Try These 5 Holistic Treatments for Pain Relief

Yoga

yoga, holistic treatments for pain relief Yoga meaning “union” in Sanskrit, the language of ancient India where the practice originated, synchronizes the body with the mind through movement and body awareness. Yoga increases flexibility, builds muscle strength and reduces stress -- all important in pain relief. Although stretching is involved, yogis work to create balance in their body through developing an understanding of the powerful healing capabilities and stability of their breath. Yoga can help people with arthritis and other chronic pain disorders like fibromyalgia and degenerative disk disease by gently building strength around joints and increasing mobility. Yoga is available for those of every level and can be a very gentle practice. Yoga helps people reduce stress levels, lower blood pressure, and offer allergy and asthma relief through breath awareness among other numerous health benefits.

Rolfing Therapy

rolfing, holistic treatments for pain relief, massage Rolfing, named after its developer Ida P. Rolf, Ph.D., is a holistic form of bodywork that specifically targets the connective tissue or fascia within the body to restore natural body shape and structure. Rolfing releases underlying tension that causes pain and teaches the individual how to healthfully inhabit their body and prevent future pain. Benjamin Eichenauer, a Certified Advanced Rolfer, treats patients with carpel tunnel, osteo-arthritis, and back pain. As a rolfer, Eichenauer targets the specific pain with bodywork and is "always looking for the structural causes underlying their specific symptoms." Eichenauer says that with enough time, "rofling can even help those suffering from conditions such as osteo-arthritis and disk degeneration" among other chronic pain conditions.

Tai Chi

tai chi chuan, holistic treatments for pain relief Tai Chi Chuan translated as “Supreme Ultimate Fist” is an internal Chinese martial art practiced both for its defence training and health benefits. Practitioners make slow meditative movements while balancing and focusing on their breath. Tai Chi helps those diagnosed with arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's and fibromyalgia, by increasing joint flexibility, strengthening supportive muscle fibers and increasing cardiovascular fitness. The slow, low impact movements of tai chi burn more calories than surfing and as much as down-hill skiing. The practice allows the body to rebuild muscle tissue to strengthen the body and the joints.

Acupuncture and Acupressure

holistic treatments for pain relief, acupuncture, acupressure Acupuncture uses needles to stimulate pressure points, and acupressure simply uses degrees of pressure from hands, feet or other devices to stimulate pressure points. Both practices relax muscles and release endorphins which are like a naturally occurring pain medication in the body. Practitioners target certain points called meridians that connect throughout the body in a network of energy distribution. By applying pressure to these points, a patient's energy balance can be restored, and she can cultivate her natural healing abilities. Acupressure therapy can offer a milder treatment for fibromyalgia and myofascial pain than the conventional prescription medications which often cause potentially delirious side effects.

Qigong

holistic treatments for pain relief, qigong, chi-gong, breathing Qigong or Chi-Gong is an ancient Chinese system of physical and mental training that uses breath, meditation, and movement to cultivate inner strength, flexibility and overall health. Qigong is used for its preventive and curative functions and encompasses a large variety of both physical and mental training techniques focused around the breath that help unify both body and mind. Considered to be effective at improving symptoms of chronic pain conditions like degenerative disk disease, anxiety, and arthritis, Qigong improves the practitioners' immune system thus increasing a person's self-healing and recovery capability. Benjamin Eichenauer, a Qigong practitioner in Portland, Oregon, treats patients with Qigong because it can be "practiced very gently by almost anyone, making it ideal for those in pain, those who are sick and those whose age may prevent them from engaging in other forms of exercise." Even those unable to perform the movements "may benefit from the breathing, visualization and meditation practices," Eichenauer says.