The Root Causes of Chronic Pain (And How to Heal Naturally)

The Root Causes of Chronic Pain (And How to Heal Naturally)

Chronic pain affects millions of people and is often treated with medications, injections, or surgeries. But these approaches may only offer temporary relief—without addressing the real reason the pain developed in the first place.

To truly heal, we must look deeper. Chronic pain is often a symptom of underlying imbalances in the body, and natural strategies can help resolve those issues at the root.

Common Root Causes of Chronic Pain

1. Chronic Inflammation
Inflammation is the body’s natural defense, but when it becomes chronic, it irritates nerves, joints, and tissues. Common drivers include processed foods, poor gut health, infections, and environmental toxins (Calder et al., 2009).

2. Fascia Restrictions and Scar Tissue
Soft tissue injuries, surgeries, or repetitive strain can cause fascia—the body’s connective tissue—to stiffen and restrict movement, leading to pain and dysfunction.

3. Nutrient Deficiencies
Low levels of magnesium, vitamin D, omega-3s, and antioxidants can increase pain sensitivity and slow tissue repair.

4. Gut Imbalance (Leaky Gut)
Gut inflammation and permeability (leaky gut) lead to systemic inflammation that can manifest as joint pain, muscle soreness, or migraines (Fasano, 2012).

5. Toxic Overload
Accumulated toxins from food, plastics, pesticides, and air pollution can burden the liver, irritate nerves, and contribute to pain.

6. Emotional and Nervous System Dysregulation
Chronic stress, past trauma, and nervous system overactivation keep the body in a fight-or-flight state, preventing healing and amplifying pain signals.

Natural Strategies for Healing Chronic Pain

1. Adopt an Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Eliminate sugar, gluten, dairy, and seed oils. Focus on whole foods like leafy greens, wild fish, turmeric, berries, and olive oil.

2. Repair the Gut
Use bone broth, fermented foods, and gut-healing supplements like glutamine, collagen, and probiotics to reduce systemic inflammation.

3. Support Detoxification
Cruciferous vegetables, filtered water, and herbs like milk thistle help remove toxins that fuel pain.

4. Restore Nutrient Balance
Work with a practitioner to assess and address deficiencies in vitamin D, magnesium, omega-3s, and antioxidants.

5. Calm the Nervous System
Try breathing exercises, gentle movement, grounding, and trauma-informed therapies like somatic work or EMDR.

The ASTR Diet: A Functional Approach to Pain Relief

Developed by Dr. Joseph Jacobs, the ASTR Diet targets chronic pain by addressing its root causes—gut dysfunction, inflammation, toxicity, and nutrient depletion. The program includes: • Toxin-free, anti-inflammatory nutrition
• Intermittent fasting and detox support
• Lifestyle practices for nervous system and hormone balance

Learn how to eliminate pain naturally with Eat to Heal by Dr. Joseph Jacobs: Available on Amazon

References: Calder PC, et al. (2009). Dietary factors and low-grade inflammation in relation to chronic disease. Br J Nutr.
Fasano A. (2012). Leaky gut and autoimmune diseases. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol.
Clauw DJ. (2015). Diagnosing and treating chronic musculoskeletal pain based on the underlying mechanism(s). Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol.