Advice to those with Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is any pain experienced for 21 days or more. If the underlying cause of pain remains a mystery, here are three potential culprits and their solutions. This article is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, so if in doubt please contact your Doctor.

Problem: Vitamin deficiency

Solution: Eat more fruit and veg

Vitamin deficiency leads to a whole array of health problems, including lethargy, aches and pains. Fortunately it is easy to ensure a varied mineral and vitamin intake, by eating a wide variety of different coloured fruits and vegetables, and getting out in natural daylight every day. The colours of fruits and vegetables are an indicator to the different vitamins and minerals that they provide. Get the whole rainbow spectrum in your basket when you collect your food. Cook from fresh for each meal, and include raw salads too, so that you get the nutrients that your body needs.

"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food" - Hippocrates

Problem: Poor posture

Solution: Awareness and Exercise

Poor posture will affect the balance of your skeletal muscles. This leads to certain groups of muscles overworking whilst others become lazy. It is important to avoid strain by unhealthy posture. Healthy posture can be developed by bringing an awareness to your movements. To elongate and straighten your neck, allow the chin to tuck in slightly whilst keeping your eyes level. Learn the difference between your shoulders being tense or relaxed. When standing, distribute your weight evenly between both feet so that you are not slouched on either one. Let your weight drop down through your heels. Dynamic, varied exercise can develop and maintain flexibility, range of movement and muscle tone. Yoga, Pilates and Qi Gong are invaluable assets to humanity so take up a class or get some inspiration on youtube. Physiotherapy and massage will also help you to release tightened and blocked muscle so that you are better able to function.

Problem: Stress

Solution: Mindfulness and relaxation

Could stress be triggering your pain? Stress often starts in the mind but very quickly has a very physical impact upon the body. We begin to shallow breathe and the muscles tense in preparation for action. Psychological stress and worry mounts when life gets too much to bear. However - unless you are literally under attack, this response is counterproductive. If you are physically safe, then stress is only an inhibitor to sensible action. Begin to notice your thought patterns. If feelings of stress are caused by anger, living in the past, or fretting about the future, then you will benefit from occupying your mind with the present moment, or that which you can be positive about.

Buddha's wise words on anger: 

"Holding onto anger is like taking the poison oneself and expecting the other person to die"     

Notice the beauty of the present moment and appreciate the small things, to anchor yourself in the present moment. Relaxation takes practice - regular meditation, yoga, and fun and engaging sports/hobbies are good places to start. You can also try massage therapy which is a great way to begin feeling more 'at home' in your body, and a good source of natural pain relief, if you find the right therapist.

Individuals suffering from chronic pain in Cornwall may benefit from postural analysis and massage therapy. At Mellow Massage in Corwall Phoebe Riordan treats those with fibromyalgia, polymyalgia, ME, sports injuries and complex chronic pain. Contact Phoebe on 07971300535 or go to www.phoebemaria.co.uk for more information.

What is Holistic Therapy?

So what does holistic mean anyway?

The term 'holistic' comes from holism which means the whole. In therapy, the terms 'holistic massage', and 'holistic therapist' are used to express respect that the whole is inherently greater than the sum of parts. 

Human beings are a unique creatures of mind (will), body (matter), and spirit, (energy). As these elements are so interdependent, holistic therapies do not attempt to separate them.

Mind, body and spirit

A healthy, relaxed and confident mind assists the body to function the best that it can. A cared for body nourishes the mind. Spirit or energy is our raw potential. Mind, body and spirit are the definitive trinity of each human being. The healthier the connections between these parts of us, the smoother we function, the greater our integrity.

Professional medical advice and procedures are invaluable and can be life saving. But many feel that visits to the GP can leave them feeling like a collection of symptoms. As Doctors are often overworked and have limited time, there is a focus on quick fix solutions (medications, surgery) rather than taking an in depth look at your life as a whole, and working with you towards a solution.

Many people now turn to holistic and complentary therapies to support their health care and well being.

 Holistic therapy can offer more time, and an approach tailored to you, with respect to whatever challenges you face. Holistic therapy should work with the inherent wisdom of the body - as opposed to battling a specific symptom. In this way holistic therapies can be a very empowering experience. They also focus on relaxation, and a nurturing environment where you feel comfortable and at ease, so treatment can be a positive experience.

Holistic therapy is there to keep people well and healthy and can help to prevent health problems arising in the first place. Anything that helps you to relax and be more 'in tune' with your body and mind will help to ward off illness and disease. In this way, preventative health care is like oiling the machine before it gets cranky in the first place!

Simplest answers are sometimes the most effective. Holistic therapy is natural and can benefit every system of the body. This holistic approach is nothing new - Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine alone have stressed the importance of a holistic approach for thousands of years. 

Ultimately the proof is in the pudding. You have to experience to really know. Find yourself a recommended therapist and give holistic therapies a try. You might just find that it is life changing!

Phoebe Riordan offers Holistic Therapy and Massage in Cornwall. To discuss call 07971300535 or for more information visit www.phoebemaria.co.uk