Effective At-Home Pain Treatment Remedies

Pain is the body's way of telling you that something is wrong and you need to get checked immediately. Naturally, severe pain can prevent one from functioning normally, particularly if the discomfort lingers for weeks or months. While there are many pain relief medications, more people are turning to natural options. Natural pain relief treatments have been gaining popularity for a couple of years, mainly due to their non-invasive nature. This article looks at some of the most effective at-home pain relief treatment options.

Exercise — Endorphins are the body's natural pain relievers; therefore, increasing production and release into the bloodstream is an excellent way of reducing pain. The best way to increase endorphin production is through physical activity. Notably, gentle aerobic activities such as walking or moderate-intensity cycling can produce enough endorphins to reduce pain anywhere in the body. As natural painkillers, endorphins help block pain perception by binding to opioid receptors in the brain. Besides, endorphins are considered feel-good hormones, meaning that regular exercise can produce feelings of pleasure and block out pain sensations. That said, you should consult a physician first before starting an exercise regimen.

Hot and Cold Therapy — There is a reason you cannot feel anything with your hands after holding a block of ice for a few minutes. Notably, low temperatures have a numbing effect on the body, making cold therapy one of the most effective at-home pain treatments. Thus, you can use commercial cold packs or create your own by placing peas in a zip bag and freezing it. Cold therapy is called cryotherapy in professional sports, where athletes take a post-workout cold bath to reduce muscle pain and soreness. Similarly, hot therapy has been used for decades for pain treatment, and on a basic level, it works by raising the nerve pain threshold. It means that you only feel the sensation from a heat pack, not the pain from an injury.

Massage — Whether targeted or relaxation massage, any form of muscle and connective tissue manipulation helps relieve pain. While it is advisable to get a therapeutic massage from a professional, especially when in pain, you can perform muscle manipulation from the comfort of your home. As long as you are careful, at-home massage improves blood flow to tissues and reduces muscle tension, all of which are crucial to pain management. Additionally, massage aids in the flow of lymphatic fluid out of muscles, flushing away pain-causing toxins. The best part is that pain relief by massage is immediate.