You are browsing the tag archive for chronic pain.

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As a nation, we’re not shy when it comes to using painkillers. According to NHS figures, the number of prescriptions for heavy painkillers in England increased from 6.2 million to 14.8 million between 1999 and 2008. While pain medication is necessary for a variety of diseases and disorders, in some cases feeling pain (and knowing why you’re feeling it) could help save your life. Here’s what to look out for. (more…)

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Psychedelic drugs like LSD, ketamine and magic mushrooms could one day find their way onto your prescription if you suffer from OCD, depression or chronic pain. Swiss scientists are claiming more research needs to be done on the effects of psychedelics in helping people with psychiatric disorders. Low doses of these ‘soft’ drugs that are commonly abused are recommended for boosting moods and alleviating pain. (more…)

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Acupuncture works – it’s official. Many people are sceptical of alternative therapies, and recent media reports on misleading comments by practitioners of alternative medicine have fuelled the public’s doubt. But a study published on Sunday in Nature Neuroscience may just prove the sceptics wrong. It turns out that acupuncture releases one of the body’s natural painkillers, making acupuncture a definite option for sufferers of chronic pain, whether it be from arthritis or a back injury. (more…)