May 22 2008
Three Basic Holistic Treatments
If you want a drug free way to cope with your chronic pain, holistic remedies are available. Considered “alternative medicine” these methods can bring relaxation and temporary pain relief.
Massage
Whether it helps by releasing toxins from the body, or that it just manipulates the muscles and helps release the body’s natural painkillers, massage is a deeply relaxing and helpful method of pain relief.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture was one of the very first Eastern treatments to be accepted into mainstream Western medicine. Doctors here believe that it works by releasing your body’s natural painkillers like endorphins.
Acupressure
Acupressure uses the pressure points of acupuncture, but instead of thin needle insertion it uses the manipulation of hands into these points. Fingers and the ball of the hand are used to press in or massage these points to release pain from the body.
I have an amazing massage therapist who uses acupressure techniques. It’s amazing how she can completely unknot the muscles in my back with a few simple touches.
I suffer from chronic nec k and upper back pain, and I use massage to manage it. Massage really does help.
I’ve always have bad shoulders and chronic pain in my lower back. Accupuncture helped with my shoulders while I lived in NYC, but I have yet to find a practitioner in Alabama that I trust enough to try it again.
Massage works for me, but it is definitely a short term fix.