We all suffer from aches and pains occasionally, and the change in lifestyle brought about by quarantine – with some of us skipping exercise and eating more processed foods for comfort –  hasn’t been the best conditions. Alternatively, as accessing the right medications can be a little harder, many people are thinking about natural ways to treat their conditions. There are quite a few holistic methods out there that can be very effective -it’s all about trying things out and seeing what works for you. Most of these can be combined with prescription medication as well, or may be able to replace it entirely, although you should always take the advice of your doctor before altering a regime that has been working well for you.

Add More Fibre To Your Diet

This may not be the first thing that you’d think of as a prevention for aches and pains, but it can be highly effective. There is lots of research to suggest people who eat a diet high in natural fiber suffer less from osteoarthritis and muscular pain. When we eat fiber rich foods, our bodies produce more short-chain fatty acids. These can help out the health of our gut microbiome, which controls levels of inflammation in the body. This is also important to help us fight off infection and injury damage as well. Try to get at least 25 grams of fiber per day, or try fiber supplements to enhance your diet.

Try Alternative Remedies

If you aren’t getting the relief you need from your medication, or you simply want to try some natural remedies there are a few options worth a try. Many find CBD products to give good relief from aches and pains, and they are available in so many formats, from sweets and skin creams to everyday optimal CBD oil. There is also turmeric, which can work for some people. Available in capsules or even consumed in curries or a turmeric latte, it can also help with bringing down inflammation and making you more comfortable.

Get Into Meditation

Meditation techniques can be a highly effective complement to traditional medication or other natural remedies, as well as being great for your mental health. The best thing is that it’s free, simple and can be done anywhere. You can either just sit down and practice focusing on each part of your body in turn, or you can use a guided meditation app to help you focus. It can be a little tricky to get the hang of, but keep up a daily practice starting with ten minutes or so and you’ll soon feel the benefit.

Target Your Sleeping Habits

A terrible night’s sleep makes everything worse, including joint and muscular pain, so if you know your sleep isn’t great quality, focus on improving it. Start by ensuring the room you sleep in is an optimal temperature (slightly cool is best) and that you have lined curtains or blackout blinds fitted, especially during the summer. Ban all electronic devices from the room as they emit blue light, which disrupts the body’s natural production of melatonin. If you’re still having trouble dropping off, an aromatherapy pillow spray can be a good thing to try.