We have another guest post from Jackie Waters of Hyper-Tidy.com! 

There’s no silver bullet approach for dealing with chronic pain. Everyone’s pain is specific to them, and you can’t solve everything with a single pill or by eating more kale. A true holistic approach to chronic pain management will utilize a variety of coping methods.

For some, the risk of developing dependencies to medication is enough reason to seek out alternative therapies for their pain. Others find that a combination of treatments works best for them. Some are still searching for the right treatment. Whatever the case, the good news is there are alternative treatments that show promise and are already being relied on by millions suffering from chronic pain.

Add some specific foods to your diet

Proper diet and exercise is vital for anyone suffering from chronic pain. It’s important to reduce refined carbohydrates, excess sugar, and caffeine. Do everything that you can to maintain a healthy weight, as obesity exacerbates most forms of chronic pain.

But did you know that there are some specific foods you can add to your diet to help you minimize chronic pain?

• Fish Oil – Fish oil is prized for its anti-inflammatory properties. “In one study, researchers instructed patients with neck or back pain to take 1200 milligrams a day of fish oil supplements with eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid. After 75 days on fish oil, more than half of the 125 patients who reported back said they had stopped their prescription painkillers,” according to EverydayHealth.com. The good news is that you can increase fish oil in your diet by eating delicious, healthy-fat fish like salmon and mackerel. You can also take capsules to supplement your daily intake.
• Turmeric – This tasty kitchen spice also has anti-inflammatory properties, according to research. Turmeric’s pungent color, smell, and taste works well in a variety of dishes from a variety of world cuisines. You can also take Turmeric in pill form, if your cooking skills are lacking.

Some chronic pain sufferers have also reported that coconut oil helps minimize their symptoms.

Be intimate

Sex can be difficult for those suffering from chronic pain, but it can also be restorative, thanks to its effect on brain chemistry.

“Substances, released through skin-to-skin touch with peak effects at orgasm, similarly contribute to pain relief and well-being. These include serotonin, our body’s natural anti-depressant; phenylethylamine (also found in chocolate) which activates the brain’s pleasure center; and endorphins, a natural painkiller that reduce pain awareness and generate feelings of elation and euphoria. Endorphins, one of the body’s natural opioids, have a chemical structure that is similar to morphine,” says Psychology Today.

You and your partner should talk about the best ways to be intimate while being mindful of your chronic pain.

Find distractions

Much of the battle with chronic pain is fought by accepting and then distracting yourself from the pain, instead of attempting to rid yourself of the pain. Many activities like video games, sports, knitting, and reading can provide solid distractions from chronic pain.

One specific activity that has actually been shown to reduce chronic pain, however, is listening to music. Case Western and Cleveland Clinic researchers found that people who listened to music for just an hour a day reported pain reductions up to 20 percent.

Jackie Waters is a mother of four beautiful and energetic boys. She lives with her family on a three-acre hobby farm in Oregon. Her goals are to feed her family as much fresh and home-grown food as possible, focus on sustainability while doing so, and practice simplicity.

She is here to tell you: you can have it all. With diligence and balance, you can achieve a beautiful, clean home. Her journey has been full of challenges, but she learned so much along the way. She would like to share with you her ideas and tips on how to be hyper-tidy!