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Powerful remedies for an ailment that targets us all…
22nd September, 2006
If Lara had turned on our camcorder this morning and filmed the first hour of my waking day, we'd have made a fortune...
First, I slipped in the shower and put my left arm right through the shower screen.
Luckily, I didn't injure myself physically. But my pride might need some stitches after my family rushed in to stare at me on the floor feebly trying to grab a towel.
Second, I somehow managed to leave a huge handful of shaving foam behind my right ear that NO ONE told me about.
And third, my eldest decided to knock me over with his bicycle.
Pop a DVD of that little lot off to one of those accident-prone shows, and I reckon I could afford a new house extension.
Anyway, after hobbling back upstairs to the relative safety of my office (although I wouldn't be surprised if my bookcase suddenly decided to fall on me just to join in), I'm ready to get cracking on with today's issue of The Good Life Letter.
And I'd like to start by tackling a subject that seems to be worrying a lot of you...
Something we all hate, and all have to deal with...
This has long been a topic high of the list of Good Lifers concerns, and with good reason.
I'm talking about chronic or recurrent pain.
Nagging pain is an ailment that can seriously affect your enjoyment of life. Your sleep can suffer, your mood can plummet like a stone... it can affect your work, your relationships, everything.
Even low levels of pain can slowly eat away at you, like the maddening drip drip drip of a tap.
And it's something that affects hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.
Take Lara for instance.
As she likes to remind me from time to time, I'm a right pain in the...
Well, I'm sure you can figure out the rest.
Unfortunately for Lara, I have no remedy for her ailment, (except taping my mouth up perhaps?), but other common aches and pains, try these natural remedies:
Blow hot and cold
This is particularly good for muscle pain and back pain.
Start off by treating the aching area with a cold gel pack, which can be picked up at most chemists. These are specially made so that the packs stay soft and pliable even when they are freezing.
Of course, a good old-fashioned pack of frozen peas will have the same effect, so use whatever suits you.
The cold temperature will slow your circulation, which in turn calms inflammation and pain.
Try the cold treatment twice a day over two days. If the pain doesn't diminish, switch tactics and use heat.
A heating pad or hot water bottle (or even a flannel soaked in boiling water then wrung out and folded) will alert your body to the problem, and draw blood packed with oxygen and nutrients into the aching area. The warmth will ease tense muscles and relieve pain.
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Head for the drinks' cabinet
Here's yet another reason why you should pop open a bottle a raise a glass once a day...
As well as the numerous benefits sensible drinking can bring us (a healthy heart, better circulation, protection against type 2 diabetes and gallstones, increased brain power), drinking alcohol also has the ability to provide pain relief.
Of course, alcohol doesn't mix with certain drugs even in small doses, so always check with your doctor if you're on medication.
The magic of CPM
Continuous Passive Movement (or CPM) is a technique developed by back pain specialists to allow effective physiotherapy to be performed anywhere.
Basically, it means that rather than travelling to a physiotherapy centre, you can enjoy the same mechanics of the treatment in the comfort of your own home.
And I know how good this is, because I've tried it when I triggered a bout of sciatica (unsurprisingly through EVERY fault of my own).
The results were incredible.
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Herbs to the rescue again
Comfrey is a perennial herb with a black, turnip-like root and large, hairy broad leaves that grows on river banks and ditches throughout the UK.
It's also one of nature's real power-herbs.
Just a few drops of a tincture made from this herb will help ease the pain of damaged tissue and reduce swelling. You can use it for bruises, dislocations, sprains... practically any injury will benefit.
So try a few drops, and see if it works for you.
The nation's headache...
We covered this subject not so long ago, but as I'm in 'pain mode', I thought I should tell you about this powerful natural remedy for migraines:
Feverfew is a common herb that grows up to around 18 inches high, with citrus-scented leaves and daisy-like fowers.
But it's much more than just a pretty face in your garden...
A test involving 270 migraine sufferers showed that more than 70% of sufferers felt much better after taking an average of two to three fresh feverfew leaves each day.
And studies published in the British Medical Journal state that feverfew has the power to prevent migraine attacks.
So, there you have it - a pretty smart run down of all-natural ways to tackle pain.
“But what if I don't suffer from any pain?”
Well, you may not now, but mark my words, all it takes is one dodgy shower screen or one rampant child on a bike and you soon could.
So as well as taking care in the shower and avoiding murderous children, here are a few other ways to prevent aches and pains getting a grip:
- Get good shoes. It sounds stupid, but shoes that don't support you properly can cause your body to twist out of shape (albeit very slightly) and can cause back and joint pain. So make sure the shoes you do the most walking in are well made.
- Don't make an enemy of your work place... make sure your work surface is at a comfortable height for you. Use a chair with good lower back support that's adjustable. If you have to sit for hours on end, try resting your feet on a low stool.
- Drive smartly. If you're off on a long journey, stick a small pillow or a rolled-up towel behind the small of your back.
That's it for today... although I don't want to stop. I feel safe in here, away from perils of my house. Still, I'll have to go out at some time.
I'll be back soon... if I survive!
Yours as ever,
Ray Collins
The Good Life Letter
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