Natural Ways to Relieve Back Pain
Backpain is one of the most common conditions around the world and severely affects the lives of millions of people; research into this problem is ongoing but so far only short term back relief remedies are available. Pain relief is possible with the medications available but that is all they do and the reason for the pain continues. While there are a host of prescription medications that help with pain relief, many are doing nothing more than masking the symptoms instead of tackling the underlying cause of the pain. Medication should be used sparingly and under the strict supervision of a medical professional.
The problem with the back is although it is strong, at the same time it is easily damaged; once spinal injury has occurred it can be a permanent condition. Of course the most common way to injure your spine is by lifting heavy weights or lifting them incorrectly. Many people are now turning to other methods of gaining backpain relief which do not include the use of drugs.
Tense muscles in the back can be eased just by gentle stretching; this provides relief and is simple to carry out. Massaging the feet in certain areas (reflexology) can bring relief in a number of conditions; it works very well in relieving backpain. Relaxing muscles and increasing the effectiveness of the circulatory system are two other reasons to use reflexology.
The Chinese medical art of acupuncture can also be used to help bring backpain relief, something which has only been recognized a short while in the West. Followers of traditional Chinese medicine are of the belief that every person has an inner energy force (chi) that reflects of our state of health, mental and physical. By using thin needles placed into the body at specific points, they can free this trapped (unhealthy) energy. Whilst acupuncture is used for many conditions, it is frequently used for pain relief and many people claim to have excellent results from using it.
Tai Chi is also another ancient Chinese discipline which is basically a type of exercise similar to yoga except it is slower. It focuses on breath control and is very relaxing owing to its gentle nature. It is possible for anyone to participate irrespective of age. In addition to these methods to natural backpain relief, exercise can also help to relieve backpain; it increases physical flexibility generally, but also of the spine, which can aid the prevention of future problems.
CK HO from http://www.ReliefMyBackPain.com
Find more more about Causes Of Low Back Pain
Aug 30, 2008
Natural Ways to Relieve Back Pain
Jun 27, 2008
Keep Doing Your Exercises For Back Pain Management
Keep Doing Your Exercises For Back Pain Management
Not doing any form of exercise at all can be the cause that your 
back pain gets worse after some time, with the right type of exercises you can prevent this from happening. Most of these you can do in the comfort of your own home. Always know the limits of your own body and never push it harder then it can take. When you start with these exercises for back pain management do it slow and only start the next, more strenuous, step when you feel comfortable with the present ones.
Examples of exercises
You need to start out slow and very basic, this could mean just lying on your back and make some slow movements with your ankles. Just start to do this about 10 times for each foot. When you are feeling up to it you can increase the exercise by doing some knee bending, leaving your foot on the floor. Never bend your knee further than possible and always make sure you straighten it out again, do this ten times for each leg.
For some exercise you will need a wall you can use as a support, like this next one were you need to stand about a foot away from the wall and leaning against it with your back. Slowly start to bend your knees until they are at an 45 degree angle then start standing back up again in a very slow fashion. This should also be repeated for about ten times. Now turn around and face the wall but keep the distance of a foot between you and the wall. Start to slowly rise up on your toes and try to get your heels of the floor as high as you possibly can of course you can use a hand on the wall to keep your balance. These are just some starter exercises and you should try them out for a couple of days before progressing towards the more advances stuff. Remember, listen to your body.
More advanced examples
When you have done the above mentioned exercises for a couple of days and you think you are ready for it you can try some of the more advanced exercises. These can help to ease your back pain. We need to strengthen the muscles that most of the time are causing the pain, often this is done by doing lumbar balancing and hamstring stretches.
An exercise that incorporates this would be the following, lie on your back and bent you knees, lift just one leg and use your hands to hold it up in the air. Now straighten you knee in a slow manner so that your leg is in a straight position, then return your leg to the floor in the bend positions. You should do this exercise with each leg and this should be done ten times. This all helps in strengthening those lumbar muscles and extending those hamstrings.
Before you do any of the mentioned or other exercises, always consult your doctor before doing anything that strains your back when you are suffering from back pain. And, as said before, listen to your body while doing any exercise for back pain management, when it tells you to stop, do it. Start with 5 times and build it up from there.
Richard Collins knows about back pain first hand. He has seen all kinds of doctors and done all kinds of therapies. On his blog he talks about this subject in more detail ranging from back pain relief to middle back pain.
May 25, 2008
Ways to Get Back Pain Relief, Naturally
More than 100 million Americans suffer with some form of chronic back pain. This epidemic problem, represents the number one reason for lost productivity and efficiency in American Corporations today. Whether you suffer with lower, middle, or upper back pain, it can be both debilitating, and compromising toward one’s work and lifestyle, making it difficult or even impossible to perform the most basic daily tasks.
