Natural Relief From Back Pain
Every now and then, you feel a painful twinge in your back. Sometimes it’s stronger than a twinge, and it becomes a full-blown ache. You twist the wrong way, or forget to lift with your knees rather than your back. Either way, you know that it’s not a serious injury, and you’d rather not take pharmaceutical pain relievers just to take the edge off of a little discomfort.
Everyone, regardless of age, status or nationality, is susceptible to back pain. Sooner or later, it will get you, too. That’s why it’s good to know about truly natural methods that bring welcome and effective pain relief.
Licensed naturopath physician Cathy Wong has shared fifteen natural back pain remedies. She advised that when back pain affects you, the first step to finding a treatment should be a proper assessment by a healthcare provider.
If you decide to use natural back pain relief, there are several options for you to consider. Not every remedy is best suited to all patients, so it is important to get professional advice before starting any treatment.
Here are natural back pain relief options for you to consider:
Alexander Technique and Healthy Lifestyle
The Alexander Technique is all about choosing a healthy lifestyle. It’s a school of thought that teaches people to improve posture and eliminate bad habits. An Australian actor named Frederick Matthias Alexander developed this technique after he discovered that he could correct the “croaky” quality of his voice simply by standing tall instead of slouching.
Capsaicin Cream
An active ingredient in chili peppers, capsaicin cream when applied to the skin provides an analgesic effect as it reduces the substance P, a neurochemical that transmits pain. You may remember that analgesic is one of the many back pain remedies. A typical dosage is 0.025% capsaicin cream, four times a day. If possible, wear gloves when rubbing it to any part of your body.
Bowen Rehabilitation Method
Tom Bowen, an Australian osteopath, developed a method of gentle bodywork to relieve pain. Long recognized in Europe as an effective way of relieving back pain, the Bowen Rehabilitation method is now popular in North America as well. Therapists performing the Bowen Rehabilitation method will complete a series of movements using their thumbs and fingers. The specialist pulls the skin away from the muscle, applies pressure and immediately releases the tension.
Musical Relief
Music is said to be able to soothe the savage beast. Even the unruly creature known as your sciatica may be comforted by music. Always lauded for its ability to ease stress, anxiety and depression, musical therapy has immediate benefits easing sciatica discomfort, but the long-term effects are less astounding.
Vitamin D
Some patients claim that Vitamin D from natural sources can bring back pain relief. This powerful vitamin is found in salmon and other small-boned fish, plus cereal grains, fortified milk and even through simple exposure to natural sunlight. Older people, however, should limit exposure to the sun. If you’d like to supplement your Vitamin D, try glucocorticoid medications which can also benefit conditions like lung diseases and allergy irritations. There are certain risks to taking Vitamin D as a source of natural back pain relief. Possible side effects include digestive disorders and a darker pigmentation of the skin.
Willow Bark Takes the Bite out of Back Pain
The outer layer of the salix alba tree has been discovered to be a good source of natural back pain relief. It contains salicin, which is converted by the body into salicylic acid. This is believed to be the active compound that eases pain and inflammation.
If you suffer with back pain, but you’re just not ready to turn to pharmaceutical medications, try one of these methods of finding natural back pain relief.
Tags: Fitness
