Heal Chronic Pain Naturally: Five Effective Solutions

I see many individuals in my practice who have been impacted by chronic pain and have a tried western medical solutions to manage their pain with varying results. Some of these solutions are successful but few address the root causes of pain or offer a more holistic approach to healing. To complement western medical approaches or to use a purely eastern holistic approach try the following:nn(1) Nutrition Reducing inflammation is a key approach to balancing the pain with nutrition. Anti-inflammatory foods include spices such as ginger, cinnamon, tumeric, flax seed oil, walnuts, whole brown rice, berries and other fruits that contain quercetin (also a natural antihistamine that improves allergies). Anti-inflammatory beverages include decaf green tea, chamomile tea (helps to soothe the nerves; brew it very strong at least 10-15 minutes for optimum effect), decaf chai tea, ginger tea, chrysanthemum and ginger tea combined, carrot with ginger juice. The beverages listed above can also help to detoxify the body, which is critical if one is taking pain medications. Foods that aggravate inflammation include: high fat foods, high amounts of carbohydrates (especially refined carbohydrates such as white sugar ,potatoes, rice or white flour), excessively spicy hot foods, and hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated fats.nn(2)Acupressure and Medical Qi Gong (Energy Work) Acupressure is gentle form of Chinese medicine that does not use needles. Acupressure stimulates certain points on the body to create a release of endorphins, natural chemicals within our bodies that help to decrease pain. Doctors at the National Taiwan University reported in the British Medical Jou al that acupressure was effective in reducing low back pack in terms of disability, pain scores, and functional status. Some acupressurists use techniques more similar to western massage such as shiatsu which involves manipulating tissues. Other practitioners like myself combine jing point acupressure with a vibrational form of Chinese medicine, medical qi gong, similar to Reiki healing but a much older art and part of the Chinese medicine system. With this method of acupressure and medical qi gong, tissue is not manipulated. Instead, work is performed primarily off-the-body using energy emission over acupressure points. Thus, this form of healing is least invasive and less likely to aggravate chronic nerve pain. Energy work also helps to retrain the neurological patterns of irritated nerves to facilitate deeper healing.nn(3) Qi Gong and Tai Chi Both of these forms of gentle movement help to balance the neurology, increase circulation and release endorphins, natural pain relievers. According to the American Jou al of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, research of tai chi practice confirmed improvement of “quality of life, physical function including activity tolerance and cardiovascular function, pain management, balance and risk of falls reduction, enhancing immune response, and improving flexibility, strength, and kinesthetic sense.” Qi gong is the mother art of tai chi, and is easier to learn and highly adaptable to clinical applications. I teach both sitting and standing qi gong to my clinic clients with chronic pain, and have modified movements for people who are bed-ridden with pain.nn(4) Meditation In a study by the division of general inte al medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, researchers found that older adults who engaged in a 8 session program of mindfulness meditation showed significant improvement in chronic pain compared to a control study group that did not participate in meditation. Meditation not only helps the body to relax and soothe the neurological system, but also improves serotonin levels, which when low, can lead to depression and increased sensations of pain.nn(5) Chinese Herbs In a recently published study in “Chinese Medicine” on the use of a classical Chinese formula, Duhuo Jisheng Tang, researchers found that a 4 week therapy with this formula was effective in reducing pain and improving physical functioning in individuals wit degenerative osteoarthritis of the knee. A trained herbalist can help you to integrate use of customized formulas to complement your existing western pain medications with a goal of diminishing the use of pharmaceuticals and also healing the root issues that are creating the pain. Please note that information in this article is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition. Please consult with your medical physician regarding guidance on implementing holistic methods for healing.