My friend, Carol Nevitt, wanted to give you some more suggestions for natural back pain treatment. The vitamin D issues only surprised me a little since so much is dependent on this supplement.
There are many available methods for back pain treatment. Some are better than others. Many conventional treatments for back pain can have devastating side effects. Natural back pain relief can be safer, more economical and more effective than “traditional” methods.
Here are some common methods for natural back pain relief:
1. Capsaicin cream (also known as capsicum cream) is available over-the-counter in most drug stores and health food stores. You may also purchase it online. The main ingredient is the active ingredient found in chili peppers (the stuff that makes your mouth burn when you eat them). This cream has been found to have an analgesic effect when applied to the skin because it depletes substance P (a neurochemical that transmits pain). The most common side effect is a stinging or burning sensation in the area, and care must be exercised not to touch your eyes when using this cream. Use gloves if at all possible.
2. A lack of vitamin D is a surprising cause of some back pain, and an easy back pain treatment method to try out. Chronic muscle pain can be a symptom of a deficiency in vitamin D. This vitamin is found in many foods, such as fish (with small bones), and vitamin D – enriched milk. Exposure to sunlight helps the body produce vitamin D naturally. Risk factors for a deficiency in this vitamin are darker pigmented skin (such as Hispanic, Asian and African American), because darker skin does not convert sunlight as well as lighter skin does; minimal sun exposure, and seasonal location (such as the Northern latitudes in winter).
3. Music therapy is another therapy that is low-cost and has been found to relieve other symptoms associated with back pain, such as depression, anxiety and disability. Music also has an effect on reducing pain, but the effect is not pronounced. To be most effective, music therapy needs to be combined with other methods of pain relief.
4. Vitamin B12 is another treatment for back pain. An Italian study, showed that people who received B12 had a significant reduction in pain and disability. They used less pain medication than the group that received a placebo. Risk factors for a vitamin B12 deficiency include pernicious anemia, infection, digestive diseases, and some medications.
5. Willow Bark is a treatment that involves the bark of the white willow tree. The bark has pain-relieving properties that are similar to aspirin. There have been a number of studies that have compared the effects of white willow bark to a placebo, and the effects of willow bark are significant compared to the placebo group. In one study, Willow Bark was found to reduce pain as effectively as a more traditional medication.
These are just a few of the natural back pain relief options available. Using natural options can be a much safer, more effective way of back pain treatment. Traditional methods can be much too invasive, painful or expensive for consideration. Some traditional methods have a questionable success rate, as well.
And, you can find more great suggestions in Kalidasa’s free book on back pain relief.
