Pain pills such as opiates and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs) temporarily reduce inflammation, but they may also lead to stomach problems, ulcers, liver and kidney
problems, or even death. Symptomatic treatment may be appropriate for acute or emergency
conditions where life is threatened, but in the long-term it can result in addiction, especially with
opiates. Natural integrative medicine can help by treating both cause and symptom.
Few
hospitals in the United States use natural medicine at all, despite its widespread usage in the hospitals of other countries
around the world, including homeopathy in the UK and herbal medicine in China. Chronic painful conditions such as post-operative
pain, fibromyalgia, and arthritis may be especially receptive to natural medicine. Tissues and sinews of
the joints and spine can be improved naturally, without side-effects.
There
are many useful approaches to pain management, certainly an important aspect of treatment. Yet, it is also important
to locate the cause of the pain for each individual and reverse the causal condition if possible. Treating
the underlying cause provides both pain relief and a truly long-term solution.