This is a guest post from a fellow holistic living blogger, Robin, whose blog I have been following for a while! Totally awesome stuff in there!
"At the
risk of sounding weird, I’d like to say “thank you” to pain. Why? Well…
Pain is an essential aspect of our health
Pain is the body’s way of letting us know something is not
right—that something is out of whack. Someone didn’t drink enough water.
Someone stayed up too late. Someone spent too much time looking at a computer
screen. Someone didn’t exercise for a year. Someone exercised too much. Someone
shouldn’t have lifted that heavy box alone and now something needs to be done
to fix the problem.
Or worse yet, someone has something deeper going on and that
pain is our body's way of saying: Get help, please.
Source: checkdisease.com via Meghaa on Pinterest
If we don’t address whatever issue our body is dealing with the
issue may take on a very ugly face down the road. Or, perhaps worse, our body’s
alarm system (pain) will shut down completely leaving us numb to the problem.
Numb to it, but not void of it. Years later we can find ourselves dealing with
some pretty big problems and then we usually get angry at our body as if it let
us down.
In reality, it’s just saying, “I told you so.”
Natural Pain Remedies
Of course, sometimes the pain is real and the problem is
"too late" to solve. Maybe you drank too little water and you'll do
better next time but need some relief now. Maybe you are in the process of
healing through nutrition, physical therapy, or other means but still need some
relief from the pain you feel right now. Are there safer methods than popping a pill? YES!
Of course every body is different, but I have found that the
following are some great ways to naturally relieve pain:
§ Stretch, Move, Yoga: This is my go-to method for when my back
or neck start acting up (usually from too much time at the computer). Our
bodies were designed to move! If we stay locked up in any position for too long
we will start to feel it. Check out this super short video that you can do right now at the computer.
§ Heat: A hot bath, a heating pad, or just laying out in the sun for a few minutes can do wonders for tired muscles and joints.
Don't just target the point of pain. Listen to your body and get the whole
muscle pathway warmed up. We often feel pain as a result of issues in different
parts of the body.
§ Cold: This one doesn't usually feel as good as heat, but it's a
must for immediate injuries. Cold presses help reduce inflammation which is
important for healing AND for feeling less pain. Plus it doesn't have the nasty
side effects of anti-inflammation pills.
§ Essential Oils: I am not an expert at essential oils,
but the more I learn the more I am intrigued by their ability to calm and
soothe us. Be sure to do your research or talk to a trained professional before
diving in. Essential oils are potent things that need care and respect.
§ Herbs: Pretty much a big "ditto" to the above. Beyond
some real healing benefits, I find that certain herbal teas can be very
comforting. Stress is another signal from the body that is often a favorite
companion to pain.
§ Massage: Who doesn't like a good massage? But you don't have to pay big
bucks to benefit from healing touch. Ask a friend or family member for a back
massage or do a little self massage. Reminding the muscle tissues to "let
go" can be a major pain relief.
§ Chiropractic, Physical, or Movement Therapy: Sometimes chronic
pain is a result of habitual patterns or traumatic injuries that take time to
surface. If you find yourself constantly struggling with pain it would probably
be wise to seek out a professional who can address the root of the problem. The
best practitioners are those who look at the whole body rather than simply
trying to address your symptoms. In my work as a Movement Therapist, I have helped a number of
people get to the root of their pain problem without drugs, surgery, or other
drastic measures.
§ Nutrition: Often our chronic pain and disease are a result of
malnutrition or imbalances. You may find tremendous help by improving your diet
and adding more nutrient dense foods to your daily intake.
What would you add to this list? What helps
you deal with pain?"
About the Author:
Robin Konie is the author of the blog Thank Your
Body (www.thankyourbody.com). She is a Registered Somatic Movement
Therapist (RSMT) and a Certified
Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analyst (CLMA). She is also an avid researcher. With a deep passion and
respect for the human body, she has been exploring ways to help others reclaim
their personal power and embodied way of knowing through movement, nutrition,
and holistic approaches to health.
