subject: Back Pain | Natural Treatments For Back Pain [print this page] Some of the most common causes of back pain include sciatica, herniated discs, sprains, strains, muscle spasms, impact injuries, and osteoarthritis. Back pain can be debilitating, and difficult to tolerate. But despite the severity this type of pain can cause, some people prefer to use natural remedies as opposed to drugs to manage it.
Back pain sufferers will be pleased to know that although medications may offer the quickest form of relief, it's not the only recourse when it comes to managing an aching back. Here are some natural ways to treat back pain.
Heat and Cold Therapy
Cold therapy can relax the muscles, and reduce inflammation in the back. To use cold therapy for pain, you can either make a cold compress by wrapping ice cubes in a towel, soak in a cool bath, or purchase cold gel packs from a pharmacy.
Heat therapy can reduce back pain by relieving muscle spasms, improving flexibility, increasing blood flow, and relaxing tight muscles. To relieve back pain with heat, you can use a heating pad wrapped in a towel, soak in a hot bath, or purchase heat wraps from a local pharmacy. You can also make a hot compress by soaking a small towel in hot water and ringing the excess liquid out.
Rest
If you have severe back pain, kicking your feet up for a while will prevent aggravation to an injured back. However, don't stay sedentary for too long as this will only encourage back problems to persist. So you should get out of bed, stretch, and move around whenever you can.
Flexibility and Core Strengthening Exercise
When back pain strikes, your first instinct is lie in one spot to avoid the pain. Resting is okay for a little while, but try not to spend more than a couple of days in bed. Naturally, if your back is messed up you won't be salsa dancing anytime soon, but make an effort to get moving as soon as possible.
Start off with gentle exercises to improve flexibility and strengthen the muscles that support the back and spine. Some exercises such sit ups can worsen back injuries. So always consult with your doctor to see what exercises are appropriate for your condition.
Massage
Massage is a widely used method to treat back pain. Massage can relieve back pain by relaxing the muscles, improving circulation, reducing muscle spasms, improving flexibility, and relieving stiffness in the back. A professional massage therapist can administer massages for back pain.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese method used to treat a number of conditions including back pain. During acupuncture, needles are stuck in the skin, both on and away from the site of pain. Some chiropractors offer acupuncture in their clinics as an option to treat back pain, or you can find a qualified acupuncturist in your area to administer the treatment.
If you're adamant about not using pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs to treat your back pain, heat and cold therapy, massage, exercise, rest, and acupressure offer natural ways for you to manage your back pain.
by: Chris Tomshack
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