Last Updated on January 25, 2021 by
Alternative to Meds Editorial Team
Written by Diane Ridaeus
Medically Reviewed by Dr Samuel Lee MD
Holistic alternatives to opioids for pain management are providing a much wider field of choices for those suffering acute or chronic pain. Opioids are some of the most effective painkilling substances known to man. Unfortunately, these substances are highly addictive and destructive when abused. The CDC reported in 2019 that 7 out of every 10 deaths from a drug overdose were opioid-related. The United States currently faces an ongoing epidemic of opioid overdoses and deaths from opioid abuse.1
Many of the victims of this epidemic do not fit the typical profile of an opioid addict. Many of these people developed addictions to their painkillers after suffering sports-related injuries, injuries from car accidents, and after necessary surgeries. It is essential for anyone taking opioid medications to understand the extreme risks of these drugs and consider opioid alternatives like holistic treatments.
Potential Benefits of Holistic Pain Management
Many Americans look at holistic pain management with understandable scrutiny. Therapies like massage, acupuncture, and light therapy may seem effective in only limited capacities, but the reality is that these treatments can be highly effective and valuable alternatives to opioid medications for various types of pain.
The most important benefit of holistic pain management methods is there is no risk of addiction, no risk of overdose, no risk of respiratory failure, etc. Holistic therapy does not require consuming any type of drug or medication for the therapy to work. Many holistic treatments use therapeutic techniques with thousands of years of history behind them, such as acupuncture, which has remained a staple of Eastern medicine for thousands of years.2
Substance abuse takes a heavy toll on the body. Many people in addiction rehab participate in various types of physical therapy and exercise therapy to get their bodies better prepared to handle the rigors and stresses of sober living. Similarly, some people who struggle with certain kinds of chronic pain may benefit from individualized exercise plans and ongoing physical therapy.
Many people do not understand the links between psychological health and physical pain. Some psychological conditions like depression can cause physical symptoms to manifest like poor immune system functioning, greater levels of inflammation, and overall higher pain intensity. Cognitive-behavioral therapy exists to analyze a patient’s feelings and struggles with mental illness and help the patient process them more safely and effectively.
Everyone has unique physiological responses to stress. Stress can easily cause physical pain symptoms or exacerbate existing pain symptoms. Various holistic alternatives to opioids for pain management can help an individual without the use of potentially dangerous medications. Meditation, mindfulness exercises, and various other stress-relief therapies can improve physical pain symptoms of stress and eventually help a person process his or her daily stress in more constructive ways.5
Massages are not just a great way to relax after a stressful week at work; many people who struggle with chronic pain report that their pain symptoms subside following massage sessions. A professional massage can loosen stressed muscles, reduce inflammation, and promote healthier blood flow to injured parts of the body to speed the healing process. Massage also often plays a role in physical therapy and ongoing rehabilitation for acute injury victims.
