Many people tend to suffer from chronic pain that directly impacts the quality of their life. A major impediment that affects their day-to-day functionality is a lack of a good night’s sleep. This is mainly because sleep and pain are closely associated, which means that chronic pain that lasts a long time can hamper the sleep cycle.
This is a major concern for people suffering from chronic pain as sleep is important for maintaining good health, including mental and physical health. Sleep improves concentration and productivity, helps to control weight, enhances overall performance, reduces the risk of heart diseases and stroke, and improves the body’s immune function.
While people suffering from chronic pain tend to have different responses in their sleep patterns, chronic pain generally tends to affect the duration of sleep as well as the quality of sleep.
So, if you are in search of ways to help manage your chronic pain and improve your sleep cycle, we have all the answers! Besides investing in a mattress designed to alleviate back pain, our list contains some of the best ways to induce sleep while relieving chronic pain symptoms naturally and holistically.
Essential Oil Blends
One of the most sought-after remedies for improving sleep during chronic pain is using essential oil blends. These are made to help restore the balance between the mind, body, and soul to promote holistic wellness through alternative medicine.
It recognizes and acknowledges that chronic pain manifests differently in everyone, which means that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. This is why there are a number of helpful essential oil blends that are tailored to address the various kinds of sleeplessness a person might experience when suffering from chronic pain.
The most common types of essential oils that can be found in high-quality blends for chronic pain include lavender, chamomile, vetiver, geranium, mandarin, patchouli, neroli, myrrh, juniper, helichrysum, copaiba, melissa, and rose otto.
Superior quality essential oil blends can help promote relaxation and put you to sleep. You can use the essential oil blends as a bath or massage oil, and blend it on the skin in gentle stroking movements to help release muscle tension and encourage blood flow. Alternatively, you can also use the essential oil blend in a diffuser or as a body cream.
A Cup Of Tea
Tea, originating from China, is universally acknowledged as one of the healthiest ways to aid in sleep and relaxation. Tea works as a natural remedy to induce sleep and improve body functions as it contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.
Some excellent teas to consume for easing the symptoms of chronic pain and help you sleep include chamomile tea, valerian root tea, lavender tea, lemon balm tea, passionflower tea, and magnolia bark tea. All these are excellent sleep aids that help to activate neurotransmitters that induce sleep.
To make the perfect cup of tea, make sure you read the label and use the optimum temperature to brew the tea for at least 5 minutes so that the flavor truly comes out.
Consume The Right Food
A great way to induce sleep and avoid chronic pain involves regulating your diet to include certain types of food.
To help you sleep better, it is recommended to consume kiwis, tart cherries, almonds, walnuts, fatty fish, barley grass powder, lettuce, and warm milk. These types of food contain large amounts of melatonin, a hormone that regulates the sleep cycle in the human body.
Additionally, food to reduce chronic pain includes those items that reduce inflammation, such as whole grains, chocolate, white meat, olive oil, and beans. It is also recommended to avoid large amounts of consumption of red meat, processed meat, white bread, white rice, any food with high-fructose corn syrup, processed sweets, and sugary drinks.
Yoga
A great way to stimulate your body, stay in shape, reduce stress, ease muscle pain, and promote sleep is by practicing yoga at least three times a week. Instead of doing hour-long sessions, you can opt for a shorter 5 minute yoga practice right before bed.
When doing yoga, remember to wear comfortable and breathable clothes, and never try to test your body’s limit beyond what you are capable of doing at that moment in time. It is, therefore, important to listen to your body and be mindful of your actions and poses.
Also, consider getting a yoga mat, light your favorite scented candle, put on some soothing music, and dim the lights to create a calming ambiance before starting your yoga practice.
Parting Thoughts
Chronic pain has the ability to hamper the daily lives of thousands of people, including interfering with their ability to get a good night’s sleep. Instead of relying on pharmaceutical drugs that tend to contain many side effects, it is beneficial to adopt remedies that are organic, natural, and holistic.