Managing Pain Without Drugs

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - We seem to be a society that focuses on medication as our form of treatment for just about everything. But it does not have to be this way.

Non-drug techniques could help patients cope with pain.  Researchers found that patients who had non-drug treatments such as relaxation training, acupuncture, acupressure, massage, music or aromatherapy reported and average of 50% reduction in their pain levels. 

Some who criticize the reports say these effects may be due to the placebo effect. But, it is a very interesting concept and, with pain being such a major issue, it deserves attention.