How to Combat Back Pain With Alternative Remedies

Back pain is a common condition suffered by nearly everone, on some occasion. Some individuals have more chronic or acute back pain. Factors that cause this include a ruptured disc, osteoporosis, injury, arthritis, muscle strain, dehydration, poor posture or sitting for long periods of time. Since back pain could also be indicative of other health problems, have a physical exam and diagnostic tests done by your doctor. Once more serious medical conditions have been ruled out, begin thinking about treatment options for your back pain. Your doctor may recommend prescription pain medications or surgery. There are also alternative remedies that may ease the pain.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Devil's claw root tincture
• White willow bark extract
• Distilled water

1. Get in the shower. Shower with hot water for 4 minutes, then switch to cold water for 35 seconds. Alternating between the two water temperatures can bring relief to your back. You can do this every 2 hours.

2. Take a teaspoon of devil's claw root, in tincture form, three times daily, to ease back pain. Devil's claw comes from a plant with claw-like pods and has been used by many South African tribes for centuries. When others discovered that the root of the plant helped to reduce pain, it became popular in other parts of the world. It is particularly beneficial for those suffering from lower back pain. If you are pregnant or nursing, on Warfarin, have gallstones or suffer from ulcers, do not take devil's claw root. If you are on a blood thinner other than Warfarin, speak with your doctor before using devil's claw root.

3. Consider white willow bark. White willow bark, which contains salicin, comes from a tree with leaves that are white and "hairy-looking." Aspirin is derived from white willow bark, but it is a synthetic form and may cause damage to the lining of your stomach. White willow has been used to successfully treat acute back pain. Get it as an extract in capsule form and take 120 milligrams to 250 milligrams daily. Do not take white willow bark if you have conditions like asthma, kidney disease, ulcers, an allergy to aspirin or are pregnant or nursing. If you are taking NSAIDS, anticoagulants, platelet inhibitors, metoclopramide, methotrexate, bismuth subsalicylates or carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, do not take white willow bark, due to a potentially serious drug interaction.

4. Consult a chiropractor. Chiropractic treatment involves spinal manipulation or stretching and massage to reduce back pain and improve the function and mobility of the spinal area. It may take several sessions to receive the best results. Used in conjunction with other therapies, however, it can bring relief to your back problems.

5. Get acupuncture. Acupuncture treatments involve a practitioner inserting and manipulating thin needles at specific points of your body. Used in conjunction with other treatments for lessening lower back pain, it can prove helpful.

6. Drink two glasses of distilled water whenever your back pain kicks in. If dehydration is the root of your back pain, replenishing your kidneys by downing a couple of glasses of water could be beneficial in halting the problem when it hits.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your weight down to a healthy level.
• Avoid sitting on low furniture.
• Consult your doctor if your back pain lasts for more than a week.
• Consult your doctor if fever, chest pain, weight loss and leg numbness accompany your back pain.

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