A review of 25 years of studies by National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health of high-quality studies shows that "natural" techniques including acupuncture, yoga, tai chi and massage can help people with lower back pain, headaches and arthritic knees.
They found evidence that:
· Acupuncture and yoga can help back pain
· Acupuncture and tai chi can help osteoarthritis of the knee
· Massage therapy gives short-term relief for neck pain
· Relaxation techniques can ease severe headaches and migraine.
In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says people with many types of pain should try such complementary approaches, as well as the tried-and-true technique of using ice to numb pain and reduce swelling, before turning to drugs — especially strong drugs such as opioids.