A pain in the back has become a silent epidemic in these modern times. It has become a household problem and every 1 in 5 persons suffers from back pain. This pain badly affects the lives of many individuals by making simple tasks very difficult. A person with back pain might think even before bending to pick something. But, this problem can be treated effectively with Ayurveda. Ayurvedic Treatment for back pain will help say goodbye to this problem.
Back pain is known as kati shoola in Ayurveda. Kati means lower back and shoola means pain. In Ayurvedic philosophies, it is believed that the shareera(body) is composed of three main doshas called Vata, Pitta, and kapha. So when the level of Vata dosha rises in the body it can cause a disturbance in the system and also lead to Kati shoola (back pain).
Some of the common reasons for Kati shoola are:
- Sitting or lying down in an uncomfortable posture for a long time.
- Injury in your back.
- Weak muscles and tendons
- Non-flexible body
- Exerting the muscles with some heavy amount of work.
- Lifting something very heavy
- Not warming up before working out.
- Deficiencies in the body due to unhealthy diet.
So looking at the causes one can easily understand that they need to take a good diet and follow healthy lifestyle habits like doing yoga or stretching. Avoid exerting the muscles or doing some heavy exercise without warming up the body. In case of an injury, a patient must take appropriate amounts of rest. There is no substitute for rest because continuously working will keep damaging the muscles. Also, one should take Ayurvedic medicines as they will heal the muscle from the inside and the back pain will be gone.
Ayurvedic medicines are made by using natural herbs and they have been used for thousands of years. Even in old times Vaid or Vaidyas (an Ayurvedic practitioner) used to make medicines using herbs. Today, these herbs are readily available and one can easily prepare a herbal drink at home. These herbs can be used to treat back pain naturally. Some of the famous Ayurvedic home remedies for Back pain which can be very helpful are:
Herbs
Mother Nature has given us various herbs that can heal the body from the inside and help reduce swelling and pain. These herbs can be boiled in water till their tattva (essence) gets in the water. These herbal teas have anti-inflammatory properties, which means that they can reduce swelling and heal the tissues and muscles inside the body. Some of these herbs are:
- Tulsi (holy basil)
- Neem
- Turmeric
- Ginger
- Cloves
- Cinnamon
- Shallaki
- Guggul
- Ashwagandha
- Shilajit
These herbs can be added to the diet. But, they must be consumed regularly and not just taken once. The healing time is not the same for everyone. The time depends on a person’s age, immunity, and healing speed. So a person should be a little consistent in order to get relief. Also having a positive attitude will help in healing even faster.
Stretching
Stretching is very important to increase the flexibility of the muscles. A person with pain in their back may not want to stretch, but doing some simple stretches will surely help in back pain relief. Mild stretching and simple yoga asanas can be practiced to make the muscles flexible and release tension. It also helps in getting a good posture.
For easy understanding, just think of your muscles as elastic bands and when they are stretched, all the tension is released and the muscle gets relaxed. But it should not be pressurized. A person should stretch their muscles depending on their ability. Some of the yoga asanas or gentle stretches that can help with back pain are:
- Chakravakasana (Cat-cow pose)
- Trikonasana (Extended Triangle)
- Bhujangasana (Cobra pose)
- Makarasana (Crocodile pose)
- Dandasana (Staff pose)
There are many benefits of stretching the muscles like they will not get injured easily. When the muscle is relaxed, it will increase the flow of blood which means an increased supply of oxygen and nutrients in that area of the body.
Nutrients
Calcium, Magnesium, and Vitamin D are the pillars of one’s bone and muscle health. A deficiency of these in the body can be an invitation to health problems like back pain. However, simple changes in diet and lifestyle can help in fixing these deficiencies. Eat
- Green leafy vegetables
- Soaked nuts and seeds
- Fruits
- Makhana (fox nuts)
- Whole grains
- Cow’s ghee (It acts as a lubricant for joints)
These are some healthy additions to the diet. Apart from this, sunlight is also very good for bones. So one should stay in the sunlight for at least 30 minutes and they can get healthy bones. If the sunlight feels harsh on the skin then one can sit in mild rays of morning or evening sun.
Massage
Abhyanga or oil massage is a very good and effective way to release tension from the muscles. Pressing the muscles gently releases the tension and relaxes them. There is a healthy blood flow and a good supply of nutrients.
It also helps in removing ama(toxins) from the affected area. So the body also gets cleaned from the inside. The problem causing waste products can go away with Abhyanga (oil massage).
Posture
Staying in a bad posture can be unhealthy and damaging for the body. Sitting with a bent back or lying down in a wrong or uncomfortable posture, that too for a long period of time can cause back pain. So, a person should take care of their posture, especially if they are suffering from back pain. If there is pain and the patient still has a wrong posture then the pain will keep on increasing. So, the patient must sit with their back straight and not use pillows for sleeping for some days. All this will help in quick recovery from back pain.
So these are some easy remedies that can help you in saying goodbye to back pain. However, there may be a stubborn pain that may not leave. Then a patient should visit an Ayurvedic doctor to find out the causes of the pain and treatment. Dr. Sharda Ayurveda can be a good choice as they are a reputed hospital in the world of Ayurveda. The best part is they provide both online and offline services.