Pain Relief without the Risk of Addiction
America is in the midst of a health crisis due to the misuse of opioids, a class of pain-relieving medications that include morphine, heroine, codeine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, fentanyl and many others. In 2018 alone about 47.000 people died from opioid overdose, with about one-third of these deaths coming from prescription drugs. Between 20-30% of people who are prescribed opioids for chronic pain misuse them and about 8-12% develop an opioid use disorder.
An estimated 4-5% of the people who misuse their medication end up switching to illegal opioids like heroin because of their addiction. In fact, about 80% of the people who take heroin first misused prescription opioids, so many of the deaths from illegal opioids trace back to the use of prescription opioids, so The CDC (Center for Disease Control) estimates that the total economic burden of prescription opioid misuses is $78.5 billion a year in the United States alone! Learn more about this crisis and solving the puzzle of pain in this month’s Sunshine Sharing. To learn more about natural remedies that can help with inflammation and pain, here are some of my favorites IF Relief and Essential Fatty Acids.
Mindfulness
This month is mental health awareness month. The topic of mental health is very familiar to many of us, especially those dealing with chronic pain and inflammation. It is common for people dealing with chronic pain to suffer from anxiety, depression, problems sleeping, trouble focusing, and mood changes. Mindfulness can help promote awareness.
Mindfulness is a state of being aware of your emotions, thoughts and how you physically feel. It is focusing on the present moment so you don’t drift to the past and the future. Basically its all about being aware of what is going on right now. It does require some practice and there is no defined one way to do it. You can focus on a task at hand, journal, do yoga, breathe deeply. It is somewhat versatile to what works best for you. It is also very accepting because it is about becoming aware of what is going on and not judging it. You can check out this beginner’s guide to mindfulness to get started. I think it works well for negative self talk because it draws your attention to it so you can replace it with something more positive.
Lifestyle Habits for Reducing Inflammation
Drink More Water. Water can really help reduce inflammation. Water hydrates our body helping to remove toxins. It also lubricates our joints allowing them to move more easily and less likely to to have gout attacks.
Focus on Anti-Inflammatory Foods. Eat lean proteins, fruits, veggies, leafy greens and healthy futs full of Omega 3’s. Avoid processed foods including white flour, sugar, and processed meats. If you are dealing with lots of pain or discomfort, you might want to supplement with Omega 3’s. Studies show that ibuprofen and omega-3 EFAs demonstrated equivalent effect in reducing arthritic pain. The study also showed that omega-3 EFA fish oil supplements appear to be a safer alternative to NSAIDs for treatment of nonsurgical neck or back pain.
Herbs, Oils and Teas for Pain Relief and Inflammation
Drink Herbal Teas I love herbal teas, they are mild and effective. Some of the best herbal teas for reducing inflammation are Green Tea, Holy Basil, Ginger, and Rosehip. I even found a recipe on Yogi Teas for a Turmeric Wellness Elixir that looks yummy!
Herbs. Several herbs can help with inflammation. Turmeric/Curcumin offers anti-inflammatory benefits, helps arthritis sufferers and can help prevent chronic disease. Mangosteen is packed full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. It has also shown to help with muscle contractions, support immunity, offers anti-inflammatory benefits, and healthy nerve signaling. Mangosteen is found in Thai Go and this drink is AMAZING for fighting inflammation! Boswelia helps control overall inflammation in the body and may offer help for managing chronic inflammation. It has been shown to help lessen symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Essential Oils that work great as analgesics and inflammation are Chamomile (Roman or German), Black Pepper, Lavender and Ginger. Here is one of my favorite recipes: 2 drops of Ginger, 5 drops of Roman Chamomile and 5 drops of Lavender to 1 ounce of lotion or oil. Apply to areas as needed.
Use the SOQI Products. The Chi Machine helps create movement throughout the body, promoting circulation, and lymphatic movement. Keeping these two systems moving really decreases muscle tension, pain, and inflammation. I also love the gentle warmth of Far Infrared Heat Therapy which further promotes circulation helping to reduce aches, pain and inflammation.
Facebook & Live Event
Remember, I will be doing weekly facebook lives giving an overview of the Ailing to Alive Healthy Habits Program I will be launching. If you haven’t liked our Facebook Page, please feel free to do so and start listening to some of these Sharing Wellness and Promoting Health Events!