Pain-relief is probably one of the best gifts one can give to someone suffering from chronic pain.

Luckily there are some natural solutions for pain relief, so I thought I’d compile a list of things that would make great gifts for interstitial cystitis sufferers.

 1. CBD Oil

CBD is a non-psychoactive compound of the cannabis plant that has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties and has been shown potential for IC.

CBD oil seems to be big on the wish list for chronic pain sufferers. Luckily, it has been legal in the UK for a while now and is widely available anywhere supplements are sold – even on the high street!

Unfortunately it doesn’t come cheap, so I think it would make a great gift.

CBD oil is also legal in many US states.

I can’t endorse any specific brands but I would always look for a high-quality product from a reputable brand.

2. Aloe Vera Products

I’ve recently written a post about the potential benefits of aloe vera and have had quite a bit of feedback from people saying how much it helps them. Again, good quality aloe products aren’t cheap, so this would make a great present!

When choosing aloe products look for high-strength and high-quality products that have the aloe latex removed.

Aloe gel is also a great moisturizer and personal lubricant (it’s the only lubricant I would recommend, as the regular stuff is full of nasties!) – Again, look for quality natural ingredients.

3. Infrared Light

Infrared lights, or low-level lasers, support cell metabolism and as such may support pain caused by inflammation and tissue damage. Apart from that, they generate heat and many IC sufferers I have spoken to find heat soothing for the pelvic area.

The two types of lights that can be used are infrared heat lamps or professional red LED light therapy devices.

4. Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Device

I have no experience with these devices but many bloggers in the chronic illness community are raving about them for pain relief.

Basically, these devices emit electrical pulses that mimic those electrical pulses our body produces naturally. Damaged cells lose their electrical potential and the idea behind mimicking the electrical pulses is that it supports cell health and in turn reduction of inflammation and ultimately pain.

Again, I’m not endorsing specific products or brands (I have heard good things about the Oska Pulse device from other bloggers) so do your own research.

5. Hot/Cold Pelvic Therapy Pad

Many IC sufferers I have spoken to have said that they find relief with heat.

Traditionally, hot and cold compresses have been used for increasing blood and lymph flow, reducing swelling (cold) and relaxing tense muscles (warm) – so using hot or cold (or alternating) therapy does make sense.

This could be as simple as getting a nice hot water bottle or ice pads. Or we can find specifically designed pelvic and abdominal pads (e.g. Pelvic Pain Solutions – again, not endorsing anything).

While I don’t think that anything in the above list is going to resolve IC, they may all be good to at least get some pain relief. And this is so important for carrying on normal life, especially at Christmas time.

Have you tried anything from the list? Are they on your Christmas wish list? Let me know in the comments!

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