Not all of us want to be taking analgesics for pain relief. Thankfully, many types of natural remedies can be used to relieve pain at home, which can help you reduce your medication intake and even provide added benefit to your existing treatment. In this article, we are going to look at five practical tips on how to reduce pain naturally and improve your health.
Take an anti-inflammatory drink every day.
Anti-inflammatory foods contain several antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, and some of them are even anticancer agents that can help build your blood. As you consume them over time, these potent agents can help reduce or even eliminate inflammatory responses in your body. Here are some of the drinks with anti-inflammatory properties
- Turmeric milk
Turmeric is an Asian spice that contains antioxidants, anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory properties. One easy way to add turmeric into your diet is by mixing small quantities into warm milk. If you want more sweetness, you can add honey or stevia to the milk.
Drink this mix preferably before going to bed so the properties will work while you are asleep. Since taking dairy products can enhance inflammation in some individuals, consider trying plant-based milk, such as almond milk.
- Tart cherry juice
Cherries have abundant antioxidant content, and it’s an anti-inflammatory agent. Professionals like Southern Pain and Spine Specialists discover that cherry juice may provide relief from chronic or exercise-induced muscle pain. You can find cherry juice in grocery stores, which typically contains tart cherry extract. Consider taking one glass of cherry daily to discover its positive benefits in relieving pain.
- Ginger-green tea
Infused herbal drinks, such as lime ginger green tea, have the benefits of relieving pain and improving overall health. The best aspect is that both ginger and green tea have these benefits. You can buy green tea bags from stores and enjoy a cup at home or in your workplace, especially on cool days. Taking the tea every day means that over time, the anti-inflammatory properties will build up in your body and prevent inflammation.
Fall asleep faster and sleep longer.
Having a whole night of sleep can reduce back soreness, especially during the day. When you enjoy restorative sleep, you can get all the healing benefits after consuming any of the drinks mentioned above. When you wake up, you will feel refreshed, rejuvenated, and less stressed.
Your body contains vitamins C and B6, which are natural steroids that help control metabolism and promote good sleep. You can also consider taking supplements of vitamin C and B6 to help your body produce and regulate natural steroid hormones. But the main natural sleeping hormone in the body is melatonin; you can also take this as a supplement to improve your sleep cycle.
L-theanine is an amino acid that can be found in tea leaves. After consuming it, it may help make you feel relaxed and get quality sleep. Valerian is another supplement made using the valerian plant root, which may help you fall asleep faster and sleep longer. Lastly, cherry juice or cherry extract, along with other extracts that contain some enzymes, can help promote better sleep.
Visit https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/mental-wellbeing-tips/how-to-fall-asleep-faster-and-sleep-better/ to gain more insight on how to get quality sleep.
Avoid prolonged static posture.
It’s crucial to pay attention to the joints and muscles of your spine and hips. Here are some simple tips that can help you prevent fatigue and stress on these joints. First, consider avoiding excessive sitting or using a standing desk, especially at work. Sitting for a long time will put more pressure on your spinal discs. Aim to get up at least every hour and walk around for a few minutes to reduce the load on your spinal discs.
While standing or sitting, check your posture and adjust your neck, shoulder and back alignment to prevent stress on your spine. Poor posture can lead to numerous problems in your back and can cause pain or exacerbate existing pain.
Rotate activities to avoid targeting the same set of muscles and joints repeatedly. For instance, if you have been standing and working at the same time, consider doing different activities when you sit down. By the time you go back to standing, the muscles and joints have relaxed.
Gently stretch your joints and soft tissues through yoga.
Yoga is another effective method of stretching your back, improving the health of your muscles and joints, and enhancing the distribution of healing nutrients through circulation while increasing spine flexibility at the same time. At the beginning, stretch slowly and advance only when you feel comfortable and without pain. You will then gradually add more stretches to your routine. The ideal time to do yoga is early morning, so it will help loosen your spine and reduce stiffness and aches in your back.
Try mindful meditation.
The last in our list is mindful meditation. This is an impressive way to enhance your concentration, release endorphins (feel-good hormones), and reduce anxiety and stress. Through mindful meditation, you get to control how your body perceives pain. To perform meditation, find a quiet, dark room and meditate there for at least 5 or 10 minutes in the morning.
You can also try meditating before bed or while taking a break at work. If you’re not interested in meditation, try simple breathing exercises. Take 10 deep, slow breaths in rows.
Click here for other breathing exercises to do at home.
Conclusion
There are many ways you can reduce pain naturally and improve your overall health. Some of the ways to achieve this are by gently stretching your body through yoga, mindful meditation, and avoiding prolonged static posture, among other methods.
There are also foods that, if consumed, can help fight inflammation and strengthen the immune system. Such foods include turmeric, ginger green drink, tart cherry drink and many more.