Whom among us has not experienced pain? The reality is, we all have either endured pain in the past, may even be currently experiencing pain, and more than likely will struggle with it in the future. Is there a way to naturally reduce our pain levels? What about preventing or lowering our risk of struggling with pain in the future? Get ready for more proof that mother nature has our backs. Not only are there several different all natural ways to reduce pain, there are things we can do daily to prevent pain in the future. Are you ready to take back control of your health?

What Causes Pain?

There are two common themes that tend to be hidden behind most, if not all, of our pain. One of the biggest components that leads to a spike in our pain levels is inflammation. Inflammation is our bodies natural first response to any known or unknown threat. Whether it is something we have eaten, a bacteria or virus that has entered our bodies, or just over working an area. Inflammation is our bodies way of transporting resources to areas of our bodies that need them most. Whenever, I explain it to someone I try to use common visuals. Think of inflammation like the lights and sirens on emergency vehicles. Their soul purpose is to help emergency responders (in this case white blood cells) get to the victims or villains as quickly as possible. 

How Your Body Responds

After the emergency responders have arrived at the location they get to work. The inflammation is present within our bodies until the issue has been resolved. If a situation arrives in which the body is not given the resources or time it needs to repair itself the inflammation will remain in the body. Think of it as if the bad guy has not yet been caught and having the area remain on high alert to prevent further victims. Unfortunately, our bodies emergency responders need to be able to resolve the issue and move on to the next threat or injury. In situations where we cannot resolve the problem it can lead to even more health issues and complaints. Just like if the bad guy slipped passed the parameter or if the extreme restriction within that area has caused other people to act out. When this happens it often leads to situations of chronic pain.

Effects Of Stress

The second most common factor that increases the presence of pain is high levels of Cortisol. Cortisol, more commonly known as the stress hormone, keeps the body in a constant state of high alert. Think of it as if you are forcing your body into a constant state of fight or flight. Cortisol serves a purpose just like inflammation. It is a way for our bodies to increase the chance of survival in our favor. Being in a state of heightened awareness helps us to see a threat with enough time to react in a way that increases the likelihood that we will either eliminate the threat or out run it. High stress and inflammation have the same end result when they are experienced for prolonged periods of time. If we are heightening our awareness and making ourselves highly sensitive it as if we are magnifying any negative sensation we may experience. 

The Purpose Behind Pain

Everything that occurs within our bodies has a purpose. In most cases, the purpose is to keep us alive and well. Pain has purpose, it is our bodies way of telling us there is a problem. The more intense the pain is or becomes the bigger the issue is. When we have something going on internally our body will throw out warning signs, kind of like the check engine light on our car. The longer we go without addressing the issue, the more issues seem to stack up. Unlike our cars check engine light, there are so many different lights that our bodies flick on in an attempt to get our attention. Most of these lights indicate a number of possible issues. That is why it pays to know what to look out for and how to determine if it is something that needs to be taken to a mechanic to fix. 

Help Yourself

One of the ways our bodies try to fix themselves is through the use of different hormones. We have already discussed how some hormones can intensify our pain. But there are several hormones that naturally occur within our bodies to alleviate pain. Hormones like Dopamine and Serotonin help produce feelings of joy and happiness. These hormones help to reduce inflammation throughout the body and improve circulation. Out of all the hormones that naturally occur throughout our bodies there is one hormone whose main focus is on making us feel good. The hormone that is dedicated to making us feel good are called Endorphins. All right, the name itself tells you that there are more than one of them. In fact, there are twenty different types of Endorphins that occur in the body.

The Runner’s High

Endorphins are endogenous opioid neuropeptides and peptide hormones. They are a range of compounds formed from long chains of multiple amino acids. Are naturally produced by the central nervous system and the pituitary gland. The primary function of Endorphins is to inhibit the communication of pain signals; they may also produce a feeling of euphoria very similar to that produced by other opiods. By binding to a receptor they inhibit the release of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric-acid (GABA). Which, in turn, increases the production and release of Dopamine. The production of Endorphins can also be triggered by other activities such as vigorous aerobic exercise producing a runner’s high. Similar to Dopamine Endorphins can be extremely addictive in nature.

Natural Painkillers

Due to the fact that Endorphins can be highly addictive it is advantageous to rely on natural stimulants to increase their production. The following is a list of all natural ways to increase the production of Endorphins:

• Aerobic Exercise
• Laughter
• Anti-Inflammatory Diet
• Sex
• Music
• Meditation
•  Acupuncture
• Chiropractor
• Sun Light
• Deep Breathing
• Yoga

Find Your Groove

What all these all natural options have in common is the fact that they all increase circulation. Personally, I think it is best to start with the options you can implement today. Although, I will say that Acupuncture will always hold a special place in my heart. Acupuncture was my first personal experience with all natural medicine. It helped open my eyes to all of the possibilities that were out there. We are all different and because what may work for one of us may not work for all of us. It is important to try out as many options as it takes. You may find that one option works better than another for you. 

Be On The Lookout For…

When it comes to signs and symptoms that can either lead to pain or indicate you are already suffering from pain, there are several things to look out for. Acute pain is something we have all experienced at some point in our lives. While there are different types of pain sensations (such as sharp, throbbing, tenderness, etc.) they can quickly become something more. The following is a list of things that can stem from pain or quickly develop as a by product of pain:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Digestive Issues
• Mood Swings
• Irritability
• Headaches
• Inflammation
• Inability to get comfortable

Work With Your Body

As I mentioned earlier in this article pain is a natural part of life. However, too much or prolonged exposure to pain can create or be a byproduct of a bigger issue. That is why it is so important to listen to our bodies and respond in kind. Our bodies want us to be as healthy, happy, and successful as possible. If you have been experiencing any of these signs and symptoms and you have not seen your primary doctor in a while. I would suggest setting up an appointment for a routine physical. If your doctor suggests medications, let them know you would like to try a more holistic approach. Anyone who is already taking any form of medication should always inform your primary doctor of any supplement or nutritional changes. Some medications can cause more harm to our bodies when combined with certain foods or supplements. 

Spicy Cauliflower Bowls

Gluten-Free Vegan Serves 4

• 3 Heads of Cauliflower separated
• ½ Cup Gochujang
• 5 Cloves of Garlic Minced
• 1 TBsp Freshly Grated Ginger
• 1 Small Yellow Onion Minced
• 1 Pear Grated
• 1 Apple Grated
• ½ Cup Coconut Amino
• 1 TBsp Sesame Oil
• 4 Green Onions
• 1 TBsp Coconut Sugar
• 4 Cups Of Cooked Brown Rice
• 1 TBsp Avocado Oil
• Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions:

In large bowl toss cauliflower, avocado oil, with salt and pepper. Place on a sheet pan and roast in oven at 400 degrees for 20-30 minutes, or until golden brown. While roasting combine remaining ingredients, except rice and green onions, into blender. Blend until combined. In a pot cook sauce down until it coats the back of a spoon. In a wok toss and cook cauliflower, until it is completely coated. Serve over rice and top with chopped green onions. Totally worth the effort!

Need a Helping Hand?

A happy and healthy life is closer than you may think. Our health is something that we all have to deal with daily, and when we don’t feel our best, it shows. If you are tired of just making it through your day then you NEED to start investing in your health today! You are not alone on this journey. If you ever need any help I am always here to do just that. Even if it is something as small as just acting as a sounding board. Do you have any questions or concerns I can help you with? Feel free to contact me directly at [email protected] or you can even book a one-on-one call with me. Be sure to subscribe to gain access to tons of free goodies and check back daily for more great recipes and information!