Educate yourself about alternative medical treatments available for specific diseases and conditions. This site is presented to help you research alternative medical treatments, natural and herbal remedies and different ways of thinking about how to solve specific medical problems.  Please read our disclaimer.

Alternative Treatments for Back Pain

Alternative treatments for back pain have been used by people in other cultures for many years.  Some treatments are very effective for some people.  Others may only work because the patient believes they will work, much like the way placebos sometimes work in medical experiments.  However, we believe that the more you know about the options, the more you will be able to make intelligent, informed decisions about the medical treatment, which may be right for you and your particular medical conditions.  Please read our disclaimer.

About Back Pain:

Back pain, or backaches are characterized by pain that stems from the back of one’s body, from the lower back to the neck. It has many origins and can be caused by pain in the joints, muscles, nerves or bones in the region of the body. Back pain is one of the most common ailments facing people from around the world, and is commonly associated with aging. Back pain is usually due to inflammations in regions close to the spine and can last for a couple of weeks to three months. If back pain is occurring after a traumatic accident, is accompanied with other signs of a severe illness, bowel problems or is present in those with osteoporosis, as more serious condition could be present and should be investigated. Back pain does have many home remedies to relieve the debilitating and recurring pain that characterizes the condition.
 

• One of the most widely used and recognized treatments for back pain is heat therapy. Applying heat to areas of pain anywhere from one to three times daily is also one of the best relief methods. Heat wraps can be purchased or made at home and left on for as long as six hours. Hot bathes and whirlpools are also recommended by many.
   
• Epsom salts can be added to baths to create a soothing soak that helps to reduce swelling. Two cups of salts is generally sufficient for a bathtub of water.
   
• Cold therapy, the application of ice, or frozen products to the painful area is also known to be more helpful in other people. Applying ice to a painful area is especially important within 24 hours of an injury to help reduce future swelling.
   
• For those who suffer from extended and more constant back pain, stretching of the muscles in the back is often effective in relieving pain. Physical therapy is an excellent option to determine the right program for your specific condition. Yoga and Tai Chi are further options.
   
• Massage therapy is an excellent and accredited method to help relieve back pain. It has helped many sufferers of both constant and occasional back pain.
   
• Acupuncture offers another solution to back pain. The insertion of small needles, while sounding painful, actually triggers a response in the body that helps to diminish the pain felt in an individual.
   
• For an anti-inflammatory of natural origins, try white willow bark. See herbal medicines...
   
• If you don’t already sleep on your side you may want to adopt a new sleeping position. Sleeping on your stomach contorts your spine for long periods and can cause and worsen back pain. The best position to adopt is one on your side with your head not in line with your body, and your legs slightly bent.
   
• If you’re bed is soft and sagging, you may only be worsening your back condition. If you are willing a new and firm mattress can help to relieve back pain. Of course, if you’d prefer to not make a new purchase, placing a piece of firm plywood between your box spring and mattress can help to stiffen up your resting area.
   
• Try to avoid becoming inactive for a long period (more than 3 days) as you wait for the pain to go away. Contrary to what may be our first instinct, taking more than a few days to recuperate can only exaggerate some back pain and should be avoided when possible.
   
• Try to reduce the stress in your life as much as possible. Both physical and emotional stress can tighten muscles in the back and lead to further pain.
   
• Try to ensure that your back is supported in a position where you feel comfortable whenever you are sitting. Cushions, rolled towels, articles of clothing and even your arm placed behind your lower back can help to reduce the stress associated with seating for those with back pain.
   
• Calcium, most present in milk and dairy products, can help to strengthen muscles. If you know or suspect that some of your back problems come from weak muscles, it is a good idea to increase your regular intake of calcium.
   
• To increase the likelihood that back pain will not return, try to maintain a healthy weight, exercise, and most importantly always remember to lift heavy objects with your knees and not your back.
   
• Chiropractics is a widely accepted alternative treatment for back pain. Chiropractors manipulate the spinal column to help relieve back pain and improve a person’s overall health. Scientific studies have shown the practice to be very effective and there are numerous specialists across the world.

Have questions about Alternative Treatments?

We recommend that you review the information about physical therapy on this website, look at the alternative medical treatments on the appropriate websites, do your own independent research, talk with your doctor or other medical professional and learn as much as you can before making the decision that is right for you.  We are not qualified to answer medical, behavioral or health related questions, so please do not ask.