, I do not believe that medications on their own are a long-term fix. Complementary practices need to be used alongside pharmacological approaches to treat chronic pain in its entirety.

The pharmacological approach

In the same way, we can classify different types of pain. Similarly, there are different classifications of treatments for pain. Pharmacological approaches revolve around the use of medication to treat pain. The pharmacological approach through the use of medicine is the way most healthcare providers have treated acute pain. Furthermore, the drugs most often used to treat acute and chronic pain are opioids.

I feel using narcotics to treat pain is not a bad thing. However, there is a lot of negative stigma surrounding the use of opioids. Some patients choose to endure their pain because of the fear of becoming addicted to prescription pain medication. Using multidrug therapy is one way healthcare providers can overcome the hurdle. of getting past the fear of the negative stigma surrounding the use of narcotics.

We can also use non-narcotic medications to treat pain. Let’s elaborate on the biomedical avenue of managing pain. Alternating opioids with non-opioids is an important option to look at when examining the pathways to addressing pain. Using non-opioids like NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) in an alternating pattern with opioids is an excellent road to take that reduces the required number of narcotics a patient needs to treat their pain.⁴

Reducing the need for opioids with natural pain treatments

Many natural therapies are equally as helpful as medications in reducing pain. People that are suffering from discomfort desire to be pain-free. I have a sincere passion for disseminating information about holistic practices to folks seeking to live a happier lifestyle. I believe that everyone should have the tools at their disposal to restore natural balance.⁵

When examining different treatments for pain, there are many multidrug therapies available. First, we have combination drugs that combine narcotics with other medications to produce synergistic effects. Some medicines like Norco have hydrocodone and acetaminophen. The Norco uses acetaminophen to reduce the amount of narcotics that the body needs to reduce the sensation of pain.

Physicians also have the option of alternating narcotics with other analgesic medications. Some providers encourage using COX inhibitors like Toradol. Furthermore, some providers are moving towards drugs like gabapentin for pain control to eliminate the use of prescribed narcotics. Multidrug therapies are great for reducing opioid use, but let’s explore more holistic and natural treatments for pain.

The mind/body connection

A main perspective of pain in the conventional fashion focuses only on the site where the pain is occurring. We are framing the pain inside this very narrow view of what it’s believed to be. In my experience, people are missing about 95% of the picture, and that is mindfulness. The connection between how the brain perceives painful stimuli and the emotion center, our limbic system, is mainly overlooked. Dr. Rachel Zofness explains this concept very well.

The brain, in part, constructs the pain we feel. An example of this is phantom limb pain. We know that amputees can experience pain in the arm of a previously amputated limb. The phantom limb pain model has described that pain does not only live in the area where someone is feeling the sensation of pain, but part of it is originating from the brain as well.⁶

Patients need to reframe their mindset to understand how to control pain through an integrative pathway. Because for many decades, we have focused on pharmacological approaches to handle pain. We need to apply the mind/body connection to work on pain management holistically. Our brain has this untapped power that we can learn to harness in a way that would achieve comfort at a whole new level. It seems to me that we can’t ignore mindfulness any longer.

Natural pain treatments

As an introduction to holistic pain treatments, I’ll take you on a journey through the pain pathway. Someone needs to understand their biopsychosocial mechanisms to figure out how holistic treatments for pain work. Everybody should be conscious of how their mind is related to their physical pain. To understand the biopsychosocial mechanisms, we must go back to what was covered earlier about the mind-body connection.⁶

As humans, we have this extraordinary ability to use our brains as a way to manipulate what we feel. Using our mind to influence our body’s feelings is a crazy idea, so here’s an easier way to understand it. If you are in pain and something causes you to laugh, then you forget about your pain in that brief moment. As a result, the temporary pain relief is partly due to natural chemicals released by your brain called catecholamines.

Catecholamines are something you may have heard of before. The most common names may be dopamine, adrenaline, and norepinephrine. Things like laughter and stress can alter hormonal changes. Everyone can learn how to control their hormone balances by identifying their stressors and de-stressors. To clarify, holistic and natural remedies for pain work partly by acting on your chemical pathways.

