Ever since the beginning of time, mankind has always looked for ways to treat pain either physically or psychologically. With the advance of medical science, we have seen the increase of factory manufactured products on the selves of our local pharmacies. Pain relief or management nowadays are a multi billion dollar business and would continue to increase many folds more especially with increased of complexity and stress of modern life.

However in recent years with the explosion of the Internet and information sharing, we have seen a change in the western world where once they would hold steadfastly to these pharmaceutical pain relief products but today they are more open to natural pain relief treatment and products. People in the East have always known the benefits of naturally produced pain relief products. From the roots and leaves of certain herbs and plants contain the secrect to many of our physical problems that we are facing today. Apart from these, other alternative methods such as aromatheraphy have also become popular in treating pain and it’s seen as a better option as it does not involved any oral medicine or drugs.

There’re good reasons why more and more people are going for natural pain relief products and method. The chemically formulated pain medicines have unpredictable side effects which are the main reason why natural pain relief remedies are considered to be the better option by a lot people. Not only they are as effective as prescription medicines, but they also provide an almost instant relief when applied topically or administered to the body. Natural pain relief eg. Herbal remedies do not just mask the pain but remove or provide long term relief. The natives who lived in the rain forest know this and they have been using this for years. The Chinese are also known for their herbal products and remedies and it’s now been certified to be an alternative to western medicine.

Natural pain relief products can be used for mild, severe as well as chronic pain conditions. Most of these natural remedies are kind to the body and do not have adverse side effects. One of the more popular herbs is menthol (widely use by the Chinese and Indians) is known to be an effective pain reliver. When applied to the problem area, menthol works on the skin nerves which results in immediate relief from pain.

The other popular natural pain relief herb is Aloe Vera which is a simple and robust plant that you can plant in your backyard. It needs little maintenance for it to grow well. Aloe Vera is know to help reduce pain and inflammation. It also speeds up the healing process and works perfectly with menthol. Apart from these two medicinal components, natural oils such as eucalyptus oil and sage oil are also used. This is especially popular for aromatherapy massages as the oil by itself has healing components. Extracts of certain fruits and herbs prove to be beneficial as well. The studies based on natural medicine determines the right combinations and proportions of these ingredients to create a highly effective natural pain relief remedy, which is also very beneficial in keeping a person in pink of health at all times. Headache is one of the most common ailment that affects millions of people globally. Chronic headache can be treated from an infusion made from elderflower, lime flowers, dried rosemary and chamomile. A more complicated cure involves taking some centaur, fever few and chamomile and boiling them in water until the liquid is reduced by half. Some rhubarb will then be added to the hot liquid. Other herbs that are used in curing headaches are angelica, basil, betony, penny royal, St John’s wort, valerian, viper’s bugloss and wintergreen.

Enough said about the natural pain remedies and I ‘m truly convince that this is the way to go for us in the future. As the world gets more polluted, we need to take care of our bodies. One way is to eat well, organic, chemical free food and the other which is harder to do sometimes is to use less of the man made chemical medicine and more of the natural form of pain relief. We need discipline to do this but if we stick by it, we would reap the rewards of better health and longer and more prosperous life in the future.

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Prevent Back Pain

Low back pain affects hundreds of thousands of people each year and nearly 80% of the population suffers from it at some point in their lifetime.  While we may not be able to completely prevent the occurrence of it there are things that we can do to further prevent it from happening and then speed the recovery process once it has happened.

One of the reasons that many people experience the pain and discomfort of a low back injury is because of the change in lifestyle that has happened in the past decades.It’s well known that the standard Western diet has changed in the last fifty years, resulting in a higher incidence of obesity.  That, coupled with decreased amount of exercise and employment that keeps workers chained to a desk has led to an increasing number of people who suffer from lower back pain.

Preventing low back pain means taking positive action to improve your overall health as well as your back health.  It may seem obvious but the first thing to do to prevent injury or pain is to protect the back in your activities.  This means learning the correct ways of lifting, sitting and standing.  Sitting and standing in a slouched position increases the stress placed on the lower back and increases the probability of an injury.

