Top 6 Holistic Ways of Dealing with Injuries

Knee Injury

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It happens to everyone at one time or another, a car accident, a nasty fall, a sports injury, or even a simple home accident such as a cut, the healing process can turn into a long road to recovery. Most people take their doctors advice and begin taking prescription pain medications and antibiotics. Although this can help to encourage healing, they often come with some serious side effects that you really don’t want, such as yeast infections.

Injury and financial problems are often combined as serious injuries keep many from working. For those with chronic pain or an extended healing time can mean serious money disruptions. This added stress only makes the healing process longer and causes many people to return to their jobs before they are really ready. Healing quickly is an important factor if you need to return to work to put bread on the table.

Take a look at the holistic tips below that can help you heal faster and without all those nasty side effects.

 

1. Healing Herbs

Sometimes, recovering from an injury can be slow and painful. If you are looking for a more natural way to heal your wounds, one that has been used successfully for ages, then it’s time to look to the plants Mother Nature put on this planet for just such a purpose. For example, Valerian root has been used for hundreds of years for its relaxing qualities that act as a natural tranquilizer. Valerian root also reduces nerve sensitivity and inflammation in the body, so you should be able to relax and feel less pain.

If you have broken bones or fractures, horsetail contains a compound called silicon that is really good for rejuvenating the connective tissue and bone material.

 

2. Acupuncture

If you have never tried acupuncture, you might find the idea of sticking needles in your skin a bit strange, but this traditional form of Chinese medicine has often helped individuals get some much needed pain relief. It doesn’t matter if it’s back pain or a relentless headache, well-placed, extremely thin needles regulate the blood flow to the area, which reduces swelling, improves blood flow to injured areas, and relaxes the muscles so there are fewer spasms. Not everything works for everyone, but if you feel as if you have tried everything and nothing seems to work, then give this ancient practice a try.

 

3. Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

Taking the right supplements can reduce inflammation and promote faster healing. Healthy levels of vitamin C can greatly cut the time spent healing injuries (read more about vitamin C benefits). You can take vitamin C supplements or consume them by eating plenty of berries, papaya, oranges, broccoli, and grapefruit.

Vitamin E, selenium, zinc, and vitamin A are also known to have great healing properties. Eating more carrots, melons, sweet potatoes, spinach, nuts, mushrooms, tuna, and cocoa can all contribute to shortening the amount of time your injuries need to heal.

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Woman Having Massage In The Spa Salon

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4. Reiki

This is a form of holistic treatment that doesn’t focus on your injury, but looks at your body as a whole. Reiki considers the physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional sides of the injury. Reiki believes that an injury causes an imbalance to all parts of the body and all need to be rebalanced before proper healing can begin. A Reiki practitioner will help you clear out negative energy, treat your pain, and then improve the body’s positive, healing energies.

The practitioner will do a short consultation, and then place their hands on your body in various places and positions. Reiki masters send energy flows to the troubled areas. Many people report that they feel tingling, hot, and cold like sensations, or hear popping noises, and some even say they see colors or images during treatment. Everyone has a different experience but if you have every talked to someone who has used Reiki, they will all tell you the same thing; it works!

 

5. Massage Therapy

Another ancient form of healing naturally is massage therapy. Done properly, it’s much, much more than just the spa massage you get on Friday afternoons! Massage therapy is an alternative way to treat all types of pain, from lower back pain, knee pain, cancer, and other type of pains from diseases and injuries. An experienced therapist can treat problematic areas through various stroking and massage techniques, so important muscles are given new blood supplies for healing and endorphins can be released. This promotes a feeling of well-being, less pain, an improved range of motion, and better flexibility. There is a wide variety of massage techniques such as deep tissue, Swedish, hot stone, Thai, aromatherapy, and Shiatsu. Always choose a licensed massage therapist, as they have the expertise, as well as the experience, to know what type(s) of massage would benefit you best and relieve pressure points that aid in the healing process.

 

SEE ALSO: Traumatic Brain Injury: A Comprehensive Guide Infographic

6.  Bromelain

If you haven’t discovered the benefits of bromelain, now is the time! Bromelain, an enzyme found in pineapples, can reduce swelling and greatly reduce the healing time for soft tissue injuries and from surgical procedures. Take several hundred milligrams every day for the first two weeks or so after you have been injured or after surgery. If you are taking other medications, be sure to tell your doctor that you plan to take bromelain.

Recovering from injuries takes time, so don’t push your body to do more than it’s ready to do. However, if you incorporate natural means of healing into your overall wellness routine, you should be able to shorten the amount of time it takes for your body to heal itself, without side effects or toxic drugs.

Sources: http://blogs.naturalnews.com/5-holistic-tips-dealing-injury/

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One Comment

  1. Amber

    Dec 10, 2014 at 8:04 pm

    I also highly recommend the BFST (blood flow stimulation therapy) wrap for any soft tissue injury. Our bodies natural ability to heal brings any injured area blood flow, however, the rate at which it does so is very slow. The BFST simply speeds up this process. There is an Energy Web inside a body specific wrap that emits electro-magnetic energy which sends a signal to the rest of our body, telling it that this specific area needs more blood flow. The blood flow this electro-magnetic promotes is full of the oxygen and nutrients you need in order to be able to heal, and at an accelerate rate. The increased blood flow also lubricates the area helping prevent any further damage during movements. http://www.kingbrand.com/More-About-BFST.php?REF=46PV105