There are plenty of treatments for long-term painful conditions like arthritis, ranging from prescribed medication to natural remedies. While most of the solutions are obvious, there are other methods for alleviating the symptoms of these conditions. If you’re interested in learning more about interesting and unconventional methods for managing arthritis, joint pain, and more, let’s check out some surprising ways to relieve pain and learn more about why health professionals and researchers think they’re effective.
Hypnosis
While you shouldn’t skimp on visiting your doctor, an additional appointment made with your local hypnotherapist could also help to relieve pain. Multiple studies have shown that hypnosis can produce a significant decrease in discomfort for people with fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and other chronic pain conditions. The main reason hypnosis has such an effect is because it can divert people’s attention away from their painful symptoms, which results in a moderate amount of relief. Hypnosis is also thought to have an analgesic effect on the brain, which means that it could turn down pain signals.
Sweat Lodge
Another surprising way to relieve pain is by attending a sweat lodge ceremony. A sweat lodge, which is used during Native American sweat lodge ceremonies, is a heated, domed-shaped dwelling similar to a sauna. In the lodge sits an earthen-dug pit filled with heated rocks. People periodically douse it with water, which creates a hot and steamy environment. Visiting a sweat lodge offers mental and spiritual benefits, but there are also physical benefits. The sweat lodge provides antibacterial, wound-healing, and pain management benefits attributed to the increased blood flow from the heat. The sweat lodge ceremony also usually involves ritual drumming and a form of spiritual meditation, which, like hypnosis, may have the additional advantage of distracting people from their pain.
Tai Chi
If you’ve always wanted to be a martial arts master, there’s good news! A daily dose of tai chi will teach you the art of self-defense while relieving symptoms of pain. A study performed at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill discovered that the meditation and gentle movements associated with tai chi helped reduce pain, fatigue, and stiffness for people with arthritis, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia while also benefiting their overall well-being.
FAQ
What is a sweat lodge ceremony?
Another surprising way to relieve pain is by attending a sweat lodge ceremony. A sweat lodge, which is used during Native American sweat lodge ceremonies, is a heated, domed-shaped dwelling similar to a sauna. In the lodge sits an earthen-dug pit filled with heated rocks. People periodically douse it with water, which creates a hot and steamy environment.
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