6 Natural Ways To Heal Back Problems Through Massage, Food & Yoga

Back pain is extremely common ailment, currently affecting at least 8 out of 10 people.  As reported by the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), nearly 31 million Americans experience lower back pain at certain point of their lives.

Inactivity, obesity, poor posture, osteoporosis, stress, and diseases like blood clots, infections, and kidney stones are considered the major causes of lower back pain. The structure of the back is quite complex. Being consisted of bones, muscles, joints, and ligaments, it is very likely to irritate or sprain the inner workings which keep it strong and supportive.

Neglecting and ignoring the pain, most people turn to painkillers in order to proceed with their day-to-day activities pain-free. However, this doesn’t address the root cause, and long term use can eventually lead to kidney damage, ulcers, liver damage, and even aggravate issues with blood clotting.

The good news is that it`s possible to prevent and even treat disease without the need of popping medications and pain-killers that offer temporary relief.  The right approach includes lifestyle changes and using time-tested and scientifically-proven remedies.

1. Yoga

Cobra pose, cat pose, triangle pose, and bridge pose are extremely useful when it comes to both preventing and curing back pain safely. It has been scientifically shown that practicing yoga helps reduce the severity of low back pain, improve mental health, increase serotonin levels, and promote better sleep.

2. Exercise Therapy

Contrary to popular belief, rest and inactivity aren’t the best cures for back pain. Quite the opposite, physical activity is basically far more beneficial for reducing back pain and strengthening the muscles of the spine.

“Why are we not prescribing an inexpensive, effective treatment? Some of it is, I think, we don’t think of exercise as being a treatment the way a tablet or a procedure or a physical therapy treatment might,” says Dr. Tim Carey, an internist at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. “We’re a fairly pill-oriented society. Pills are easy to take, and as a doctor, pills are easy to prescribe.”

According to Chris Maher, a physical therapist turned health researcher at the University of Sydney in Australia, “What we do understand about the back it that the more you use it, the more likely you are to keep it strong, fit and healthy.”

As found by a study in which back pain patients underwent a 10-week exercise treatment of the muscles of the spine,  physical activity does help improve posture and perform activities that once worsened the pain.

3. Salt Therapy

Epsom salt bath has therapeutic properties which are extremely beneficial in case of back pain.  The magnesium and sulfur content are readily absorbed in the body, and when combined with essential oils like ylang ylang or lavender oil, they have been found to improve circulation.  Epsom salt bath helps sooth nerves, relax muscle spasms, and alleviate pain.

4. Acupuncture

Acupuncture, a Chinese practice which involves inserting needles in specific points to improve blood flow, is widely used to treat back pain. According to one study, acupuncture applied to the most aching point of the back provided an instant relief.

5. Cold Therapy

Cold therapy has become all the rage over the past few years, and for a very good reason. This treatment, which involves ice packs, ice massage, or cold whirlpools, lowers the temperature of the skin and tissues to a depth of two to four centimeters.

Consequently, this leads to a reduction in the activation of nociceptors, pain receptors across the body, which send pain signals to the brain.  This therapy also reduces blood flow, inflammation, muscle spasms, and tissue metabolism.

6. Massage Therapy

Most people ask for pressure on their pain points, whether it`s a knot or some unusual, new pain. When using a device, tool, or the help of another person,  a massage therapy helps relieve painful areas. It has been scientifically shown that massage therapy works wonders for those suffering from back pain.

For instance, in one study of low back pain patients, the subjects underwent a 30-minute massage therapy two times a week for five weeks.  They reported less pain,  less anxiety and depression, and improved sleep.

source: http://besthealthyguide.com

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If You Have Sciatica Or Back Pain, Take This Remedy And You’ll Never Suffer Again

For those who are not familiar with it, sciatica is a specific pain felt in the lower back, buttocks, and leg area, and indicates that the largest of our nerves (sciatica) has been pinched and irritated.

