My understanding is that it can reduce the drought, but it will take more than one wet year to fix it.

There's gabapentin which is decent for nerve pain.

Then there's stuff you might take for minor aches and pains; aspirin, naproxen, acetominophen, ibuprofen.

Fot severe pain, opioids are far more effective than any of those.

It would absorb some sound for sure. Basically anything heavy, flexible and thick will help.

There still are a pretty significant number of homes heated by fireplaces