Herbal Cures for Back Pain

Utilizing herbs for pain relief can relieve chronic back pain. Chronic back pain can manifest itself through insomnia, back spasms, depression and muscular tension. Many over-the-counter drugs can relieve one or two of these ailments, but combining certain herbs can treat and relieve these symptoms in smaller doses.

Herbal Packs

Herbal teas and extracts improve blood circulation and ease back pain. Brew and steep chamomile tea or take as a supplement daily. Take pineapple extract as an anti-inflammatory until pain eases, 2 to 3 grams a day. Take valerian, St. Johns Wort and Jamaican dogwood for the same results. Brew horsetail tea to regrow connective tissues, regulate the bowels and relieve lower back pain. Drink yarrow juice to build back muscles. Make a black or white mustard seed compress as a compress for heat therapy; use no longer than ten minutes. Rub the back with lobelia and cramp bark salve to ease arthritic back pain.

Peppers

Cayenne peppers contain capsaicin, a very potent natural pain reliever. Capsaicin changes how the body recognizes pain, triggering pain-relieving endorphins. Apply capsaicin several ways. Buy an over-the-counter cream that contains capsaicin and apply it to affected areas. Make your own; mash a red pepper, adding it to body lotion until it turns pink, apply to affected area. Add one ounce of cayenne pepper to one quart of rubbing alcohol. Let sit three weeks before applying, shaking often.

Cramp Bark and Black Haw

Take as an extract to treat severe back spams and relieve pain. Mix as equal parts. Take between 1 to 3 droppers every three hours for three days.

Peppermint

Use menthol-based rubs, soaks, teas and salves to ease muscle tightness. Buy peppermint oil and rub into the back. Brew peppermint or mint-based teas and drink or use as a heat compress.

Ginger

Take as an anti-inflammatory and pain reliever. Take a large (4 to 5 inches) ginger root and cut into thin slices. Bring ginger slices to a boil in one quart of water, and simmer for thirty minutes. Let sit for thirty minutes. Strain and drink up to one cup a day.

Epsom Baths

Soak with Epsom salt in a hot bath to improve circulation, reduce arthritic swelling and relax tight muscles. Fill a bathtub with very hot water, as hot as manageable. Pour two cups of Epsom salt in the back and soak for thirty minutes, making sure the water stays very hot.

References

• Holistic Online