Pain killing drugs are associated with dangerous side effects, addiction and  overdose. And it turns out they are also much less effective than harmless  natural treatments. A new study shows that simple remedies like chiropractic  treatments and home exercises relieve sub-acute neck pain better than pharmaceutical drugs and without all the negative side  effects.

Participants involved in a study were divided into three groups: one group made regular visits to the chiropractor, one group received traditional drug therapy, and the third group was instructed on how to perform therapeutic exercises at home to combat their neck pain.

At the end of 12 weeks, it was clear  participants  who engaged in non-drug therapy fared better than those who received  painkillers. In the chiropractic group, 57 percent of individuals
reported at  least a 75 percent reduction in pain. In the home exercise  group, 48 percent reported similar pain relief. However, only 33 percent of the  painkiller group  saw such results.

The long term benefits are equally  impressive. Even  one year later, patients in the chiropractic and home exercise groups were still  experiencing benefits. About 53 percent in  each of these groups still saw at  least a 75 percent reduction in pain. In the  painkiller group, only 38 percent  reported this kind of pain  relief.