Yes! Naturopathy can be an excellent tool when it comes to chronic pain. Whether the pain be caused by an injury that’s never healed quite right, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, trauma-related pain, or something else entirely, it’s likely that Naturopathy can help.
Naturopathy works by identifying and treating the cause of the inflammation – this might sound a little more complicated when it comes to chronic pain, however it isn’t – we want to identify & resolve potential factors in your diet & lifestyle that may be exacerbating inflammation in the body. After all, pain comes from inflammation (hence why when in pain, many will take an anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical to reduce the pain).
So, what causes inflammation?
The answer to this changes based on what the cause of your chronic pain is (ie endometriosis, fibromyalgia, etc.), however what stays the same regardless of the cause of inflammation, is that there are dietary and lifestyle practices that can exacerbate inflammation. For example, over- or under- exercising can play a role in inflammation, as well as eating inflammatory foods such as refined sugar, some oils (canola oil, vegetable oil blends, sunflower oil & more), highly processed foods and some grains.
On the flip side, there are some foods well known for their anti-inflammatory action, including: wild caught salmon (farmed salmon is highly inflammatory, so watch out for this!), some oils (extra virgin olive oil, extra virgin coconut oil), & herbs (including ginger, turmeric & garlic).
This is only a brief summary of the inflammatory & anti-inflammatory foods that a Naturopath may discuss with you for reducing pain. There are also foods that may have a specific reaction for you – for example, some people find gluten & dairy to be extremely inflammatory, others do not.
I generally don’t recommend cutting out whole food groups without the guidance of a degree-qualified Naturopath or Nutritionist to guide you & ensure that you don’t end up with any nutrient deficiencies.
Diet alone may not be enough to solve chronic pain for everyone. In fact, a lot of the time you may find that you need a multi-disciplinary approach. That might include seeing:
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a Naturopath
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a remedial massage therapist
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a counsellor
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an exercise physiologist
Working with a Naturopath to reduce chronic pain will often involve:
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Taking herbal medicines
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Herbal medicine is a powerful tool to regulate the body’s inflammatory processes & to reduce the body’s sensitivity to pain
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This can also be used to treat causes of pain – ie. in endometriosis the Naturopath may prescribe herbs to regulate the body’s response to and production of endometrium, therefore leading to a decrease in dysfunction & a decrease in pain
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Seeing a degree-qualified Naturopath or herbalist is essential when starting on any herbal medicine. I do not recommend buying herbal medicines without a consultation.
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Taking nutritional supplements
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When chronic pain is present, it can be really helpful to prescribe supplements to help regulate the body’s inflammatory response & reaction to pain
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Using supplements prescribed by a degree-qualified Naturopath** can really help you to kick start your wellness journey, by correcting any nutritional deficiencies much quicker than you could using diet alone.
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Dietary changes
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As explained briefly above
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Lifestyle changes
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Your Naturopath may help you to understand what level of exercise is appropriate for you, or refer you on to someone who can.
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Lifestyle recommendations may also be to support you with stress management, as high stress may be an exacerbating factor for your pain.
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I hope that this article has helped you to gain a deeper understanding of the role of Naturopathy in pain management, and the other avenues of care that may be beneficial for you. If you have any questions about this article, or would like to get in touch & see if we would be a good fit to work together, please send me an email at hello@katieblakely.com.au or book in a free 15 minute discovery call, or a free 15 minute discovery chat with me at Synergy Massage & Wellness in Croydon, Vic. You can book in here.
**I highly recommend seeing a degree-qualified Naturopath to get a better understanding of what supplements you should be taking. The quality of supplements online, in supermarkets, pharmacies & health food stores varies greatly, and with the exception of some health food stores, these supplements are often a lot lower quality than what you can get from a qualified Naturopath. You also want to make sure what you’re taking is safe for you – especially if you are on any medications or have a diagnosed medical condition. And finally, the suggested dose of a lot of supplements isn’t actually appropriate for reaching a therapeutic response, and varies greatly in over the counter products. If you see a Naturopath they will ensure you are taking the correct dose of your supplement.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is general in nature and is not meant as prescriptive advice. If you would like individualised support with your chronic pain, please book in an appointment with me.