Hello everyone!
This month, I’d like to talk about how holistic therapy can offer natural relief for those living with chronic pain.
Chronic pain can be debilitating and affects many parts of daily life. It can also cause emotional distress like depression, anxiety, and trouble sleeping. There are different types of pain such as neuropathic (nerve) pain, post-surgical pain, fibromyalgia, arthritis, migraine and headache pain.
Holistic healing is a powerful fusion of aromatherapy, essential oils, and massage to target specific areas of pain effectively. With this harmonious blend, clients can discover natural pain relief, with the benefits felt both during and after their treatments.
I have regular clients who come to me with ME and Fibromyalgia. They find that essential oils and aromatherapy massage help their conditions greatly.
In this article, we will explore five approaches to chronic pain relief, touching on the therapeutic properties of essential oils and explaining how they work alongside massage to relieve muscle tension, ease pain, and bring relaxation.
1. Aromatherapy massage
Aromatherapy massage combines the therapeutic benefits of essential oils with the relaxing effects of massage. Essential oils contain properties that can alleviate pain and discomfort
After discussing with our clients, we choose a bespoke oil blend tailored to target pain points and bring natural relief.
When applied topically during a massage, essential oils penetrate the skin and work on a cellular level to relieve muscle pains and tension.
Massage can help relax painful muscles, tendons, nerve fibres and joints, leading to a reduction in pain. With reduced pain may come a comforting relief from stress and anxiety, which are often experienced alongside chronic pain.
Bespoke essential oil blends
By not working with pre-blended oils and creating fresh, bespoke essential oil blends tailored to your unique needs can help harness the pain-relieving effects of aromatherapy more effectively.
Essential oils like lavender, chamomile, lemongrass, ginger, frankincense, helichrysum and eucalyptus have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, providing natural pain relief.
Roman chamomile oil is known for its calming properties, which in turn can help you feel de-stressed and relaxed and can change your perception of pain.
When carefully chosen and blended by your therapist, these oils and scents can help you align your physical and spiritual self so you are relaxed and calm, easing the tension in your body and brain.
2. Hot stone massage
A hot stone massage involves the use of heated basalt stones, which are placed on specific pain points of the body.
A hot stone massage can help with chronic pain by using heat to reduce muscle tension, increase circulation, improve the elasticity of connective tissue, and raise your pain threshold.
Due to the hot stones, new nutrient-packed blood is pumped faster around the body and to the tissues in need of injury repair.
All of these points combined result in feelings of all-over relaxation where physical pain is reduced, and mental anguish is soothed.
3. Reflexology
Reflexology involves the application of pressure to specific points on the hands and feet, with benefits such as pain relief, reduced stress, and improved digestion.
By applying pressure to specific points on the hands and feet, reflexology is thought to trigger the release of endorphins, natural pain-relieving chemicals in the body.
Also, the stimulation of nerve pathways through reflexology can help reduce muscle tension and general pain relief. It’s particularly effective for those with chronic lower back pain and those who experience migraines and premenstrual syndrome.
Reflexology is often a sought-after treatment by those with chronic musculoskeletal or nerve pain, with a study finding some individuals experiencing up to a 40% decrease in their pain levels.
This holistic healing treatment can also improve a patient’s mental health by reducing anxiety in those following medical procedures and allowing for restful sleep.
We offer Reflexology with our therapist Ragan, giving a specialised treatment aimed at promoting hormonal balance for conditions such as PMS, menopause, and fertility issues.
4. Mindfulness meditation
This approach to chronic pain can be done at home and is a great holistic way to bring about awareness and acceptance.
By focusing on the present moment without judgment, you can cultivate a sense of calm and a greater understanding of the pain. This means you can cultivate non-reactivity and a better acceptance of pain.
This practice allows for a deeper connection between the mind and body, fostering a healing environment that addresses the root causes of pain rather than just its symptoms. The whole person is treated as the physical, emotional and physical aspects are addressed.
Copying mechanisms can also be learnt with this understanding of the self.
As you can see, there are many positive and soothing treatments for chronic pain. Some you can start at home right away, and others you can book and look forward to with trained therapists.
By embracing these therapeutic approaches, you can foster a deeper connection between the mind, body, and spirit for long-lasting relief and improved quality of life from now on.
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