Because of technological advances in the past 50 years alone, it is not uncommon for us to find ourselves sitting for long periods of time; weather in traffic, relaxing at home or just working on the computer for hours on end. What most of us don’t realize, is that sitting is inherently bad for the back. Why? Because the seated posture creates an imbalance in the spine, which causes the back to age at an accelerated rate. It’s no surprise then, that back problems have become the nemesis of our time, creating problems for millions of people everywhere. And when lifestyle or cultural practices become a contributing factor in back pain, then it’s essential that we adopt effective strategies for improving back health and work to reduce all forms of spinal disease, which are preventable. Various remedies, when applied regularly, can result in a reduction of painful symptoms, which, when combined with a few simple corrective activities, work together to restore the overall health of the back by eliminating or even reversing the things that lead to an accelerated loss of flexibility, mobility and function.
1) Pain-relieving creams
A naturally occurring analgesic, known as "Capsaicin", also the main ingredient found in chili peppers, can be an effective natural pain reliever. A cream or lotion preparation of Capsaicin is applied by rubbing into the skin, directly over the affected area. While an initial stinging sensation is normal, a neuro-chemical pain transmitter, known as "Substance P" becomes depleted as the Capsaicin is absorbed, resulting in a numbing of pain symptoms. Available in most health and drug stores, a typical formulation of Capsaicin cream, will have an active ingredient concentration of 0.025%.
2) Yoga and conventional exercises
Yoga, through strengthening poses and breathing techniques, has been found to decrease upper back pain and lower back pain. In a recent study, people suffering from chronic sharp back pain were monitored for 16 weeks. The results proved that with regular yoga exercise, the participants experienced a significant pain reduction in disability and intensity, as well as a lowered reliance on pain medication. People with chronic back pain can decrease their pain through yoga and conventional lower back exercises, which will exercise their muscles in order to strengthen them. Conventional exercises, such as walking, biking, and water therapy, provide conditioning that strengthen the back, thus minimizing back pain.
3) Good posture sitting and standing
Good posture, whether sitting or standing, plays a large role in maintaining the health of your back, and thus, impacts the level of back pain. Whenever you are sitting down, ensure that your feet are firmly on the floor. Make sure that your chair is comfortable and at the correct level. If you sit for extended periods of time, you can simultaneously treat your back with correcting devices, such as the comfortable Turtle, which aids relief by supporting your lower back.
When you are standing up for extended periods of time, try resting one of your legs on a step higher to give support to your lower back. Do not let your knees lock when standing straight. While you are sleeping, it is best to sleep on your back to relieve pressure that causes back pain, and you can put a pillow under your knees for support. If you lay on your stomach, also use a pillow underneath to reduce lower back pain. Pick your shoes carefully; get extra arch support and do not wear unnecessarily high-heeled shoes. If your heels are very high it will affect your posture.
4) Massage therapy
One of the main methods of back pain relief which immediately comes to the minds of people with sharp back pain is massage therapy. Many healthcare professionals are also recommending massage therapy as a legitimate means to alleviate lower back pain, as well as middle back pain and upper back pain. The popularity of this natural method of back pain relief has doubled since studies in 1997. The greatest benefit of massage therapy is the rise of endorphin levels, which makes it an effective avenue to manage chronic back pain.
5) Ice packs and heating pads
Use ice packs to relieve inflammation, pain, and swelling after an injury or extended use of the lower back muscles. Keep ice on the area of back pain several times a day. During the initial 72 hours, it is good to ice the area for approximately 10 minutes every hour. Ice only needs to be applied three times during the day after the first few days, but again with any vigorous activities.
Heat pads can also be used where there is back pain to aid in relaxing the muscles, but should not be used during the first 72 hours when an injury or onset occurs. If you apply heat immediately, it could make the inflammation and swelling worse.
6) Healthy diet that includes water
Eating nutritious foods that contain Vitamin B12, calcium, and magnesium can prevent and relieve lower back pain and upper back pain. When you ingest enough Vitamin B12, it has been found that back pain may be reduced. The most reliable sources of vitamin B12 are eggs, dairy products, and meat. Magnesium has also been studied for back pain reduction, and from the 82 people studied, 76 individuals experienced less back pain symptoms after increasing magnesium in their diets. Many green vegetables, such as spinach, are also excellent ways to get magnesium, as well as seeds and nuts. Dehydration can contribute to back pain, and thus, it is important to drink lot of water as well.
7) Products designed to solve back pain
There are many products that are designed to relieve lower and upper back pain, such as heated cushions, relaxation tapes, and exercise balls. One of the best new products is a versatile orthopedic device that has been proven to reduce lower back pain, middle back pain, and upper back pain, as well as neck pain. This revolutionary orthopedic device, called The Turtle, treats back pain while providing tremendous relief within minutes. In addition, this product is easily portable, allowing back pain sufferers to obtain the lifestyle they used to enjoy.
David Gervase is an expert in health and wellness supplements and products. For more information relieving back pain with the Turtle, please visit www.USATurtle.com.
