Holistic Healing, Jan 05

Pain, Pain, Go Away
Using the mind-body connection to quell chronic aches.

By Lisa James

   The withdrawal of the painkiller Vioxx from the market last September, after it was shown to raise the risk of heart attacks and strokes, has sparked controversy about the safety of prescription drugs. But as this debate continues, a question remains: How can you deal with the hurts that lead you to take pain medication in the first place?
   Alternative therapies abound. Studies have shown that glucosamine and chondroitin help stop arthritic joints from deteriorating; so, apparently, do the fatty acids in fish oil. The supplement MSM helps ease pain and inflammation, as do the herbs turmeric, ginger, willow bark and cat’s claw. However, holistic practitioners recognize that the human body is more than just a collection of cells; it is also a subtle energy field that can be deformed by pain.
   “When there is physical pain,” says Dr. Robert Ivker, holistic practitioner and author of Backache Survival (Tarcher/Putnam), “it usually indicates a weakness or an obstruction in the flow of energy.” That’s the idea behind acupuncture, in which fine needles are used to redirect energy flow in the body. According to a study in the respected British Medical Journal, people with arthritic knees who received acupuncture treatments took less medication and enjoyed less achiness and stiffness (11/20/04).
   Progressive relaxation helps fight the muscular tension that aggravates pain. While lying on a comfortable surface, clench one hand for 10 seconds. Hold for 10 seconds, slowly relax over 10 to 15 seconds, and repeat. Move to the other hand, followed by each foot; then work your way up to your head. After a week’s daily practice, you should be able to judge whether a part is tense without consciously clenching it, and relax accordingly.
   Often, according to X-ray or MRI results, your body appears healthy—but the pain remains. The reason: sensitization. A wrenched back or arthritic joint activates pain circuits within the nervous system (sort of like turning up the volume on a radio), circuits that involve many areas of the brain, including those that process thoughts and emotions. When pain turns chronic, it’s as though your body can’t tune it down because the circuits “freeze” at the loud end of the dial—locking in emotional anguish along with the physical suffering.
   This mind-body connection means that your mind can help your body cope with pain. “Probably the most important factor governing how fast you travel the path toward recovery,” says noted British naturopath Leon Chaitow in Conquer Pain the Natural Way (Chronicle), “is your attitude and the way you make use of your inner reserve of strength—a store that we all have within us.”
   The interior monologue you experience each day can powerfully affect your coping abilities; positive affirmations give that internal chatter an uplifting tone. For example, Chaitow says that pain-related anxiety can be countered with a statement such as “My body and mind are soothed by the light of the spirit.” Pain that reoccurs may respond to “The body follows its own wisdom. Healing continues.” The exact words are not important; what counts is using strong, positive words that mean something to you.
   Pain can seem like a heavy burden. But using all your physical and mental resources can help you persevere.

Back To Top