Many people seek alternative therapies for pain that are not habit forming and harmful to the back, neck, joints or nerves.
The demand for research into alternative medicine prompted the National Institutes of Health to establish the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine in 1998. Researchers have since found a number of therapies, such as chiropractic and massage, effective for pain relief and other treatments.
Chiropractic Treatment
Chiropractic treatments commonly consist of manual manipulation of the spine to alleviate stress on vertebrae, muscles, nerves and other tissue. This alternative medicine for pain relief is usually pursued for, but not limited to, conditions related to spinal and neural problems, such as back pain, neck pain and headaches. The American Chiropractic Association cites a 2003 study by L. Giles and R. Muller that proves manual spinal adjustments are more effective than medications for short-term relief of chronic back pain. The NCCAM found indications of chiropractic's effectiveness in those areas promising enough to fund ongoing research projects.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy focuses on manipulation of soft tissue rather than spinal alignment. Practitioners use long strokes, circular motions and other methods for stimulating and soothing muscles in the body. This alternative medicine produces a number of psychophysical reactions, including decreasing blood pressure and releasing endorphins, compounds produced by the brain that might help to block pain.
Because pain can be triggered by anxiety, the ability of massage to reduce many types of anxiety makes it a valuable tool in fighting pain. A National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine review of 13 clinical trials in 2008 revealed massage therapy's likely effectiveness in relieving low-back pain. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine also pronounced massage useful for pain relief in cancer patients and individuals with chronic neck pain.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is one of the world's oldest healing arts. It works by stimulating strategic points on the body that might redirect the flow of energy to alleviate pain. Acupuncture practitioners insert tiny needles into the patient's skin to achieve this effect. The Mayo Clinic notes that several sessions might be necessary to achieve results.
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine reports that research into the mechanism of acupuncture is incomplete, but that this alternative therapy is proven to have fewer side effects than medicinal treatments for pain relief. Its effectiveness for back pain and osteoarthritis of the knee is promising, but patients worldwide also choose acupuncture to address other types of joint pain, neck pain and headache.
References
- American Chiropractic Association: Chiropractic and Back Pain
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Massage
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Chiropractic
- Mayo Clinic: Neck Pain
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Acupuncture for Pain
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