We’ve all been there: you wake up in the morning, and your back aches. Or maybe it’s your knee or your ankle. Whatever the pain is, you want it gone now! Unfortunately, the bad news is that most don’t have a magic wand to help us with our aches and pains, and some can’t use over-the-counter medicine.
But some alternative remedies for pain relief can help if your doctor has prescribed more potent medications. These remedies will not cure your ailment, but they can provide temporary relief from chronic pain so that you can get on with life as normal while resting or in bed so that the injury heals faster than usual. Here are five remedies that can help with pain relief:
Ginger
Ginger is one of the best natural painkillers and has anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger can be used to treat nausea and indigestion as well as motion sickness. It’s also a good source of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that can help you ward off new cell damage caused by free radicals, molecules that weaken your immune system.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese technique that involves the insertion of fine needles into the skin at specific points on the body to relieve pain and promote overall health. It has been used for thousands of years to treat pain, but it’s also been used to treat dozens of other health conditions like insomnia, high blood pressure, digestive problems, and more.
While there isn’t much scientific evidence to support acupuncture’s effectiveness in treating these other conditions, much research shows that it can help with chronic pain. For example, one study found that acupuncture was as effective as morphine or other opioid medications when treating lower back pain—and patients given acupuncture reported fewer side effects than those who took opioids.
Lavender oil
Lavender oil is another one of the best oils for pain relief, and it works in several ways. It can help you sleep and relax, reducing stress and anxiety. Stress and anxiety are two things that can cause pain all over your body, so reducing them will help relieve some of the pain you’re feeling.
Lavender also helps with nausea, which is common when someone has a headache or migraine. If you’re dealing with nausea from another condition like food poisoning, the flu, or even being pregnant, lavender could also help ease those symptoms.
Finally, lavender is excellent for dealing with depression because it’s very soothing—and if you have depression along with other physical symptoms like headaches or migraines, finding an effective remedy can feel impossible. However, for many, lavender oil is a remedy that has become very popular in recent years and is easily accessible in the form of gummy molds, tinctures, and creams.
Meditation
Meditation is an excellent way to reduce stress, contribute to pain, and learn how to relax and sleep better. Meditation can help you feel calmer, happier, and more optimistic about life. It’s easy to learn how to meditate—many resources online will walk you through the process step by step!
Exercise
Exercise is one of the best all-around ways to help you feel better. It can reduce pain, improve sleep, and make you feel more confident. In addition, exercise helps you lose weight and lessens stress levels and anxiety.
There are so many alternative remedies for pain relief, and they don’t require medication or surgery.