There is little doctors can tell you or do concerning this type of injury, except of prescribing strong painkillers to help you go through the pain and the tingling. The effect of medications is nevertheless temporary, and patients are instead recommended to exercise and do yoga to stretch their back and treat this problem naturally.

In this article, we are going to reveal a great recipe for home treatment that relieves the pain instantly, and makes your problem disappear. Before preparing it, make sure you’re actually suffering from sciatica issues:

– Tingling

-Pain aggravation while in a seated position

– Moving pain and difficulties

– Lower back pain and itching that spreads towards the hips

– Buttock pain that just won’t stop

Ingredients:

– 6.76 fl oz/200 ml. of milk

– 4 cloves of fresh garlic

– Honey to improve the taste

Preparation :
To start with, crush the cloves and let them cook on medium heat. Pour the milk in the meanwhile, and stir until the ingredients are completely united. Let it cool down, and add honey to make it taste better.

Instructions:
Generally speaking, there is no limitation to as how much of this remedy you should consume, but the recommended amount is one glass per day until the pain is completely disappeared.

The reason why this remedy is so powerful is the presence of garlic, which not only acts anti-inflammatory, but also calms the pain down and prevents complete swelling. For even better results, try exercising for at least 10 minutes per day, and the problem will be gone before you know it.

source: http://taidiy.com

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Successful In 95%, This Is The Natural Way Of Saying Goodbye To Back Pain

Every single person on this planet deals with lower back pain. Some of you prefer to call it Lumbago, Hexen schuss, or witch stab.

Your spine (12 thoracic, 7 cervical, 5 sacrum, 5 lumbar and 4 coccyx vertebrae) is connected to a network of nerves, muscles, ligaments and blood vessels. It acts like some sort of a pillar in the body.

The nerves from your limbs go through the spine, and help you hold your body in a straight, upright position.

Given that it’s vital for your body posture, your spine is exposed to physical stress, regardless of whether it’s strain, bending, pressure, shear or twisting.

Every part of your spine is responsible for a particular movement of your body, and sometimes the transition of motion from one portion to another can cause degenerative changes and pain.

Lower back pain is common in individuals engaged in hard physical or sitting jobs, patients diagnosed with osteoporosis, congenital spine anomalies and spine injuries, and elderly.

Scientists explain that comfrey can help in the treatment of lower back pain. You can find it in fields, meadows, and ditches. Comfrey plant has hairy leaves and big root that looks pretty much like your favorite beet.

People have used comfrey since forever. Comfrey gel relieves pain caused by joint dislocation in knees or osteoarthritis.

A group of scientists at the German Sports University conducted a study based on 120 participants with lower and upper back pain.

Participants were treated with comfrey root extract for 5 days. Guess what… Their pain was completely gone.

Experts suggest that you stay away from comfrey pills and supplements, as these have shown to damage the liver.

Be more active, and do some nice stretching. Try the supine hamstring stretch.

Supine hamstring stretch

 Lie on your back, and bring your right leg towards the chest using a belt or a towel. Extend it until you feel the straining in your lower back. Hold in this position for 5 minutes, and switch legs. Do this every day, and our back pain will disappear.


source: http://dailyhealthmedia.com

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Take This and You Will Never Have to Suffer from Sciatica or Back Pain Again!

The sciatica is the largest nerve in the body, running from the nerve roots in the spinal cord in the lower back to the buttock area and all the way the lower limb. Sciatica is considered a symptom, rather than a condition.  It is manifested by leg pain, which may resemble a leg cramp or a shooting pain that makes sitting/ standing difficult. It is mostly defined as pain from the low back to behind the thigh, spreading to the area below the knee.

Typically, the pain worsens when the person sits, coughs, or sneezes. It may occur out of the blue, or it may develop over time.  Weakness, burning sensation, and numbness are the most common symptoms. Although rare, symptoms like inability to bend the knee or move the foot are also possible.

What causes sciatica?

Sciatica is usually a symptom of a “pinched nerve”, which affects or more of the lower spinal nerves.

