All-Natural Remedies for Back Pain

Being a gardener, I frequently suffer from back pain. Bending over pulling out weeds or putting new plants in the ground can be a real pain after awhile. However, you do not have to be a gardener to suffer from back pain. I would surmise that almost everyone on the planet has experienced a pain in the back at some point in their lives. It seems to be a rather common affliction. Being so common means that there are numerous remedies to alleviate the pain, and so many of these remedies are all natural and most can easily be done in the comfort of your own home.

Of course, we all know that much of the pain we feel in our backs is due to poor posture. To improve your posture and to ease the pain in your back, periodically during the day, stand straight against a wall, making sure that your heels are touching the baseboard and that your hips, shoulders, and head are touching the wall. Bend your arms and extend your hands upward against the wall. (You should look like you are responding to a "hands up" command from an officer of the law.) You need only remain in this position for a few minutes at a time. I have found that this exercise really helps my lower back. (By the way, try to stand in this position once you move away from the wall to help improve your posture.)

Swedes who immigrated to the United States discovered that hot water poured on the back could prevent backaches from occurring and could also alleviate existing pain. Stand in a hot shower. Bend your knees slightly and rest your hands on your thighs just above your knees with your arms bearing as much of your weight as possible. Allow the water to hit your back for at least 10 minutes. I have not so good knees; therefore, I tend to place my hands on the wall opposite the shower head and lean that way. In this way, my knees do not suffer from being bent for too long, and my back benefits from the hot water.

There are actually herbal remedies for back pain, too. One of the oldest and best is made from birch trees, those lovely trees with the distinctive papery bark. Birch happens to contain methyl salicylate, which is often combined with menthol in liniments used for pain. You can make a hot poultice from the leaves, bark, and catkins of the birch and apply it to your back. The methyl salicylate is absorbed through the skin and can help to alleviate that nagging back pain. (Such poultices are also often used to treat joint pain caused by arthritis and rheumatism.) You can also try making a tea from the leaves, though I personally prefer the poultice.

Finally, you should sleep in a fetal position at night with a pillow under your knees. This position is often recommended by physicians, and I have found it to be about the only way that I can get my back pain to ease so that I can get to sleep at night.

References:
Buchman, Dian Dincin, Ph.D. Ancient Healing Secrets. Avenel, NJ: Crescent Books, 1996.

Kowalchik, Claire and William H. Hylton, eds. Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, Inc., 1998.