We all take the body’s incredible self healing abilities for granted. But it’s a natural power that can save our lives, and ultimately money for national healthcare systems.
Our interviewees (nine experts and six older adults) focused on three main themes in their answers: physiology, psychology, and interpersonal relations. They emphasized healthy lifestyles, exercise, good sleeping habits, and illness control.
1. Get Plenty of Rest
The body has self-healing properties that can be triggered through certain physical and mental health practices. Unlike medications that often come with side effects, self healing involves activating key body networks that naturally manage pain, heal tissues and restore physiological balance.
To begin incorporating self-healing into your daily routine, consider your current habits around resting. Do you find it hard to slow down and give yourself a break? Identify any objections you have to resting and work through them with a friend or licensed professional.
2. Apply Ice
It reduces inflammation, which is caused by your body sending blood and inflammatory chemicals to the area of an injury. It also helps to control excessive swelling, like that of an ankle sprain.
Ice therapy causes blood vessels to narrow, so less blood reaches the injury. This makes it effective for treating acute injuries like sprains.
Put an ice pack, or a bag of frozen vegetables such as peas or carrots (protect the skin by wrapping it in a washcloth) on your injury for up to 20 minutes at a time. Do this several times a day to help control pain and swelling.
3. Stay Hydrated
Hydration is a key part of self healing and can make a significant difference in your quality of life. Our bodies work better, are more focused and energized when we’re well hydrated.
Avoid dehydrating beverages like sugary sports drinks, alcohol and excessive coffee. Instead, choose hydrating options like water, tea and herbal infused drinks, or fresh fruits and vegetables that contain high amounts of water.
When in doubt about whether you’re getting enough fluids, a specialized oral rehydration solution can help prevent and treat dehydration. These solutions typically contain electrolytes, such as sodium, chloride and potassium, as well as carbohydrates, such as dextrose, to restore lost nutrients.
4. Move Your Injured Part
When you’re injured, it can feel like your whole body is falling apart. However, if your injury isn’t life-threatening, you should try to move it as much as possible to speed up the healing process. This will increase blood flow to the injured area and help you get better faster.
Some people worry about moving around while they’re injured because they think it will make their injuries worse. However, many health and fitness professionals recommend movement to help with self healing because it helps with blood circulation and can actually speed up the recovery process.
5. Eat a Healthy Diet
Eating a healthy diet is crucial to self healing, especially during the recovery process. Filling up on nutrient-rich whole foods will minimize inflammation, boost energy levels and protect against chronic disease. A healing foods diet is low in processed ingredients, added sugars and unhealthy fats, but high in fruits, veggies, legumes, nuts, seeds, organic meats, healthy oils and herbs and spices. The diet also emphasizes consuming foods rich in vitamin K, which is essential to blood clotting. Add kale, spinach and other dark leafy greens to smoothies and cooked cereals for an extra dose of the nutrient.
6. Take Supplements
A healthy diet and lifestyle can improve musculoskeletal pain. But some people need a little extra help. Supplements like omega-3s, curcumin and self-heal can aid in the body’s ability to heal.
Prunella Vulgaris, commonly known as self-heal, boosts the immune system. This helps the body fight off foreign matter and neutralize free radicals. Self-heal also keeps the skin looking and feeling healthy all year round.
More evidence is needed to rate self-heal’s effectiveness for inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis and disorders of the female reproductive system. It might be safe for most people when taken by mouth. It might be unsafe for pregnant women and breastfeeding babies.
7. Take Control
Self healing is an ongoing process. Everyone heals at their own pace, so it’s important to be patient and compassionate with yourself throughout the journey.
Incorporate self-healing practices into your daily routine. These may include self-compassion, a positive mindset, and an attitude of gratitude. You can also try spiritual practices like Qigong, which can help reduce stress and promote healing.
Taking control of your healing journey empowers you to make informed decisions and set goals. It also fosters personal growth, transformation, resilience, coping skills, and sense of control and empowerment throughout the recovery process.
