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Topic
of the Month
Backache
Backache is one of the
most common ailments prevalent today. Sedentary living habits,
hazardous work patterns and psychological conditions
associated with emotional stress, which bring about spasm of
the muscles, cause backaches. As the back bears the weight of
the entire body, overweight persons feel the strain on the
back when they have to carry an extra load. Also called
lumbago, lumbosacral pain.
Symptoms:
In most cases
of backache, the pain usually felt either in the middle of the
back or lower down. It may spread to both sides of the waist
and the hips. In a condition of acute pain, the patient is
unable to move and is bedridden. About 90% of backache patient
suffer from what is called cervical and lumber spondylosis. It
is a degenerative disorder in which the different vertebrae
adhere to each other through bony unions. As a result of this,
the spine loses its flexibility. The main causes of backache
and spondylosis are muscular tension, straining of the joints
of the joints, poor posture and incorrect nutrition resulting
from the dietetic errors and lack of exercise. Other causes
include stress and strain resulting from sitting for a long
time, improper lifting of weights, high heels and emotional
problems, which may cause painful muscle cramping.
Herbal
Remedies
Garlic:
The
most important home remedy for backache is the use of garlic
.2 or 3 cloves should be taken every morning to get results.
Oil prepared from garlic and rubbed on the back will give
great relief. This oil is prepared by frying ten cloves of
garlic in 60ml of oil in a frying pan .Any of the oils, which
are used as rubefacients, such as mustered oil, sesame oil,
and coconut oil can be used according to one’s choice. They
should be tried in on a slow fire till they are brown. After
the oil has cooled it should be applied vigorously on the
back, and allowed to remain there for three hours. The patient
may, thereafter take a warm water bath. This treatment should
be continued for at least fifteen days.
Lemon:
Lemon is another useful
remedy for backache. The juice of one lemon should be mixed
with common salt taken by the patient twice daily. It will
give relief.
Vitamin
C:
Vitamin C has proved valuable in case of severe backaches.
About 2,000 mg of this vitamin should be taken daily for
treating this condition. Considerable improvement will be
noticeable with in two days.
Potato:
Raw potato is an ancient home remedy for backache,
characterized by incapacitating pain in the lumber region,
especially in the lower part of the back. Application of raw
potato in the form of a poultice has been found very effective
in this condition.
Diet:
The diet of
those suffering from backache should consist of a salad of raw
vegetable such as tomato, carrot, cabbage, cucumber, radish,
lettuce, and at least two steamed or lightly cooked vegetables
such as cauliflower, cabbage, spinach, carrot and plenty of
fruits except bananas. The patients should avoid fatty, spicy,
and fried foods, curd, sweetmeats and sugar, condiments, tea
and coffee. Foods that have been processed for preservation
have few nutrients and should also be eliminated from the
diet.
Ayurvedic supplements:
Agnitundi
Bati
Rumartho / Yograj Guggul (pills)
Erand
Pak
Maharassandi Kadha
Mahavishgarbha Taila
Life
style:
Smoking or taking tobacco in any from should be given up
completely. Hot formentation, alternate sponging, or
application of heat to the back will also give immediate
relief
Yoga
that can help:
Bhujangasa.
Shalabhasana
Halasana
Savasanaa.
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