May 03, 2022

ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO PAIN MANAGEMENT

Here’s a brief list of some well known alternative medicine approaches often used in the process of healing!

When Covid-19 took over the world two years ago, everything came to a standstill, everything that was accessible suddenly became inaccessible including hospitals and medical treatments. So, mankind evolved again and turned towards the wisdom of lifestyle changes and alternative medicine; methods and materials that went beyond the conventional treatments thus facilitating a shift in approach to pain management. The focus moved to a more holistic approach to healing, emphasising the mind-body connection that focuses on meditation, movement and relaxation techniques. Grouped as alternative medicine, people are fast turning towards it, choosing it above conventional medicine such as popping pills to manage pain. These healing arts include everything - yoga, aromatherapy, herbal remedies and chiropractic treatment being a few on the list. While alternative medicine may not eliminate pain, it can aid in reducing dependency on painkillers and can act as a secondary help to conventional medicine. Here are a few alternative pain management techniques that you can pick from!

Chiropractic Treatment: Among the most common non-surgical ways to treat back and spine issues, in this method, chiropractors apply controlled force to realign a specific body part and improve physical function.
Acupuncture: Acupuncture as a form of alternative medicine has been around for some time now. A part of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is a minimally invasive procedure where tiny needles are inserted to stimulate nerve-rich areas of the skin. The insertion signals the body to respond, thereby promoting circulation to the area. Acupuncture can help relieve chronic pain such as the lower back, neck, and osteoarthritis or knee pain.
Aromatherapy: This involves the use of essential oils to stimulate the brain's limbic system that is linked to emotions, breathing, memory, hormone balance, etc. The technique usually employs inhalation through a diffuser, spraying or breathing it in a steam bath, or topical application like massaging them or using them in bath or skincare products.
Yoga: Essentially a discipline developed to bring harmony between the mind and body, yoga is a movement-based form of exercise and therapy practised for well-being. It involves twisting your body in different poses and focusing on breathing to relieve pain and stress and bring your attention to the moment.
Meditation and relaxation therapies: Using breath as an anchor to focus has long been the core of meditation and relaxation therapies. Medical doctors, mental health professionals, and health trainers often recommend techniques like guided imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, and meditation to alleviate stress and focus on what your body tells you when you eliminate the noise.

While alternative medicine is not the primary and only way to manage pain, a personalised combination of what seems the best individually with modern medicine can certainly be employed to alleviate results. This can certainly reduce dependency on pills and tablets while teaching healthy well-being habits that have long-term benefits.

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