Backache

Though all backaches cannot be treated at home, there are home remedies that can ease the discomfort, and make day to day activities much more comfortable. 

Staying warm and applying heat (from a heating pad, or warm soak in the tub) can provide soothing relief for backaches. Gentle stretching exercises, gentle massages with eucalyptus or mustard oil are a good home remedy for backaches. 

Smoking decreases the blood flow to the spine, and will make any backache or back pain worse. Try not to smoke.

Home Remedies for Backache:

Epsom Salts Baths:

Epsom salts contain magnesium, which has natural anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties.  Unfortunately, magnesium is one of the most necessary elements for whole body health, most diets are extremely magnesium deficient.

Fill your tub with the warmest water that is comfortable to the skin, add two cups of Epsom salts, soak at least 30 minutes. Add hot water as needed to keep the water as hot as your skin can handle comfortably. 

Do this as often as you want to relieve backache symptoms.

Ginger:

Researchers have known for a long time that ginger root inhibits the production of prostaglandin and leukotrienes, chemicals that occur naturally in the body, and are involved in pain and inflammation. 

In a current study, 56 patients who had back pain due to osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, or muscular pain, took powdered ginger. All with muscular pain, and 3/4 of those with arthritic back pain, reported varying degrees of pain relief. 

None reported side effects, even those who took the ginger for longer than two years.

Dietary Considerations:

Garlic is a very effective anti-inflammatory agent, and anyone with back pain should include it in their daily diets. 

An infusion of tulsi leaves in water, taken once or twice daily, has been effective in alleviating back pain. To make the infusion, boil 10 tulsi leaves (available at health food stores) in a cup of water, until the syrup is reduced to half a cup. Add a dash of salt, and store in a closed container. 

Adding five black pepper corns, five cloves, and one gram of dried ginger powder to a cup of warm tea, twice a day has provided relief for some backache sufferers. 

Other herbal remedies for back aches are Guggulu and dalchini powder. Half a teaspoon of Guggulu should be eaten after meals, with a glass of warm water or tea. Half a gram of dalchini powder should be mixed with one teaspoon of honey, and taken twice a day, to ease back pain.

Reducing Inflammation:

Often an initial injury, strain, or sprain causes inflammation, then the inflammation presses on nerves, causing the pain to actually worsen. 

Reducing inflammation can often relieve the majority of the backache pain. Ice can reduce inflammation in back pain sufferers, but should never be placed directly on the skin for prolonged times, and should be switched to heat after a few days.

Regular doses of over the counter medicine such as Ibuprofen and Naproxin Sodium can also help alleviate inflammation and ease backaches.