How to Soothe Pain Naturally

In the words of Derek Zoolander, "Chronic pain, so hot right now."

I kid, I kid.  But seriously, I've been encountering a huge amount of people who are dealing with chronic pain in their everyday lives - to the point that they've accepted it as normal.

This breaks my heart - no one should be forced to go through life in constant pain - especially when, in many cases, it can be managed with simple, natural additions to their diet and daily wellness routine.

When trying to treat pain naturally, it's important to get in touch with the source of the problem.  In the majority of cases it stems from inflammation - which is the root cause of almost all disease and illness.

Decreasing levels of inflammation within the body is the most effective way to keep aches and pain at bay.

The Standard American Diet (SAD) is inflammation's BFF.  The large quantities of processed, refined foods that we're eating on a regular basis lack essential nutrients, and stress our bodies out by overloading them with toxic, unfamiliar substances.

Like good ol' Hippocrates (the "father of modern medicine") said, "Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food."  Often quoted - yet never goes out of style.  It really is possible to solve a huge amount of ailments, like pain, cramps, headaches, and joint tenderness/stiffness by being mindful of what you put in your mouth, i.e. focusing on consuming nutrient dense, anti-inflammatory whole foods.

There are tons of ways to bust inflammation via your diet, but I've rounded up a short + sweet list below of some of the heaviest hitters.

Turmeric:  T

his powerful, tasty root packs a serious anti-inflammatory and pain-soothing punch thanks to its active ingredient, curcumin (which is also found in ginger in smaller amounts). It's been shown to have comparable anti-inflammatory effects to prescription and over-the-counter meds (think hydrocortisone, ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen), without any toxins or side effects. Add it to foods when cooking, mix a teaspoon with a glass of warm water, or take in capsule form daily to reap the benefits.

Cherries:

Anthocyanins,  the compounds that give cherries their gorgeous red color, have been shown to be 10x more powerful than ibuprofen and aspirin in terms of kicking inflammation to the curb (again, with none of the toxins or side effects).  They're able to prevent and reduce all sorts of different kinds of pain by cutting off the enzymes that cause tissue inflammation.  It's recommended to eat about 20 cherries each day to get optimal effects - the darker in color the better.  Talk about pain reduction with a cherry on top!

Omega-3's:

We're constantly hearing that omega-3 fatty acids are good for us, but many people don't know why. They're powerful inflammation reducers, they're crucial for proper function of almost all of our bodies systems, and they actually suppress the creation of enzymes that eat away at cartilage (good news for rheumatoid arthritis sufferers).  We don't produce omega-3's on our own, so we need to ensure we're getting enough via our diet.  Regular consumption has beens shown to majorly reduce/eliminate overall pain + an increase in strength.There are tons of delish ways to boost your omega-3 intake at every meal, try incorporating things like: chia seeds, flaxseeds, hemp seeds, walnuts, leafy greens, salmon, shrimp, cod, tuna, sardines, pastured eggs, grass-fed meat, sea plants, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and broccoli (side note: always try to opt for wild fish and organic produce).

Essential Oils:

Looking for something topical to complement your internal pain + inflammation busting foods?  Two words:  Deep Blue.This powerful blend of essential oils is the first thing I reach for when I'm experiencing any type of pain or soreness (Kyle is also card-carrying member of the Deep Blue fan club).  It creates a comforting sensation of cooling and warmth to problem areas - and even better yet, essential oils are systemic, so applying it to your knee could take care of pain in say, your shoulders.  How wild is that?

Questions about essential oils? Drop me a line via the "Let's Connect" button at the bottom of this page.

Here's to living a pain-free life (naturally)! T

hese statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.  The information contained on this website is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease.