This post provides 4 products for pain relief for those with chronic pain when you can’t or don’t want to take NSAIDs.
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Table of Contents
Who is Betsy Leighton?
I’m a writer, blogger, and healer dedicated to helping individuals reconnect with their innate peace and wholeness by healing nervous system dysregulation. My personal experience with chronic illness called Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) shapes my work, and my content offers tools to empower those with chronic illness to improve their well-being and take charge of their health.
I created the Sacred Self-Healing Method and am a trained and certified Safe and Sound Protocol provider, an author, blogger, and A Course in Miracles Teacher. I hold a Master of Divinity in Spiritual Counseling and am a trained spiritual mentor, with certificates in sound healing, aromatherapy, nutrition, and Sacred Deathcare. I offer a self-study certificate program in the Sacred Self-Healing Method, provide spiritual counseling and coaching, courses, and supported subscriptions for the Safe and Sound Protocol.
What is MCAS?
Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) is a chronic condition that affects all organ systems. It can cause severe, disabling symptoms every day, including potentially fatal anaphylaxis.
The common triggers for MCAS are infections, toxic exposures including mold exposure and EMFs, trauma, concussions, and stress.
MCAS often occurs with other chronic conditions like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). Managing MCAS is challenging because many healthcare providers are unaware of it, and diagnostic tests can be unreliable. Treatments include antihistamines and mast cell stabilizers in the form of medications and supplements, along with avoiding triggers. Check out this post on managing MCAS.
How pain is different when you have a chronic illness
Pain is an everyday issue with a chronic disease like Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). If you are like me, your pain may migrate around your body and show up in new areas each day. Having strategies in place to address pain helps me to feel prepared for when I have pain, and eliminates some of the overwhelm that happens when my pain level is high.
In this post, I address ways to diagnose the cause of pain when you have MCAS or another chronic illness. In this post, I also discuss atmospheric pressure changes as a cause of pain. I’ve also explicitly posted about headaches here.
The bucket theory
The bucket theory simplifies understanding symptom reactions with MCAS. Imagine your body as an empty bucket you don’t want to overflow. Reactions to various stimuli fill the histamine bucket at different rates, forming the total histamine level (how full your bucket is). More histamine means more symptoms. By managing triggers, reducing exposures, and taking medications and supplements, you can control your bucket’s level.
Know your typical symptom progression
Understanding your symptom progression during a flare is key to developing your rescue plan. This post discusses how to recognize symptom progression so you can be prepared to address them.
Get my free ebook, symptom log, and meal plan!
Want a tool to easily track your symptoms?
1. Topical pain-relieving products for pain relief
Here are the pain-relieving products that I turn to when I am experiencing pain:
- My number one topical pain remedy is Energetix PhytoGel, which contains homeopathic Arnica. It’s easy to apply and helpful for a wide range of pain types, from muscle aches to burns to joint pain. I discuss homeopathy for MCAS and chronic illness in this post.
- My second favorite topical pain remedy is Energetix BioCatalin Lotion. This lotion is beneficial for sciatica, gout, and arthritis.
- Kailo patch – This product is a bit more expensive, but it can be highly effective for back pain. The traditional Kailo patch is too rigid for neck applications, but they have a newer, more flexible version. It is well worth it if you have chronic neck or back pain.
- For occasional ear pain, I use these ear drops. They are homeopathic, very gentle, and pleasant to use.
- Phyto Gel – For arthritis pain and especially joint and ligament pain associated with chronic Lyme Disease, this ointment is superb. It does have a slightly medicinal scent that may interfere with homeopathic remedies; however, I haven’t found that to be the case. It is excellent for wrist pain (such as carpal tunnel syndrome), knee ligament pain, tennis elbow, neck stiffness, and ankle pain. Phyto Gel is also my favorite remedy for sunburn, insect bites, and hives.
2. Internal pain and inflammation products for pain relief
- My favorite oral pain remedy is Energetix Relief Tone for wounds, bruises, sprains, fractures, and other injuries.
- Low-dose Naltrexone can also be extremely helpful for pain. Check out this post on LDN.
- Turmeric – a supplement taken internally for chronic pain and inflammation. I like this brand because it is high-potency and combined with black pepper for greater effectiveness. Use caution with turmeric if you have salicylate issues.
