We've Got Your Back: The Many Ways You Can Relieve Your Back Pain

A bad back is one of the most common reasons people visit their doctors.

Research shows that up to 90% of adults have back pain at some point in their lives. However, spinal pains can be alleviated and prevented with the few time-tested methods and exercises mentioned below!

Flaxseed oil

According to many established chiropractors, inflammation in the body is a critical factor in chronic back pain.

So, a natural cure like flaxseed oil is incredibly helpful!

It has a high level of omega-3 fatty acid, more specifically alpha-linoleic acid. This compound has anti-inflammatory properties that prevent joint swelling and body aches.

Most health experts recommend taking two teaspoons of flaxseed oil daily.

-Note that this oil tends to spoil relatively quickly, so remember to store it in a cool area.

Turn to spices

Turmeric and ginger help reduce the production of leukotrienes - a chemical that tightens airway muscles, and as a result, can cause intense swelling in larger areas of the body.

By consuming one to two grams of each spice a day in supplement form, your back pain should ease in no time!

Try a natural pain cream

Capsaicin is the compound found in chilis, giving them their hot and spicy kick.

But it’s not what you had in mind for a back pain remedy, right?

Well, when you apply capsaicin patches and creams on your skin, it creates a heat sensation that reduces the amount of ‘substance P’, a chemical that acts as a pain messenger in the body.

White willow

This herbal extract is a great organic alternative to drugstore medications like aspirin.

White willow trees grow a bark that contains ‘salicin’, a chemical that has anti-inflammatory properties. It works in a similar way to acetylsalicylic acid (an active ingredient in aspirin).

But what makes this natural painkiller superior is that it is much quicker at healing and has fewer side effects than its allopathic counterpart.

Our final suggestion focuses on easy moves that will stretch and strengthen your back:

·       Half lunge:

Stand with your feet staggered with your left leg in front. Bend your front knee about 90-degrees and your back knee a few inches from the floor. Press your right hip forward, and you will start feeling a stretch along the front of your hip.

Hold that position for 20-30 seconds before switching sides.

·       Child's pose:

Sit on your heels with your knees hip-distance apart. Exhale, and lower your torso between your thighs. Reach your arms forward and hold for 30-60 seconds.

·       Glute bridge:

Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Keep your hips wide apart and arms at your sides with palms facing down.

Inhale and then press your feet into the floor and lift your hips. Use your legs to raise the abdomen slightly higher and press your shoulders into the floor to lift your chest.

Hold for four to eight breaths, then lower hips to the floor.

Repeat this pose three to four times, pausing for one to two breaths between reps.


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