Pain: Awareness & Acceptance
Pain isn’t really something we could easily define, off the top of our heads, because it’s so deeply ingrained into our psyche. If I tried to define it, a feeling of distress or a warning from the body would be the best I could come up with. I think calling pain a singular sensation or feeling would be simplifying what it is and what it does for us; I believe it could be a more complex experience for each individual. You could say that the pain you feel is your body’s way of asking for attention and care when something is troubled or in danger.
The reason pain is important is that it’s a warning from the body, an alarm system put in place to ensure that we understand what can harm us and the dangers around us, allowing us to stay away from threats, injuries, and imbalance, because we understand that the pain means something, like “Something’s wrong.” Pain is the brain’s protective response to the dangers it can perceive, but pain cannot always be relied on to be an accurate indicator of a specific issue. Sometimes, while I’m just sitting, or doing household chores, I happen to get a sharp pain in my chest that just comes and goes. After a few instances of this, I got it checked by a GP, out of concern and worry that it could be heart problems. The test came back negative for heart issues. It was only later that I realized that it might be slight heartburn or maybe emotional stress, anchored deep inside me.
In a general sense, there are four kinds of pain humanity experiences. The physical - this is the most tangible form of pain, pain in the body. It can come from injury, illness or strain and it’s usually protective. It works as a signal to remind you that your body, or something specific, needs attention.
The mental pain, or psychological pain, we face is the strain on our brain - confusion, burnout, depression or just negative thoughts - while it’s not as ‘painful’ as physical pain, it can be just as exhausting. It is an inescapable, inevitable part of our lives but we can heal from it, with time and taking the help we get.
Emotional pain, on the other hand, is more in line, more involved with feelings - grief, rejection, shame, guilt, heartbreak, fear or any negative feelings. It does activate the same regions of the brain that activate under physical pain. This could be why rejection or the loss of a loved one can physically pain us, in some cases.
Lastly, spiritual pain - it is quieter than physical pain and less obvious than emotional pain but it can feel just as heavy. The way I see it, it’s not about the body or even feelings; I think it’s about meaning and identity. In many cases, religion can have its hand in the spiritual pain one feels, the guilt of sin and the burden of responsibilities.
First, let’s understand the nature of pain before we try and fix it. We feel, or we internalize, that pain is permanent. I remember being in constant pain while I was bedridden with a bad back injury. “I”, in this case, includes the entirety of my being, my body and mind. After some time, I realized that “I” was not in pain, but it was my back that was in pain, yet at that same time, I distinctly remember feeling quite comfortable and enjoying the TV show I was watching. So clearly, even that pain wasn’t continuous or constant. Basically, pain will come and go, as it naturally does. And as long as I’m not mentally attached to that pain, being dramatic about being covered in pain, I’m able to understand the nature of pain. Pain rises and falls and oftentimes, it never is in the exact same location again. I noticed how the mind grabs onto physical pain and makes it feel bigger than it is, almost convincing me that all of me is hurting - not just the part of me that is actually hurting.
In reality, pain arises and fades away. Simply acting as an observer, the more I was aware of this, the easier it was for me to see that the nature of pain is ephemeral. As long as I am lost in my egoic delusion, it’s not possible to be completely rid of pain, it will always exist, in sharp pangs or long periods of time, maybe mental anguish caused by loved ones or a simple slip on the stairs; pain will not go away.
How does one begin to heal? How does one prevent this? Do you turn to medication? Do we numb the pain? There’s opioids and anesthetics available for pain relief, but this could turn into its own set of problems; addiction, dependency, withdrawal symptoms and problems that grow over time with usage. All these methods can help but these are ephemeral; short-term fixes. They don’t help us obtain that final goal, the objective of being rid of pain forever but it will definitely please that voice in your head, begging you to get rid of the hurt, whatever it takes.
This is where our Alopagesic can help you, with easing the pain - working at it from the roots, by combining targeted support with steady self-care. Alopagesic blends traditional herbs chosen to work together: Sallaki (Boswellia) for traditional anti-inflammatory joint support, Guggul for circulation and tissue resilience, Nirgundi for muscle and joint comfort, Rasna to ease stiffness and improve mobility, Ashwagandha as an adaptogen that supports recovery and resilience, Haridra (turmeric) for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support, Musta (Cyperus) for digestive balance and easing inflammation, Shunti (dried ginger) to warm and promote circulation, Jatamansi to calm the nervous system and support relaxation, and Amlaki (amla) for vitamin-rich antioxidant support that helps tissue health and recovery.
