September is Pain Awareness Month, did you know over 50 million Americans suffer from chronic pain? Complementary and Alternative options for pain are becoming more mainstream and include a wide array of different modalities that can include massage therapy, Reiki, and other mind-body techniques, as well as herbal medicine and aromatherapy.

Since each person is unique finding relief is not a one size fits all approach, something that may have helped a friend or family member may not be the best fit for you. Practitioners trained in various complementary and alternative techniques can help guide the way.

Combining complementary modalities can often provide better results, for example, getting frequent bodywork and incorporating herbal medicine while also supplementing with your own yoga or meditation practice. Simple lifestyle changes can have a huge impact on your health; proper nutrition and better sleep alone have been shown to improve chronic pain significantly.

Seek out modalities that make you feel better as well as spark your interest and then give them a chance to work! Holistic therapies may take a bit longer to see results but your growth and results will be long lasting. It’s always a process and your own personal healing journey, we are here to help ❤️

Read more about Complementary and Alternative approaches to pain from the National Center of Complementary and Integrative Health here.

Find out more about the U.S. Pain Foundation and how they can help here

Photo credit from npr. org