Description:
Many doctors don't know much about treating pain, especially that of older adults, and will try to chalk it up to aging. But according to The Senior's Guide to Pain-Free Living, written in consultation with many renowned pain specialists, "Pain is not an inevitable part of aging... in many instances herbs, prayer, exercise, and other natural remedies can be just as effective pain relievers as drugs or surgery." First you learn what pain (acute and chronic) is, the benefits and problems of various drugs and herbs, and dozens of tips and techniques for preventing pain, describing it helpfully to your doctor, and eradicating it naturally. You get handy advice for making daily life activities (housework, showering, and cooking, for example) pain-free. The book describes natural pain-relieving techniques and how they work, including acupressure, acupuncture, aromatherapy, biofeedback, deep breathing, chiropractic, companionship (offering it as well as receiving it), exercise, imagery, hypnosis, music, and many more. Then the authors list the "Top 20 Pain Makers," such as angina, knee pain, prostate pain, sinusitis, and surgical pain, with tips for fast relief and other tips for lasting relief for each. Finally they cover "Everyday Aches," again offering both fast and lasting pain-relief strategies. Some of the tips are ones you'd expect, but others are unique and surprising, such as making parsley ice cubes for bruises and applying a microwaved baked potato, wrapped in a thin cloth, to your eyelid to treat a cyst--it's less messy and holds heat longer than a warm washcloth. This book is interesting to skim even when you're not hurting, and when you are, it can give you relief without a doctor's bill. --Joan Price
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