Olivia
Pain can range from a mild annoyance that you can treat with paracetamols to quality of life-destroying. Often it seems like there is nothing you can do to go back to your routine. Anyone suffering from this type of all-pervasive pain can end up depressed with no other recourse but to live a life of agony. Luckily, some alternative ways to deal with the pain could relieve some of the discomforts.
How Do Painkillers Work?
To reduce pain, pain relievers help each of these systems, including your nervous system, cells, and brain. Nerve endings are abundant in your skin and tissues. The nerve endings in some parts of the body can feel pain after being involved in an injury. As your body is damaged or injured, it releases chemicals known as prostaglandins. Nerve endings respond to the release of prostaglandins by receiving and transmitting pain and injury signals to the brain. In addition to telling the brain about the pain, they also let it know where it is and how badly it hurts. This is beneficial because it lets you know that you must immediately stop using that area and treat it.
Different painkillers have different effects on the nervous system but generally, work in the same manner. By doing so, they prevent your body from producing and releasing prostaglandins. Some medicines are far more potent in this regard than others. For example, Opium is a highly potent pain-reliever and has been used for centuries to relieve extreme pain and is still used today in other forms. Often referred to as Milk of the Poppy or in professional settings known as opioid painkillers, they work by suppressing the central nervous system and activating mu receptors. As a result of the activation of these receptors, endorphins, the feel-good chemicals, are released. This is the mechanism, which allows the pain to disappear and a feeling of euphoria to enter. Nonetheless, opioid-based painkillers are not usually available over the counter due to being a controlled substance. Fortunately, there are other natural methods you can use to revive physical pain.
1. Cannabidiol (CBD)
CBD and other compounds found in the cannabis plant have been found to have a wide range of health benefits. It is thought that cannabinoids possess medicinal properties. As a result, CBD has gained a lot of attention within the health and wellness industry. While it is part of the cannabis plant, CBD is not a psychoactive chemical, hence its popularity. It has numerous health benefits, including reducing pain and inflammation. The method is still being researched, but it’s believed to be due to its reaction to the body’s endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a group of specialized cell receptors found throughout the body and brain. It is responsible for mediating several physiological functions, including appetite, mood, memory, and pain. ECS contains cannabinoid receptors, which are proteins activated by cannabinoids. The ECS also includes several other proteins and lipid molecules involved in controlling the receptor, and of course, the endocannabinoid system itself. There are still questions surrounding how CBD works, but it has been proven to alleviate symptoms associated with pain, nausea, and other ailments.
2. Capsaicin
This option may look odd because when you consume Capsaicin in the form of chili, it can cause pain. Nevertheless, when used in cream and applied topically to the location of pain, it has been shown to have pain-relieving effects. Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated its pain-relieving properties, which is why many pain creams contain it. However, why it occurs is not entirely understood.
3. Ginger
It has long been known that ginger contains inflammation-reducing properties. This is evident to anyone who has influenza and drunk ginger tea. It has a calming effect on the body and can relieve many symptoms associated with inflammation-based pain. It is best used to reduce self-induced pain such as that originating from strenuous exercise.
4. Acupuncture
This method has been extensively studied and has been shown to relieve pain related to muscle tightness. Chronic pain can be effectively treated with acupuncture, according to a 2018 study. Acupuncture can provide relief from muscular pain, headaches, and osteoarthritis pain, according to the researchers. This method has been understood since ancient times, and it uses special acupuncture needles placed in specific locations by experts, which relieve pain by releasing endorphins.
For those suffering from extreme pain, the only thing on your mind is that you would do anything to relive it. Luckily, many alternative methods to choose from don’t have the deleterious effects of painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen.
