Natural pain relief – 10 drug-free ways to relieve chronic pains

Heat pads and hot water bottles can really help with pain – particularly during a bad flare-up. Applying heat to the affected area can reduce pain, ease stiffness, warm up your muscles before exercising, and increase muscle relaxation and circulation.

Tips for using heat therapy correctly:

As with heat, applying ice packs and cold compresses can reduce pain. It can also reduce swelling and decrease bleeding.

Physical therapy is a term for any practice that involves manipulation, massage, stretching and other pain-relieving exercises for the body. It can be delivered by a physiotherapist, a chiropractor, an osteopath, or sometimes by an occupational therapist.

Having several sessions of physical therapy should help with your pain symptoms. You can also get advice from the practitioner on stretches, exercises and lifestyle adaptations to make that will help with your condition.

You should be able to get a referral for physical therapy on the NHS, although in some areas you might need to arrange it privately.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation may not be a traditional form of pain relief, but in recent years it’s become a very popular method for people with chronic pain.

A TENS machine is a small, battery-powered device that sends electrical impulses through electrodes (sticky pads) on to your skin. This process helps to block pain signals and relax the muscles. It’s also thought to stimulate the release of pain-relieving endorphins.

TENS machines are most often used by people with chronic pain conditions like arthritis and endometriosis.

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Acupuncture is an ancient pain-relieving technique that was first developed in China. Although it’s known as an alternative medicine, acupuncture has been adopted in Western medicine, primarily to treat chronic pain and migraines.

The acupuncture process involves stimulating nerves around the body with long, thin needles, which are carefully inserted into the skin and muscles. This process encourages the release of pain-relieving endorphins.

If you’re interested in trying acupuncture, speak to your GP – sometimes it’s available on the NHS but you might have to arrange it privately.

It may seem like a strange suggestion, but getting counselling or therapy can be really helpful when you live with a chronic pain condition. If your pain is affecting your mood and making you feel anxious or depressed, you might find that your symptoms actually worsen.

Speaking to a counsellor or therapist – particularly one who specialises in chronic pain – can be a good way to stay on top of your negative thoughts and feelings, and to manage the effects of your condition on a daily basis. If you’re interested in trying therapy, speak to your GP – you can also check out this guide on the NHS website.

Turmeric is best known as a bright yellow spice used in South Asian cooking. However, it has been said to be used as an anti-inflammatory and pain reliever in traditional medicine for centuries. Evidence for its effectiveness is limited, however some studies have shown that turmeric can help reduce pain and improve mobility for people with arthritis.

Learn more by reading this article: Turmeric for arthritis and joints.

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Clove oil is not a treatment for ongoing chronic pain, but it can come in handy if you need to temporarily relieve toothache while waiting for dental treatment.

Cloves have a naturally anaesthetic and antiseptic effect, which means clove oil can help to numb a sore area in your mouth, reduce pain and fight infection. For toothache, apply a small amount directly to the tooth using a cotton bud.

Here at LloydsPharmacy we stock a wide range of products which can help with pain relief, from TENS machines to turmeric supplements. If you want to learn more about drug-free and natural pain relief options, pop into your nearest LloydsPharmacy to chat with one of our pharmacists.