Endorphins are our natural painkillers.
The hypothalamus and pituitary gland secrete them to alleviate stress and pain. Known as peptide hormones, endorphins help us reduce pain and make us feel good.
Their name comes from the term known as endogenous morphine. Endogenous because they’re made in the body and morphine because they imitate the effects of this synthetic opioid painkiller.
There are around 20 types of endorphins, with the most studied being beta-endorphin. This endorphin is linked to the high that runners feel. Endorphins are also secreted when we fall in love, laugh, have sex, or even when we eat a tasty meal.
Doing activities that encourage the release of endorphins is highly recommendable for everyone, but especially for people dealing with chronic pain.
Although a lot of people usually rely on OTCs for pain reduction, the dangerous and prolonged use of some painkillers doesn’t just increase the risk of addiction but has also been associated with a higher risk of heart illnesses, and stomach ulcers, as well as strokes.
How to Encourage the Secretion of Endorphins
- Work out
Moderate physical activity, whether it’s some aerobic activity like fast pace walking or a session of yoga, will help you boost the release of endorphins.
The endorphins released from exercise communicate with the brain receptors that lower one’s perception of pain.
Moreover, endorphins help us feel that positive sensation in the body, similar to the one from morphine.
- Intercourse
Sex is a proven activity for happiness: when people have sex, their bodies secrete endorphins and experience a better mood, higher levels of happiness, and better emotional health.
Good sexual health and quality sex should be practiced throughout the year to experience the positive benefits from it.
- Playing music
When people dance, sing or bang on the drums, they’re doing so much more than keeping others entertained.
In fact, you help stimulate a flow of endorphins that research points out may help you increase pain tolerance. You needn’t be a professional to feel these benefits so start practicing today!
- Laughter is the best medicine
When you laugh, you’re creating so many benefits for your state of mind.
In addition to helping you release endorphins, laughter will also boost your dopamine and serotonin levels. Awesome, isn’t it?
- Meditation
Simple relaxation and focus on meditation will encourage a release of endorphins, but also stimulate the increase of dopamine, melatonin, and serotonin levels.
This combination of chemicals flows through the blood and encourages emotions of calmness, happiness, and satisfaction in the meditator.
- Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese system of medicine that includes the insertion of very thin needles into one’s skin, at specific so-called, acupoints.
This method may encourage pain reduction by helping one release endorphins which are our body’s natural pain killers.
This treatment also affects our brain part which controls serotonin, a chemical playing a role in the management of our mood.
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