The month of September has been declared Pain Awareness Month. When it comes to managing pain as we age, it’s always the best option to seek natural ways to ease your pain before turning to medications.

We encourage anyone living with pain to first seek the advice of their primary care physician or nurse practitioner to discuss a management program that will be the most beneficial not just physically, but emotionally and financially as well. Living with pain is not just a strain on the body; it can be difficult to cope with your reduced mobility, and prescription pain medication has been shown to not just be expensive, but addictive.

The American Medical Association (AMA) recommends the following non-medicinal remedies to naturally manage pain:

• Taking supplements. Fish Oil, Willow Bark, Vitamin C, and Turmeric have been shown to reduce joint pain
• Regular treatments targeting the specific areas experiencing pain can eliminate the need for medication
• Green Tea. Its cooling and healing properties are well-documented. Whether you drink it hot or iced, substituting even one mug of green tea for coffee or your usual beverage has been shown to improve circulation and ease pain
• Physical Therapy. Having a physical therapist guide you through specific movements can help prevent pain from worsening, and ease chronic pain
• Exercise and Weight Loss. If you’re carrying too much weight, that will contribute to and even exacerbate your pain. Start with daily walks and then increase your routine as you build your tolerance. Combining this with a healthy diet low in fat and high in lean proteins will also benefit your overall health
• Over-the-counter analgesics such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen. Taking in moderation, these non-addictive medicines taken in combination with the above can also help with aches and pains
• Get salty! Taking a warm (not too hot, as hot water can be very drying to aging skin) Epsom salt bath can do wonders to heal you. Also, keeping a salt lamp releases oxidants into the air that are incredibly beneficial to your body. Think of how good you always feel when you’re walking on the beach; part of that good feeling is due to the salt in the air oxygenating your heart and lungs

Should you find that none of these natural remedies are working for you, consult your doctor to discuss other options. No one should ever have to live in pain, and we hope these tips help to keep you comfortable, happy, and healthy for as long as possible.