Causes:

• Spondylolisthesis: This condition is caused by slippage of one vertebrae, causing it to narrow the opening through which the nerve exists.
• Spinal stenosis: It results from narrowing of the spinal canal, which puts pressure on the nerves.
• A herniated or slipped disc: This is the most common cause of sciatica pain which causes pressure on a nerve root.
• Piriformis syndrome: It develops when the piriformis muscle becomes tight, putting pressure on the sciatic nerve.

Recipe for sciatica and the back pain

Ingredients:

• 2 cups organic coconut milk
• 4 organic aged cloves garlic

Instructions:

Simply simmer the garlic cloves in the milk on high heat for half an hour. Allow it to cool down, and then drink.

Bonus Tip

Ginger essential oil is packed with anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties which have been shown to reduce pain associated with arthritis. It relieves pain by acting on vanilloid receptors, which are located on sensory nerve endings.

Ginger works similarly to spicy pepper, creating a slight burning sensation which lasts for a few seconds.  By doing so, it affects the pain pathways and reduces inflammation, which is the root cause of the issue.

According to a study from the University of Miami, ginger extract works as great alternative to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.  This particular study compared the effects of a ginger extract to placebo in 247 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.  The researchers concluded that ginger reduced stiffness and pain in knee joints by up to 40% over the placebo.

Researchers at the University of California concluded that ginger works on cellular level, affecting certain inflammatory processes. Its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, and anti-ulcer properties make it extremely beneficial for arthritis patients.


source: http://besthealthyguide.com

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The Secret to Relieving Back Pain Is In Your Feet! Do These 5 Exercises In Just 15 Minutes

People often neglect the feet, simply because for being unaware of their importance and contribution to the overall health.  However, the feet are actually the harder working part of all external aspects of the body. Being the foundation of the body, keeping them healthy keeps the entire body healthy!

Have you ever heard of the term “gait”? This term refers to the complex cycle of walking which starts from the FEET.  Simply put, the feet are supporting the body weight at any given time, regardless of whether you are walking, running, or doing any other day-to-day activity.  Taking proper care of the feet helps prevent back, hip, and knee pain, and this article focuses on their importance, offering a few tips on how to prevent and relieve pain in these areas.

1. Toe Presses

Before engaging in any form of physical exercise, the feet need to be properly warmed up.  Toe presses are an excellent way to warm the feet and promote relaxing moving.

All you have to do is to bend the knees while standing, grip the floor with the toes, and hold this position for three seconds.  Release and then do a set of ten repetitions, three times daily.

2. Toe Walking

Toe walking is extremely effective in strengthening the muscles in the toes and the ligaments and muscles found all around the balls of the feet.  Start by standing on the tiptoes and then walk forward for about twenty seconds. Rest for fifteen seconds and then repeat the exercise five times.

3. Ankle Circles

The flexibility and mobility of the ankles are of utmost importance! If they are tight and restricted, this may lead to muscle and joint pain as well as back and knee pain as the body needs to compensate for their weakness.

To perform this exercise, you need to put the back on the floor and then extend one leg of the head. Rotate the ankle clockwise for tens second and them rotate the same, extended leg`s ankle counterclockwise.  Switch legs and repeat the procedure.

4. Resisted Flexion

This exercise targets the small muscles in the foot which are otherwise difficult to engage.  Strengthening these tiny muscles help prevent energy and maintain balance.

Begin by sitting on the floor with the feet straightened out in front of your body. Wrap an exercise band around a chair and then put the band on your feet.  Slide back while sitting on the floor until you feel the tension in the band.  Bend the foot backwards and hold for five seconds.  Do 10 repetitions.

5. Toe Pencil Pickups

This exercise is very simple and all it requires is a pencil.  Stand in front of the pencil and grab it with your toes, raising it from the ground.  Hold for ten seconds, drop it, and do five repetitions with each foot.

