Pain
Pill-free pain treatments that won't break the bank
Many alternative therapies to relieve pain are free or low-cost.
- Reviewed by Anthony L. Komaroff, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Health Letter
One of the most effective elixirs for chronic pain is a total freebie. You can administer it at home, at any time, in any manner you choose. This bargain treatment is exercise. Yet not everyone takes advantage of its many pain-relieving benefits.
A recent CDC study found that one in four adults relies exclusively on over-the-counter or prescription painkillers to treat chronic pain, despite recommendations to use pill-free alternatives.
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About the Author
Heidi Godman, Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter
About the Reviewer
Anthony L. Komaroff, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Health Letter
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