Pain is a sensory signal within the body, signifying a
potential problem. Everyone has
experienced pain whether it be physical, emotional or psychological. However,
here we are discussing physical pain. Physical pain can be associated with all
types of problems. Disease, injury, trauma, soft tissue damage, and broken
bones are just a few areas that can cause physical symptoms of pain.
The
normal reaction to pain is to reduce the symptom and resolve the cause of the
pain. There are hundreds of ways to treat symptoms and their underlying
problems. If the cause of the problem is known then the resolving the symptoms
should be relatively easy. For example, if you stub your toe, you may use some
ice to decrease the feelings of pain and reduce the swelling. If your toe
bruises you may use a topical cream or gel to reduce the swelling and bruising.
If the toe is broken you have to splint it making it immobile. Treating a
physical problem in the body is only as easy as its underlying cause.
Eastern medicine has shown that by
removing the underlying cause our physical symptoms will be resolved. However,
Western medicine has done the opposite and treated the symptoms to reduce the
physical problem that may be underlying. Both of these types of approaches have
been used for hundreds of years, however Western medicine is now starting to
utilize some of the Eastern medicines therapies to resolve medical health
problems. With all of the new advances in medicine, the patient has become
his/her own advocate in determine what type of treatment he/she wishes to
receive.
Once a diagnosis has been
determined, a treatment protocol is then given to resolve that specific health
problem. However, whether the patient decides to use a specific protocol is
his/her choice. The patient may decide to go a more naturopathic route instead
of traditional, or they may want to seek out the advice of a specialist.
Ultimately, it is the patients understanding of how they will be treated and
with what they will be treated with that will determine where they seek their
care from. More and more patients are turning to an alternative approach to
medicine. Alternative medicine includes a wide variety of treatment methods
including chiropractic care, homeopathy, acupuncture, massage therapy, holistic
medicine, meditation, vitamin therapy, hypnotherapy and many, many more.
Treatments listed in this section
include ways to reduce or remove pain, decrease inflammation and swelling,
managing and coping with diseases, and preventing physical diseases, illness or
symptoms.