10 Home Remedies Against Back Pain

Back pain is a common in our daily life. From poor posture to lifting weights incorrectly, going through stress or suffering an injury can be causes of having to deal with this ailment. Luckily, there are some home remedies for back pain that can ease the discomfort of back pain. However, if it is very strong, you should go to the doctor in search of a professional opinion to verify its origin.

Take note of these home remedies for back pain 

1. The hot and cold technique

1. Place a few ice cubes on a towel until it reaches a fairly cold temperature
2. Place it on the affected area and apply pressure for about 20 minutes
3. Afterwards, change to a towel moistened with hot water and let it act for another 20 minutes

Keep in mind that it is important to know if your back pain was caused by some type of injury, because heat could increase inflammation.

2. Massage

You will only need alcohol, rosemary oil or sandalwood. For the product to be better absorbed, it is advisable to clean the affected area. What will the massage do to us? It will help us to release stress, relax muscles, anesthetize affected nerves and reduce inflammation.

For the pregnant woman, avoid massage with alcohol or rosemary oil, as they are contraindicated during the gestation period.

3. Infusion of horse chestnut

A natural way to strengthen the back is with the infusion of horse chestnut (the classic typical chestnuts in the cold months), which we should take every day to achieve a better effect. Heat 200 ml of water and, when it reaches a boil, add 3 drops of horse chestnut extract.

4. Rosemary and vinegar

Ingredients

• 1 liter of water
• 1 cup of vinegar (250 ml)
• 2 tablespoons of rosemary (20 g)

Preparation

• Heat the water and, when it boils, add the vinegar and rosemary
• Remove from the heat and let it rest for 5 minutes
• Then strain the content, wet a towel with the mixture and apply it to the affected area for about 10 minutes

5. Infusion of sage

The sage leaf has relaxing properties. To take advantage of them, it is recommended to take three cups of an infusion a day. Thus, heat a liter of water and add 2 tablespoons of sage (20 g). Let the decoction take place for a few minutes, strain the content and drink it.

6. Vitamin C

Vitamin C is very effective in relieving back pain. Why? Thanks to its antioxidant properties we can reduce inflammation. In addition, vitamin C contains collagen, which helps to strengthen cartilage and tendons and, consequently, prevent wear and tear and back pain. Vitamin C can be obtained from citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons, kiwi fruit, strawberries, and guava and broccoli, among other foods.

7. Exercises

Including an exercise routine in our life will help us avoid and relieve back pain. Examples are yoga, Pilates and swimming, all of them excellent for relaxing and strengthening our back. However, we should avoid exercises such as abdominals or weight lifting, as they could increase pain.

8. Improve posture

One of the most common causes of back pain is poor posture. It can be when walking, sleeping or sitting. To find out if we have bad posture, we will stand in front of a mirror and imaginary divide our back in two: shoulders, hips and knees must be at the same height. To correct bad posture we can use a girdle or do yoga and Pilates, as well as stretching exercises

9. Take breaks

Most people who work in offices use their mobile phones and computers for a long time. Especially if the posture is not very correct, they end up suffering back pain. The same goes for the other extreme, who spend a lot of time on their feet. In any case, try to stand tall and do stretching exercises.

It is also appropriate that you take a short walk to get out of the seat. In this way we will relax the muscles and improve blood flow.

10. Get enough sleep and in the right posture

Complying with the hours of sleep required for the proper functioning of our body is an almost mandatory option to reduce back pain. And in this sense, postural hygiene is essential. A good rest helps the body stay more energetic and relaxed. Although there is no perfect posture – each person is different and each one has their preferences and ailments – for this case  sleeping on the side will reduce the curve of the back.