Back pain may be more common in those who are over 50, but people of any age can experience it. Our increasingly digital lives may be at least partially to blame – the slumped posture many of us adopt when sitting in front of our computers or looking down at our phones can put a lot of strain on our backs, shoulders, and necks.
Back pain can also be caused by injury or a medical condition such as sciatica or a slipped disk. But there’s often no obvious cause – tense muscles, physical labour, poor posture, or a sedentary lifestyle can all contribute to back pain.
If your back pain isn’t caused by an injury or a medical issue, there are some natural options you can try to ease the pain and stop it coming back in the future.
Gentle forms of exercise that strengthen your core and increase your mobility and flexibility can protect you against future back pain. Yoga, swimming, Pilates, and walking are all good options.
Being more aware of your posture, taking regular breaks from sitting at a screen, and switching to sleeping on your back can help too.
You might also consider seeing a chiropractor, osteopath, or physiotherapist.
And there are certain herbs that are effective for back pain as well. In this blog post, we’ll look in more detail at some of the best herbs for back pain
You’ve probably heard a lot about herbs, but maybe you haven’t tried out their healing powers yet. It’s easy to think that herbs or spices are too good to be true, but the truth is that they really do work! Plus, they don’t provide the nasty side effects that many medications do, and they are certainly not as risky as surgical procedures are.
If you’re looking to heal your back pain in a natural way, consider trying the healing powers of Valerian root, herbal oil, turmeric, ginger, or white willow bark. You’ll never know unless you give them a try!
Valerian Root. Valerian root has been used for centuries in regulating the nervous system and in relieving tension, irritability, stress, anxiety, and insomnia. It is sometimes referred to as “nature’s tranquilizer” and greatly reduces the sensitivity of nerves. People can enjoy the benefits of valerian root by simply sipping on a cup of valerian tea when they are in need of natural pain relief.
Herbal Oil. Herbal oil is especially effective in providing relief from headaches or minor aches and pains. Oils are applied to the body and massaged gently in a circular motion. Tonic oil is popular for relieving pain and consists of camphor, peppermint, eucalyptus, wintergreen, and fennel.
Turmeric. Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory and even helps to fight cancer! It also helps to ease the pain associated with joint inflammation, sprains, or bruises. Turmeric is sold in supplement form but you can easily sprinkle turmeric in just about any meal, or you can sip on a turmeric tea.
Ginger. Also an anti-inflammatory, ginger has been used for thousands of years to cure pain, but it also helps relieve nausea, headaches, arthritis, and sore muscles. Ginger is a great addition to stir fries or vegetable dishes, marinades, tea, or smoothies.
White Willow Bark. White willow bark is another excellent anti-inflammatory and helps to relieve painful inflammation in the joints. White willow bark contains salicin, which is the same compound that is found in aspirin. With this said, people who are allergic to aspirin should not use white willow bark. However, those who do use it will find longer-lasting results than aspirin!
