ROBERT J.R. GRAHAM: Natural Therapies for Back Pain

Natural Therapies For Back Pain: Massage Therapy, Acupuncture, Yoga And Herbs

by: Caroline Colby

Back pain can cause you immense pain. Other than drug medications, there are many natural therapy methods for your pain. Take a proactive approach to your pain and you will then be able to live life to its fullest.

Here are some facts to reveal how common back pain is. Back pain in the U. S. currently accounts for approximately 50-60% of pain complaints for workers. It is surprising to note that it does not matter what type of job you hold. Whether you are a factory worker to a professional, you are equally susceptible to back pain as your colleague.

Back pain not only afflicts the working population in general, but there are other causes for pain as well. Degenerative diseases like osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis tends to affect more of the female population. Spinal cord injuries resulting from accidents are another leading cause to back pain.

Natural therapies for back pain tend to focus on holistic principles. This means the integration of the physical, psychological and spiritual components of life toward treatment. Some researchers say that your social, economic and cultural background can indicate whether you are more likely to experience back pain in the future or not.

Neuromuscular Therapy is a new type of natural therapy for back pain. There are many clinics that provide massage therapy in the U.S.Deep body massages can aid you by massaging away pain from nerves that are swollen within muscle tissue, and improve the flexibility of your body. Massage therapy also helps you to relax and that helps in back pain pain relief.

Another beneficial natural therapy for back pain that people have found advantageous is acupuncture. Acupuncture is a 2,000-year-old Chinese treatment, which stimulates the nerve pathways through the spinal cord and to the brain, with the use of needles. Contrary to popular belief, it is not a painful therapy at all. The use of the needles stimulates the nerve pathways to release hormones, so your brain do not experience pain as much. Also, the body stimulates release of other hormones to aid in healing.

A good exercise for reducing back pain is yoga. The practice of yoga grew out of eastern therapies of medicine and religion beliefs. Hatha and sivananda yoga are beneficial because they are gentle in the physical training, and the two various styles of yoga use relaxation techniques through proper breathing and meditation states. Through relaxation and meditation, muscles relax and external stressors are eliminated. This benefits your body because the overactive electrical impulses that make your muscles tense are reduced.

Lastly, a natural therapy for back pain is with the use of herbs. Herbs are non addictive and in most circumstances, do not result in major side effects. One popular herb is boswellia because it does not produce inflammation. When boswellia is used it will reduce stiffness because blood supply is increased in the back.

Ginger is useful too in your fight on back pain. It stops pain-causing hormones from being released. Also, ginger can be used on a long-term basis. Over the counter back pain products that contain menthol and camphor are also particularly helpful.

Be sure to seek the advice of your healthcare practitioner the next time you pay him a visit. Discuss the various options of massage therapy, yoga or acupuncture as complementary therapies. Many healthcare practitioners are more open to these options than ever before. Who knows? One of these therapies may just be what you are looking for in terms of pain relief.

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