Natural Cures for Back Pain

If you’re anything like me, something as simple as an incorrect bend or a bad night’s sleep can be positively devastating to your back. Most of the time, the best natural remedy for these aches and pains is simply having a lie down, but what happens if you don’t have time for that type of convalescence? What do you do then?

If your back becomes too unbearable to even move, you should certainly call a doctor. However, if your back is painful, but not debilitating, there are other avenues to go down before you go reaching for medication. In fact, there are a wide variety of home remedies and natural methods to soothe or even relieve your aching back. 

There are many foods, drinks, and other natural remedies out there with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties. Things like tart cherry juice, ginger-green tea, and turmeric all possess a number of anti-inflammatory properties that have proven helpful in soothing muscle pain, according to The New York Times. We’re not saying that turmeric milk will completely unwind all your kinked back muscles or reverse any disc degeneration, but it can certainly make things easier on your while you look for long-term solutions. 

Turmeric can be eaten as a spice on food or mixed into a glass of warm milk (note that dairy is an inflammatory food) with a liquid sweetener to create a soothing, slightly spicy tonic. If you are avoiding dairy or following a vegan diet, you can always opt for plant-based milk like almond or oat milk instead.  

Cherries are rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents, and cherry juice has been known to help relieve chronic and exercise-induced muscle pain. It is available in grocery stores. Ginger is also a known antibiotic and anti-inflammatory spice that can be mixed into a number of different teas to help calm inflammation in the body. Simply steep a few slices in some hot green tea with honey and you’ll be feeling better in no time. 

The best part about these particular remedies is that, over time, the anti-inflammatory agents in the foods can build up in your bloodstream. That means making them part of your daily diet and routine might help keep your back pain at bay rather than soothe it temporarily. 

Despite its somewhat dubious reputation, CBD oil has been shown to have many medicinal applications. Studies done at Harvard have found that CBD can be used to treat anxiety and insomnia. It has also shown to be helpful in treating different types of chronic pain. In fact, it is believed that CBD’s effectiveness against anxiety and insomnia might actually contribute to its ability to soothe muscle and back pain. 

Note that when CBD is used to treat chronic pain, it is commonly considered a full-body treatment rather than one that might target specific muscle groups. CBD can be ingested or used topically. The result of either of these applications is different depending on the degree, location, and underlying cause of pain, though according to cbdMD, using them in tandem can achieve more effective homeostasis based on an individual’s needs. 

Getting more sleep helps with pretty much every aspect of life. More sleep can make you more alert, can help your internal processes work more efficiently, and heal you. A night of restorative sleep, preferably on a surface and in a position that won’t exacerbate your back pain, can often prove to be just as helpful as a muscle relaxer. According to Harvard Medical School, a little bit of sleep can do a lot of repair work. 

The same is true for how you stand as well. If possible, avoid slouching, sitting, or standing for long periods of time, at least when you’re experiencing back pain. A good way to do this if you’re working is to get up and walk around every hour or so. This will help take the pressure off your spinal discs and stretch your muscles. 

Yoga has a myriad of health benefits. According to the American Osteopathic Association, practicing yoga offers increased flexibility, increased muscle strength and tone, as well as improved respiration, energy, and vitality. It can help you maintain a balanced metabolism, assist in weight loss, improve cardiovascular health, and most of all, it can help you to stretch your stiffened joints and tissues in a low-impact way. 

Yoga can also be combined with meditation to help improve your overall state of being. Exercise and meditation both contribute to the release of endorphins in your brain. These “feel-good” hormones help decrease anxiety and relieve stress, both of which can be big contributors to back pain. 

There are many ways that heat can help soothe or cure back pain. According to PainScience, a warm bath or hot tub soak is a great way to help take the pressure off your joints and just let the warmth soothe and penetrate your muscles. On top of that, you can also use self-activating heat patches like IcyHot or other over-the-counter medicines. If you really don’t want to resort to medicinal creams or patches, an electric heating pad or hot water bottle will likely help soothe the pain too. 

You know your own body, so if your back pain has become too unbearable for any of these temporary measures to assuage it, now might be time to call an expert. Contact your doctor and let them know what you’re feeling. Be sure to include any home remedies or medicines you’ve taken in the course of your attempts to soothe. They may recommend a chiropractor or neurologist to get to the bottom of your pain, especially if it becomes persistent.