Top 5 Ways to Relieve Pain

For some people, the thought of pain relief meansnot well, it is often the first to disappear as healing
grabbing a bottle of aspirin or over-the-counter painbegins. This also works a lot like the principle of mind
reliever and taking pills. But here are five methods ofover matter. Often, a small scrape or other minor
pain relief that don't involve narcotics or pain killersinjury does not hurt until it is noticed. With meditation
that can cause damage to the stomach or liver.for pain relief, because the entire mind is
One of the simplest ways to reduce pain is to chill orconcentrating on the meditation, there is nothing left
warm the affected area, depending on the nature ofover to notice the pain.
the injury or cause of the pain. Pain relief for a sprainMany recent studies have also demonstrated the
or joint injury is often as close as the nearestusefulness of animals in pain relief. Especially among
freezer. Putting ice on the injury helps reduce swellingthe chronically ill, holding or petting a furry animal can
and therefore reduces the pressure on the nervecreate enormous pain relief. Scientists argue why the
endings, reducing the pain. For a muscle pull or strainact of stroking an animal relieves pain, but most
injury, heat can help reduce pain. A heating pad onagree that it does. Some say it is again the
the site of the strain can help relax the muscles anddistraction factor; that caring for another being
eliminate the pain. That same theory is why a warmremoves the self focus and sends the pain to the
bath or shower can help to relieve pain. The warmthback of the mind. Proponents of that theory say
of the water helps the body to relax and thethat animal therapy does not truly relive pain, just
relaxation causes the muscle to quit causing pressuredistracts the suffered from it. Others argue that
on the nerve ending.perhaps the resonance of a cat purr or the feeling of
Another simple method is to relieve pain is througha dog's fur may trigger natural endorphins in the brain.
massage. Rubbing the painful area gently can help theEndorphins are hormone that create a natural high
muscles to relax as well. When muscles are tense,and may actually create pain relief.
they form a tight ball. That tightness presses on theFinally, new research is emerging with hospice
nerves and causes pain. Therefore, massaging awaypatients to indicate that soothing music can also
the muscle stress can help with pain relief.relieve pain. The theory states that much like animal
Meditation is also a very good form of pain relief. Thetherapy, the soft music of a harp or other soothing
theory is that by relaxing the body and focusing theinstrument can call to mind happier times and even
mind on something other than the pain, the body canthe memory of happiness can create the release of
begin its own natural healing process. Since pain isendorphins to ease the pain.
usually the last symptom to appear when the boy is