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I have redesigned this

gift/brochure: the simple

approach to dealing with

incidental pain, for sharing with

others. If it helps you, please

consider copying it out and

sharing it with friends and family

members who are experiencing discomfort from the aches and pains

that result from daily living.

Who among us does not encounter incidental pain in the course of our

lives? Possibly no one. It is a fact of life, and a common experience

for all of us. I also deal with my own non-life-threatening incidental

and chronic pain. Here is a method that I have found works for me—

perhaps it might for you too.

Dealing with chronic and incidental pain

has become a hot item in our culture.

Many people rely on over-the-counter

non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,

(NASAIDS) such as aspirin, ibuprofen,

naproxen and others for relief from

minor or persistent pain. However,

these drugs can cause undesired side effects.

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There are numerous clinics and practitioners that specialize in pain

management. Do their methods always work? In my experience,

whether they do or not depends on the individual practitioner and the

individual patient. Often, even if you believe something is helping

you, it actually is. (More about the brain below.) Just like any

other aspect of healthy living, what healing method “works” for one

might not work for another. We are, after all, unique individuals and

the “one size fits all” mold cannot really apply. (More and more,

this concept is being discovered and accepted in the health-services

world.)

A word of caution here: your first step is to please ALWAYS check

with a health professional or doctor to determine what is CAUSING

the pain, which is there to let you know that something is not right

with that part of the body. Finding a REASON for the pain is very

important.

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The method I am about to explain here, that works for me, is based

on the works of John Sarno (www.healingbackpain.com), author of

many books dealing with the control of back and other pain. I have

adopted a working method from something he said in his book, The

Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain. This

method works for me to lessen or actually stop incidental pain,

including headache. Mine is a shortcut version distilled from reading

his works which are complex and fascinating. (For more information

on his findings, I recommend reading one or more of his books.)

One of Dr. Sarno’s findings is that pain can be caused by lack of

oxygen in the area of the pain. Described below is a simple way of

getting blood into a painful body part which will enhance oxygen flow

to the area.

For right now, consider this: many

of us have been told to take a hot

shower when experiencing aches and

pains, or to apply a heating pad or

other heating device to the area.

What the heat does is to encourage

blood to rush to the area, bringing,

of course, the oxygen that is in the

blood.

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By the way, paying attention to your

breathing and taking DEEP BREATHS from

time to time during the day is very

beneficial (we often breathe shallowly when

occupied with something or just sitting

doing whatever). Naturally, this will aid in

the overall oxygenation of the blood for application to those sore

spots.

“But”, you say, “I am on the road, or in an airplane, or am lying in

bed. I don’t have access to hot showers or heating pads just now”.

Well, this is where the beauty of this method lies. Read on.

Here I would like to stress the individual’s POWER OF THE BRAIN

and the brain’s ability to work with the body in healing.

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In fact, the brain controls pretty much ALL of what goes on in our

bodies, either automatically or because of our actual thinking MIND.

We can work to use our minds to direct the activities of our bodies—

think BIOFEEDBACK, which is medically accepted. It is this ability

that powers the pain abatement process.

The practice is so simple, that it almost seems laughable. Yet if it

can work for me, perhaps it can useful for others—maybe even YOU!

Okay, so you have a pain, perhaps in your neck from sitting in one

position for too long, or when you lie down to sleep. Here is what

you do:

TELL YOUR BRAIN TO TELL THE HEART TO SEND BLOOD TO THE

PAINFUL AREA. BE SPECIFIC. LOCATE THE PAIN BY BRAIN GPS,

OR YOU CAN ACTUALLY PLACE YOUR HAND ON THE AREA TO

GUIDE THE BLOOD THERE.

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For instance, say firmly, “Brain, I want you to tell heart to send

blood to the right side of the back of my neck and to the upper right

shoulder blade”. Or, “Brain, I want you to tell heart to send blood

to my lower back”. Then wait for it to happen. BE PERSISTENT.

Be firm. If you notice the pain continuing, repeat your directive. It

might happen quite soon, it may take a while. Sometimes I can

actually FEEL the blood rushing to the area. After some time has

passed, you may suddenly think, “Wow, there is no more pain”, and

you will know that the method worked. Be sure to thank your brain

and your heart for doing this.

I have even had temporary success with an area of chronic pain in my

forearm—probably from over-doing the weights in the past. When it

flares up, I just say, “Send blood”, and think of where I want the

blood to be sent.

It is that simple. Your choice. Give it a try.

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But always remember, it is your responsibility that if you don’t know

the source of the pain, or it remains persistent, to seek medical help

for sure.

Source:

Sarno, John E. The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body,

Healing the Pain. New York, NY: Warner, 1998. Print.