How to Relieve Back Pain Naturally – Part One

One of my clients has serious back problems and suffers very badly, poor thing, as does her husband, so I did a little research about how to relieve back pain naturally. Here’s what I have found out.

About 80% of adults are affected by back pain at some point in their lives, mostly in the lower back, either acute or chronic pain.

Acute pain starts suddenly and chronic back pain is recurrent. The causes of chronic back pain are difficult to pinpoint, with the sufferer usually needing hospitalisation.

A variety of problems in the muscles, tendons, bones, ligaments, or an underlying organ, such as the kidneys, may also cause a backache.

Many adults over 40, whether they experience back pain or not, can already have some degree of disk degeneration, which in many cases does not produce any symptoms.

One of the leading causes of back pain is a simple muscle strain. Although symptoms appear suddenly with acute pain, this is actually a problem which has developed over a long time.

Most cases of back pain also have an important psychological component, usually a deep-seated emotional or stress-related problem.

Contributors to backache:

• Straining
• Improper lifting
• Poor posture
• Slouching when sitting
• Improper walking habits
• Sleeping on a (too) soft mattress
• Calcium deficiency
• Kidney problems
• Constipation
• Bladder problems
• Bone disease
• Abnormal curvature of the spine
• Prostate problems
• Female pelvic disorders
• Arthritis
• Improper footwear
• Osteoporosis
• Rheumatism

Throughout my years of teaching yoga, I have met many students with continuous or even worsened back pain following surgery. In most cases, regular yoga practice was very helpful.

For treatment of back pain, you could try any of the following types of therapies:

• Chiropractors – are licensed to perform spinal manipulation. They primarily use high-velocity manipulations of the neck and back to correct problems. Spinal manipulation may be the most effective treatment for acute back pain. Chiropractors are not medical doctors and therefore cannot prescribe drugs or perform surgery. Numerous studies have shown that people with lower back pain who are treated at chiropractic clinics recover faster, and at less cost, and end up with less pain and more mobility than those treated in hospitals.

My personal experiences with chiropractors (particularly Dr Aimee and Dr David Slossberg, Florida, USA http://www.advancedhealthcareofthepalmbeaches.com/meet-our-doctors/ ) was for the treatment of back and knee pain from which I had suffered for many years: my knee since my teens following a fall from a horse. They were very successful in treating both these problems as well as other injuries I sustained in a car accident – they saved me from spending the rest of my life in a wheelchair! I’ve had no backache since 2005! 😉

In order to keep a backache at bay, I regularly practise yoga. 😊

• Osteopaths can prescribe drugs and perform surgery, but because of their philosophy of treatment, they often try manipulation or physical therapy first.

• Acupuncture There are over 350 acupoints on the meridians of the body. Selected points are stimulated by inserting fine acupuncture needles in order to improve the flow of chi or qi, in the meridians and to restore balance and healthy functioning to the internal organs of the body. The insertion of the needles is quick and virtually painless and often a comfortable and relaxed feeling follows. Acupuncture is economical and effective for both treating and preventing disease and has an important role to play in Western healthcare.

A few years ago, I was introduced to acupuncture due to hamstring pain and it helped hugely. It is a painless and effective form of therapy. I can greatly recommend this lovely acupuncturist Mrs Pippa Hancock, http://www.hancockacupuncture.co.uk 😊

• Massage is one of the oldest forms of remedial therapy and is an excellent way to relax mind and body, and so bring relief from everyday stresses and strains. It also helps to restore a sense of calmness and balance after any shock or trauma. Massage is an effective and wide-ranging therapeutic tool that works on a physical and psychological level. Conditions that respond best to massage are back and neck pain, headaches, insomnia, stress and its related disorders, anxiety and depression, physical discomfort and pain in many parts or the musculoskeletal system, hyperactivity, high blood pressure, heart disorders and circulatory disorders.

I love massage and have had it quite often for many years, trying various types. My favourite one is Thai Yoga Massage – great for relieving pain, smoothing out knots and improving flexibility. Very beneficial for BACK PAIN, SCIATICA, NECK and SHOULDER PROBLEMS.

Thai Yoga Massage is a combination of acupressure, energy meridian work (sen) and yoga – like stretching, plus techniques similar to reflexology and a soothing massage. The therapist uses a special mattress on the floor (instead of a massage table). The client wears loose clothing.

I can recommend this knowledgeable Slovakian therapist Mr Peter Kocai, http://www.vibrantbody.eu

And other therapies great for back pain:

• Physical therapists
• Magnet therapy
• Kinesiology
• Physiatrists
• Orthopaedic surgeons

Recommended herbs for a backache:

Horsetail is a good source of silica, which is necessary for bones and connective tissue. Other herbs recommended for a backache include white willow bark, alfalfa, burdock, slippery elm and oat straw. They can be taken in tea form, extract or capsule.

Resources:
“Prescription for Nutritional Healing”, third edition by Phyllis A. Balch, CNC

“The Complete Family Guide to Alternative Medicine”, by C. Norman Shealy, M.D. Ph.D.

“Yoga as Medicine” by Timothy McCall, M.D.

Next week: How to relieve back pain naturally  – Part Two