- For tooth and mouth pain, this remedy is excellent.
- Arnica pellets are my first choice for an acute injury like a bump to the head, and they are beneficial when given before and after surgery. If you are taking a constitutional homeopathic remedy, you may want to consult your provider before using other homeopathic remedies, such as Arnica. I keep a few different potencies like 30c, 200c, and 1M on hand because they work on different energetic frequencies. Arnica is also helpful for general trauma.
3. Energetic products for pain relief
- Frequency healing – ask me for more details!
- Red light is highly effective at reducing inflammation.
4. Essential oils for pain relief
Essential oils are nature’s medicine cabinet for a wide range of ailments. Note that some people with MCAS are not able to tolerate essential oil use at all. See my cautions about using essential oils here.
- Birch essential oil – Birch, sometimes called wintergreen, contains salicylic acid, the same active ingredient in aspirin. So if you have an allergy or sensitivity to aspirin, you will want to avoid this. Birch essential oil can be applied sparingly to the skin (like one drop). For headaches, it can be used to the neck, and for muscle pain, it can be applied topically to the skin.
- Clove essential oil has long been known to help with mouth pain, and it is an ingredient in some teething remedies. If tolerated, one drop can be applied directly to the gums.
- Blue Tansy essential oil is known for its anti-inflammatory properties.
- Clary Sage essential oil can be super helpful for PMS and menstrual pain.
Check out these circadian health tools!
I’m an affiliate with Bon Charge, a company that makes tools for circadian health, and you can receive 15% off your order with my coupon code BETSYL.
Bon Charge offers tools such as yellow– and red-tone blue-blocking glasses, red light therapy devices, PEMF mats, infrared saunas, and EMF-blocking products.
Sign up for the SSP!
I’ve found the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) to be the most helpful bottom-up healing strategy if your nervous system has been overloaded with toxic exposures, including mold or non-native EMFs, chronic infections, concussions, stress, or trauma. The SSP is a passive listening therapy that helps heal nervous system dysregulation. Many people with MCAS and other chronic conditions have nervous system dysregulation stemming from infections, toxic exposures, concussions, and trauma. The SSP is an easy-to-use app that lets you listen to specially filtered music for 30 minutes each day as part of a 5-hour cycle. Studies show the SSP has a profound effect on mental health and chronic conditions. Here’s a short podcast describing the Safe and Sound Protocol.
You can sign up for the SSP here!
Heal your mind!
While the SSP is a bottom-up, somatic therapy for healing the nervous system, the Sacred Self-Healing Method I offer is a top-down nervous system-healing modality that focuses on cognition, attention, perception, and emotion, using the mind’s higher functions. The SSP and the Sacred Self-Healing Method complement each other and together produce lasting results. Here’s a short podcast on my self-healing practice.
I provide one-on-one in-person and remote chronic illness and caregiver coaching, as well as Sacred Self-Healing Sessions based on the Sacred Self-Healing Method, a proven, novel co-creative healing modality detailed in my Books.
Order my books!
Here’s a short podcast highlighting my five books.
My latest book, Living In The Light: Healing with Forgiveness, Sound, and Light, is all about the tools that have been most helpful for me to heal: forgiveness, sound, through nervous system retraining using the Safe and Sound Protocol, and light, through entraining my circadian rhythm with the energy of the sun. Living In The Light is available here!
Rocks and Roots chronicles my solo backpacking journey on the Superior Hiking Trail and my efforts to overcome nervous system dysregulation, gut dysbiosis, and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome symptoms to complete the 328-mile hike successfully.
The Sacred Self-Healing Method ebook is available here and in most ebook retailers!
The Sacred Self-Healing Workbook is available for purchase here!
Betsy’s first book, Sacred Self-Healing: Finding Peace Through Forgiveness, is available here
Companion Recordings
The companion audio recordings of chants, guided meditations, and sound healing demonstrations that accompany the Sacred Self-Healing Method are available for free on my YouTube channel here
What do you think?
I’d love to have your reply below!
Disclaimer
The preceding material does not constitute medical advice. This information is for information purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, cure, or treatment.