These exercises will take about fifteen minutes of your time. For optimal results, do them in succession of each other every two to three days.


source: http://besthealthyguide.com

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The muscle in your back that can cause pain, anxiety and depression that nobody talks about

As stated by Danielle Olson, the psoas major muscle is the “muscle of the soul”. Located near the hip bone, this core-stabilizing muscle affects flexibility, joint function, structural balance, and mobility.  Apart from helping the keep the body upright and moving, this muscle also helps connect with the present moment, particularly when it is stretched out.

It has been scientifically found that the psoas is of utmost importance for both structural and psychological wellbeing.  According to Liz Koch, the author of The Psoas Book,  psoas  “literally embodies our deepest urge for survival, and more profoundly, our elemental desire to flourish.”  Therefore,  this muscle is much more than a structural element.  It is very likely that healthy psoas improves mental health, too.

Where is The Psoas?

This muscle is the main muscle associated with physical stability.  It goes from the legs to the spine and is the only muscle which connects the legs to the spinal column.  It widens from the T12 vertebrae, goes down the five lumbar vertebrae, and ends to the top of the thigh bone.

Apart from connecting the legs and the spinal column, the psoas is connected to the diaphragm as well.  Breathing is modulated in the diaphragm and is the area where most physical symptoms associated with anxiety and fear occur.  Koch assumes that this is a result of the link between the psoas and the reptilian brain, the most ancient part of the brain stem and spinal cord.

According to Koch, “Long before the spoken word or the organizing capacity of the cortex developed, the reptilian brain, known for its survival instincts, maintained our essential core functioning.”  The psoas is in constant “fight or flight” state due to the busy lifestyle we have today.

Issues Associated with Chronic Psoas Stress

Being trapped in such a state, psoas muscles are constricted and stress most of the time. As stated by Koch, “this situation is exacerbated by many things in our modern lifestyle, from car seats to constrictive clothing, from chairs to shoes that distort our posture, curtail our natural movements and further constrict our psoas.”

This chronic stress in the psoas leads to many issues, including digestive issues, dysfunctional breathing, and back, hip or knee pain. It is very likely that it is the cause of chronic physical pain as well.

However, chronically- stressed psoas doesn’t only cause physical pain, but mental health too. As mentioned in the very beginning, the psoas is much more than a muscle used for structural stability. It also affects the way you feel, how you treat others, and how you look at the world.

Chronically- stressed psoas muscle has been linked with many problems: it can influence your satisfaction with life, it can affect your interpersonal relationship, and even negatively impact your emotional state. Therefore, keeping it healthy is of utmost importance in order to maintain physical and emotional health.

“Whether you suffer from sore back or anxiety, from knee strain or exhaustion, there’s a good chance that a constricted psoas might be contributing to your woes,” states Koch.

Fear and the Psoas

People with a constricted psoas are characterized with over-represented fear, given that psoas is connected to our ‘fight or flight” mechanism.

Fear is an emotion which manifests itself in the strangest ways and may lead to both physical and emotional tension.  Restoring balance to the psoas muscles helps release this tension, which improves both physical and mental wellbeing, providing sense of inner peace and reduction in strains and muscle aches.

The Connection to the Energetic Body

Releasing the psoas grounds you to the Earth, which is filled with revitalizing and healing properties, which in turn balances the pranic energy. Proper structural stability directly enabled by a healthy psoas further allows prana to flow and distribute vital energy throughout the body.

Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times

Understating of the psoas is nothing new and even the ancient cultures were aware of its importance. As a matter of fact, yoga shows that ancient gurus were familiar with the importance of releasing contracted psoas muscles.

Ancient yoga postures, which are now practiced worldwide, focus on releasing psoas muscles and restoring balance to the body. With a little practice, you can learn how to isolate this practice and thus gain numerous benefits in the long run.

Yoga also helps measure the current health of the psoas. For instance, the tree posture cannot be achieved in case of contracted psoas. If you feel a little strain in the knees or lower back while practicing standing or sitting yoga pose, it is very likely that your psoas is constricted.

Neglecting this muscle results in physical and mental tension, manifested by anxiety, depression, respiratory problems, digestive issues, and chronic back, knee, or joint pain.


source: http://besthealthyguide.com

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