10 Natural Pain Treatments

TENS THERAPY FOR NATURAL PAIN TREATMENTS

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) has been around for decades. It consists of using pads placed on the body to deliver electricity through the skin. The purpose is to stimulate the nervous system in an attempt to reduce pain. TENS therapy has therapeutic effects and has been proven in studies to relieve acute and chronic pain.⁷

MASSAGE

One type of intervention used for pain reduction is massage therapy. Many people look at massage as a way to relax. Massage is a therapy that is essentially a manipulation of the muscles or tissue through rubbing with the hands, fingers, elbows, forearms, or even feet. There have not been many studies on the effects of massage therapy, but it is up to each individual to decide if it is suitable for them.⁸

RELAXATION

Relaxation techniques can actually be an effective treatment for chronic pain. When stressed, our hormone levels rise, and blood pressure can become elevated. Aggravating factors are a major driving force for snowballing the pain that we are feeling. We can minimize the aggravating factors and minimize painful sensations felt through our bodies by using relaxation techniques.⁹

AROMATHERAPY

Aromatherapy for pain treatment refers to the use of essential oils. The medicinal practice of using aromatherapy for therapeutic effects originates from ancient Greek medicine. There are essential oils like lavender used for pain that have anti-inflammatory properties. By reducing inflammation in some medical conditions, we can effectively provide relief from acute and chronic pain.¹⁰

CAPSAICIN FOR NATURAL PAIN TREATMENTS

Capsaicin is an effective treatment for many chronic pain syndromes. It is the chemical compound found in peppers that gives them their spicy flavor. It is often used in creams and applied onto the skin of affected areas. One disease that has shown immense benefits from the cream is osteoarthritis.¹¹

HEAT

Heat therapy may well be the most widely used technique on this list. Applying heat through various methods, including saunas, hot tubs, and electric heating pads, can be very useful. Heat therapy has shown to be effective when used for muscle pains, joint discomfort, and dysmenorrhea. The therapy works by reducing pain through the stimulation of thermoreceptors beneath the skin and deeper muscle tissues.¹²

PHYSICAL THERAPY

Physical therapy (PT) involves a broad range of therapeutic practices. It usually works through manipulation of the joints or strength training of different muscle groups. Surgical intervention has the best outcomes when followed up with PT. However, in some cases, physical therapy can work on its own to prevent the need for surgery. Physiotherapy can include breathing exercises known as cardiorespiratory practices, and it can work to improve chronic pain in particular disease processes.¹³

MINDFULNESS

The practice of mindfulness means to be fully aware of ourselves. Being completely in tune with what is going on around us can be achieved through things like meditation. Mindfulness concerning pain refers to not letting ourselves become overwhelmed by what we feel. By guiding our thoughts, we can use the power of our brain to decrease the amount of pain we feel.¹⁴

HERBS FOR NATURAL PAIN TREATMENTS

Herbal remedies are associated with ancient Chinese medicine for the treatment of pain. Some resistance against herbal remedies claims that their use does not have a base in science. The truth is that many medications originated from herbs and fungi. Herbal remedies like rosemary and peppermint have properties that relieve pain from joints and muscles.¹⁵

COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) works as psychotherapy. It can assist people in identifying and overcoming many issues related to chronic pain. If cognitive behavioral therapy can help you, I encourage you to check out Dr. Rachel Zoffness’s book. In her book, Dr. Zoffness describes how to retrain your brain and think about pain in a whole new way.¹⁴

REFERENCES

American pain society. (2008). Principles of analgesic use in the treatment of acute pain and cancer pain. (6th ed.). Glenview, IL: Author.
Cleveland Clinic. (2021). Acute pain vs. chronic pain. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/12051-acute-vs-chronic-pain
National Institute of Health. (2021). Chronic pain in depth. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/chronic-pain-in-depth
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Damania, Z. (Host). (2021, July 19). The truth about managing chronic pain (w/Dr. Rachel Zoffness) [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from https://www.zdoggmd.com/Rachel-zoffness-2
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National Center for Complementary & Alternative. (2012). Massage Therapy: An Introduction. 1-5. 5p.
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Holmes, P. (2016). Aromatica Volume 1: A Clinical Guide to Essential Oil Therapeutics. Principles and Profiles. Singing Dragon.
McCarthy G. M., McCarty D. J. (1992). Effect of topical capsaicin in the therapy of painful osteoarthritis of the hands. J Rheumatol. Apr;19(4):604-7.
Chandler, A., Preece, J., & Lister, S. (2002). Using heat therapy for pain management. (clinical practice). Nursing Standard, 17(9), 40+. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A94820820/AONE?u=anon~a819b40c&sid=googleScholar&xid=c3053bcb
Bennett, J. P. (2010). Physical Therapy: Theory, Practices, and Benefits. Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
Zoffness, R. (2019). The Chronic Pain and Illness Workbook for Teens : CBT and Mindfulness-Based Practices to Turn the Volume Down on Pain. Instant Help.
Dugliss-Wesselman, S., Gregg. S. (2018). Herbal Remedies Made Simple : A Beginner’s Guide to Using Plants, Herbs, and Flowers for Health and Well-Being. Fair Winds Press.