Natural Pain Relief

Our pharmacies are filled with a wide variety of chemical pain relievers.  The problem is chemical pain relievers can be addictive and they can actually increase the risk  of further injury.  The bottom line is, pain is your body's way of telling you there is a problem.  Suppressing pain in that respect really is not in your best interest but at the same time no one wants to endure pain if they don't have to.  Years ago, folks dealt with pain management without resorting to chemical pain relievers.  That is still a good course of action.  Here's a few pain relievers this frugal household uses:

• ammonia -  If applied shortly after being stung by a bee, hornet or other insect liquid ammonia will remove the venom while reducing any reaction to the sting/bite. 
• milk -  Apply milk to any area of skin that has been sun burned.  It will relieve the pain while reducing inflammation and promoting healing.
• apple cider vinegar - Apple cider vinegar is a heal all externally and internally.  It will reduce inflammation while restoring the natural pH to skin promoting healing while reducing any pain associated with acne and psoriasis.  It has anti-fungal properties that will help cure internal and external fungal infections especially gastrointestinal that can cause considerable pain and discomfort.  Apple cider vinegar in warm water is one of the best ways to stop the pain of heart burn.  It will relieve the pain and itching of many skin disorders.
• oatmeal - Oatmeal relieves many minor skin irritations while promoting healing but it is the primary way to treat poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac.  It dries up the rash while reducing the swelling and the pain.
• yogurt - Yogurt with active bacterial is the natural way to deal with any yeast infection while soothing the pain and promoting healing.  
• ice - Ice packs are the natural way to reduce inflammation and swelling thus relieving pain.  An ice pack is also a great way to relieve headaches.
• heat - Heat packs are the natural way to reduce transient pain, usually alternating between icing and pain for injuries but heat only for other types of pain.  
• epsom salts -  Epsom salts is a very inexpensive and natural way to reduce muscle pain.  Simply add a cup of epsom salts in a tub of hot water then soak for 10 minutes.
• arnica cream -  Arnica cream (available at health food stores) soothes the pain of bruises while promoting healing.  Bruises treated with arnica cream will heal in about a third of the time as those not treated with arnica cream plus the pain is greatly diminished after only one application. 
• walking -  Walking is the number one way to relieve and prevent back pain according to my physiotherapist.  A 30 minute walk daily really does help reduce and prevent pain of many motility problems.  The body is designed for movement and that movement relieves pain.
• steam - Sinuses can become quite painful if congested, inflamed or infected.  The most natural way to treat this problem while relieving the pain is steam.  It opens up the sinus passages, allowing them to drain while reducing the swelling that causes the pain and headache.