June 07, 2019

From Skeptic to Believer: How I Took Back My Life from Pain Naturally

If you’d told me years ago that I’d be the guy talking about DMSO and frankincense, I would’ve laughed… then reached for another bottle from the medicine cabinet.

Back then, pain ran the show.

I’m Todd Bailey, co-founder of Herbal Mana. But before Herbal Mana, I was just a guy trying to push through years of football, surgeries, and everyday wear and tear. Knee pain, shoulder pain, back pain—you name it. And when pain hangs around long enough, it doesn’t just wear on your body. It starts shrinking your life. Your energy drops. Your patience gets thin. Even the fun stuff starts feeling like work.

I thought that was just how life was going to be. Until I discovered something that actually worked.

The Shift That Changed Everything

For a long time, I was the ultimate skeptic. If it wasn’t prescribed, I didn’t want to hear about it.

My wife Anne (bless her patience) kept nudging me toward natural options. Essential oils. Herbal blends. DMSO. I kept brushing it off like a bad infomercial and moving on with my day.

Then one day, mostly because I was tired of hurting and tired of arguing, I finally gave it a try. And you know what?

It worked.

Not fireworks. Not a marching band. Just real relief. The kind that makes you stop and think, “Hold on… what was that?”

That moment cracked the door open. I started paying attention. Researching. Testing. Learning. Especially about DMSO and how many people use it as part of a topical routine to support comfort, mobility, and recovery from chronic pain and inflammation.

How I Built a Routine for Pain Support

Little by little, I stopped asking only, “How do I possibly get through today?” and started asking, “What helps me show up better today?”

That changed everything.

I began building a routine around simple tools I could actually use consistently. One of my favorites is Frankincense DMSO Gel with Hyaluronic Acid. I like it because it’s fast-absorbing, easy to apply, and fits real life. No drama. No greasy mess. Just a simple part of my day.

If you’re skeptical like I was, the Frankincense Bundle is a smart place to start. It combines Frankincense DMSO Gel with Hyaluronic Acid, Royal Warrior Cream, and Frankincense Essential Oil into a single straightforward routine.

What I Reach for Now

For me, that combination helps support comfort in different ways:

the gel when I want fast, targeted topical support
the cream when I want a richer layer of everyday comfort
the oil when I want a grounding reset after a tense day

And if you’ve been side-eyeing natural products the way I used to, I get it. Take a look at the Frankincense Bundle and see whether the routine makes sense for where you are right now.

Life After Pain: A Whole New World

There was a time I truly believed I’d never be able to live the life I wanted without paying for it later.

But now? I’m not chasing perfection. I’m chasing presence.

I want the walk with my wife.
The time with my grandkids.
The full Disneyland day without feeling like I need a rescue team by lunch.

Life doesn’t have to be pain. (No matter what Westley said in The Princess Bride.) That’s what this journey gave back to me: more life inside my life.

So if pain has made you skeptical, tired, or flat-out frustrated, I’ve been there. You don’t need a miracle speech. You need tools you’ll actually use.

Ready to start with the same trio I reach for? Explore the Frankincense Bundle HERE.