8 Non-Drug Tactics to Eliminate Back, Joint & Other Pain

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http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/05/05/25/physical_pain_8_non-drug_tactics_to_eliminate_back_joint__amp_other_pain.htm Physical Pain: 8 Non-Drug Tactics to Eliminate Back, Joint & Other Painby SixWise.com 1. Deep and Proper Sleeping/RelaxationSays Dr. Neil B. Kavey, director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City, sleep is the time when your body is able to do repair work. So whether you're in pain from an injury or due to an underlying condition, your body will be able to fight and work toward healing that pain while you sleep. Pain and sleep is a bit of a catch-22 though, in that often people

with pain have trouble falling asleep. If this sounds familiar to you, you may want to try the Sleep Easy CD. With guided sleep meditations by a leading meditation expert, Mary Maddux, and music by a renowned meditation music composer, this CD will help you find the deep rest and sleep your body needs. Relaxation is also important, not only in helping you to fall asleep, but by reducing tension in your muscles, which can help to relieve pain or keep it from getting worse. Being relaxed may also help any other pain relief methods you're using to work better. To help you relax, the Pure Relaxation CD -- also produced by meditation expert Mary Maddux -- helps you to give your body "permission" to relax, and will calm your mind, soothe your emotions and create a state of deep relaxation in your body.

(If you are interested, both the Sleep CD and Pure Relaxation CD have limited time free shipping right now.) 2. Prayer/MeditationSimilar to relaxation, meditation and prayer are ways to calm your body, focus your mind and reduce stress, all of which can help to lessen your feelings of pain. Prayer is the most commonly practiced type of meditation, and according to the first study it ranked right up there with prescription drugs for its ability to relieve pain - obviously without any of the possible negative side effects of drugs! "Prayer falls in the category of having patients learn about the meaning of their pain. Sometimes patients do need to be introspective before they can move forward," said Gaeta. Meditation includes concentration meditations, in which you focus your mind on a single object, phrase or thought and often practice deep breathing as well, and exercise meditations like yoga, tai chi

and qi gong. Even reading, thinking about those you love and writing can be forms of meditation. Pick the method that feels most naturally alluring to you. 3. StretchingAfter three weeks of stretching, stretching expert Jacques Gauthier was able to reduce his pain by 50 percent. Stretching helps to reduce tension in your muscles, improve flexibility and range of motion, and may slow the degeneration of your joints. The act of stretching alone will also improve your blood circulation and help you to relax--a key to pain relief. To learn how to do the right type of stretching--the kind that actually feel good while you do them (and after!)--we highly recommend the Stretching Toward a Healthier Life DVD. Gauthier and his wife Dorothee Lavoie present 15 stretches that stretch all the key muscles groups throughout your entire

body, and it only takes about 15-20 minutes per day total to do the complete stretching routine. Anyone who's suffering from pain should make stretching a priority. 4. Reduce/Prevent InflammationWhen your body is in a chronic state of inflammation, the inflammation can lodge in your muscles, joints and tissues. Over time, this can lead to physical pain, as well as a number of diseases including heart disease. Emotions (too much stress), diet and lifestyle all contribute to inflammation. One of the safest, low-risk things you can do to lower your risk of inflammation is to modify your lifestyle and dietary choices. This means eating a variety of anti-inflammatory foods (fruits and vegetables), limiting or avoiding all together the pro-inflammatory foods (highly processed foods, high-sugar foods, trans fats, etc.), exercising and quitting smoking (if you do). Unfortunately, the conventional methods to

treat inflammation are high in risk. These would include medications like COX-2 inhibitors (Vioxx, Bextra, Celebrex, etc.), which have been highlighted in the media lately because of their link to heart problems. If you're looking for a safe alternative to COX-2 inhibitors, we highly recommend Garden of Life's For Your Inflammation (FYI) formula. It's a synergistically balanced whole food, herbal and enzyme blend that is clinically proven to reduce the effects of inflammation. It was formulated to provide the body with the building blocks needed to rebuild and support healthy cartilage and connective tissue, as well as to control and prevent inflammation throughout the body. 5. Regular Exercise"One of the most important aspects of managing one's pain is taking an active role in care and becoming part of the treatment team," says Penney Cowan,

executive director of the American Chronic Pain Association. "There are many treatment options available to help people reduce the effects of pain in their lives. Proactive behavior such as recognizing emotions and practicing relaxation techniques to reduce stress, pacing activities and working within personal limits, and exercising on a regular basis may contribute to better pain control." Although you may be tempted to not move around much when you're facing pain, a regular exercise program can actually help to relieve pain. According to the Mayo clinic, exercise works by prompting your body to release chemicals called endorphins that actually block pain signals from reaching your brain. "Endorphins are the body's natural pain-relieving chemicals that in many cases are more powerful than morphine," says Edward Laskowski, M.D., a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist and co-director of the Sports Medicine Center at Mayo Clinic,

Rochester, Minn. Plus, exercise will help you to sleep better, have more energy to cope with your pain, and lose weight, which will relieve any excess strain on your joints. If you're currently in pain, remember to consult your physician before starting any exercise program. 6. Chiropractic According to the American Chiropractic Association: Chiropractic is a branch of the healing arts which is concerned with human health and disease processes. Doctors of Chiropractic are physicians who consider man as an integrated being and give special attention to the physiological and biochemical aspects including structural, spinal, musculoskeletal, neurological, vascular, nutritional, emotional and environmental relationships. Every Doctor of Chiropractic is different, and will use varying chiropractic methods to relieve your pain. According to the first survey above,

chiropractic (and massage therapy) ranked second-best at relieving pain. If you're interested, the American Chiropractic Association has an online tool to help you find a Doctor of Chiropractic near you http://www.amerchiro.org/search/mem"Get off your ass and take your government back." ~Rocky Ward

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