Best Websites for Alternative Pain Treatments

There is a lot of information online about alternative treatments for pain. But it’s hard to sort out the good from the suspect. That's why we've combed the Web to create this list of online tools and resources from respected institutions—including up-to-date research news, instructive and inspiring videos, and a comprehensive library of resources. Use these links to help you find information and support, and bookmark this page now so you can refer back later.

Site	Who It's For	Why We Like It
University of Massachusetts Medical School	People who want to learn about the mind-body connection	UMass’s Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society advocates an approach called mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), a series of techniques (including meditation) that help cultivate self-awareness in order to reduce stress and pain. The center’s website contains information and research about MBSR, as well as a searchable directory of MBSR programs across the United States and around the world.
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)	Pain patients interested in meditation	NCCAM, one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), hosts a website containing useful background information on mind-body medicine. This article, an overview of meditation for health purposes, includes a discussion of how meditation may help physical health and a list of links to scientific papers on its medical applications.
Healing Quest	Pain patients interested in alternative remedies	This PBS television series, hosted by singer Olivia Newton-John, is focused on integrative health and natural therapies. Several episodes have featured segments on the treatment of pain. Visit the show’s website to watch short videos on guided imagery, sound healing, and myotherapy.
The Alternative Medicine Homepage	Anyone interested in alternative therapies for pain	This site, maintained by a medical librarian at the University of Pittsburgh, contains an exhaustive listing of Web resources for alternative mind-body therapies, including art therapy, music therapy, and aromatherapy.
Yoga Journal	Pain patients interested in yoga	The "Yoga as Medicine" section of this popular magazine’s website offers numerous features exploring yoga therapy and the mind-body connection, including a two-part series on yoga therapy for chronic pain.
American Pain Foundation	Pain patients interested in meditation	This article, written by a certified yoga therapist, explains the rationale for treating pain with meditation and provides instruction on how to begin your meditation routine.