Another side benefit of learning to sit and stand correctly is the reduced risk of having upper back pain.  For the most part many people find that they sit with their shoulders slouched forward, placing more strain on the muscles of the upper back.Sitting straighter and walking in a more upright position will help relieve that pain.  This protects the back from top to bottom.

Learning how to lift things properly is important either at work or at home or wherever you must pick something up that is heavyi.  Each of those activities can lead to an injury.You might think your injury came from bending down, but the actual cause might be from years of bad posture and sleeping positions over the years

Exercise is also an important aspect to prevention of low back pain.  Proper exercises will help to improve the core muscles, strengthen the back and improve flexibility.  All of these benefits will help to decrease the risk of developing low back pain.  Strong and flexible muscles will protect the spinal column, decrease the risk of a herniated disc and improve your overall appearance.

Try to change your sleeping positions.  If you think about it you are in some of the same positions every night for between 5 and 8 hours.  That’s more time than you spend doing almost anything else.  Try not to sleep on your stomach which will increase the stress on your lower back.  Instead sleep on your side with a pillow between your knees or on your back with a pillow under your knees.  Some individuals also find that sleeping with a small towel rolled up under their lower back is comfortable.

Women should realize that wearing high-heeled shoes puts a lot of strain on their lower back muscles.  While the occasional evening out in spike heels won’t cause consistent damage, women who wear high heels often find that it puts stress on the lower back and hips.

As was alluded in the first part, obesity also plays a role in the development of low back pain.  As people gain weight this places more and more strain on the back muscles to keep the body in alignment.  People who suffer from chronic back pain may find that just by losing 20 or 30 pounds they are able to reduce their pain and manage it without medications.

Another risk factor is osteoporosis.This particularly important in women but also can affect men as well.Smoking actually increases the chance of developing osteoporosis and sensity to pain.  Smoking will also decrease blood flow and the supply of oxygen to the spinal discs, a major factor in low back pain.

While most people will suffer from lower back pain at some point in their lives there are specific treatment protocols and methods of prevention that can help to speed the recovery process and reduce the risk of the problem happening again.

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Sciatic Nerve Problems

Read this article to find out the symptoms, diagnosis, causes and treatment of sciatic nerve problems…

The sciatic nerve also referred to, as the ischiatic nerve is a large nerve in the human body. Several nerve roots leave the spinal cord and exit through holes in the sacrum which combine to form the sciatic nerve, which then passes between layers of the buttock muscles into the deep muscles of the back of the thigh. The sciatic nerve is the longest and widest single nerve in the body, which supplies almost the entire skin of the leg, the muscles of the back of the thigh, and those of the leg and foot.

What is Sciatica?

Sciatic nerve problems refer to a condition called sciatica, which is characterized by pain, tingling, or numbness produced by an irritation of the nerve roots that lead to the sciatic nerve. Thus simply put, sciatica is the inflammation of the sciatic nerve, which is marked by pain and tenderness along the course of the nerve through the thigh and leg.

Symptoms of Sciatic Nerve Problems

Symptoms of sciatic nerve problems include, pain starting in the buttocks and extending down the rear of the thigh or to the lower leg and the sole of the foot. Pain in the lower back may also persist. Other symptoms of sciatic nerve problems include weakness, tingling, or numbness in the leg. It is always better to consult a physician at the onset of these symptoms.

Diagnosis of Sciatic Nerve Problems

Medical analysis of your symptoms can be the first mode of diagnosis of sciatic nerve problems. Mostly the doctors will diagnose the problems from the symptoms. However, in certain cases, some additional tests are required for diagnosis. The commonly used tests, which are used to confirm the diagnosis, are X-ray tests and magnetic resonance imaging tests.

Causes of Sciatic Nerve Problems

• There are several causes of sciatic nerve problems. A bulging lumbar disc is one of the reasons for sciatic nerve problems. In this case, the gel-like center, which is called the nucleus pulposus, remains ‘contained’ within the outer wall of the disc. On the other hand, a case of herniated disc occurs when the nucleus breaks through the annulus. In both the cases, disc material can press against an adjacent nerve root and compress the delicate nerve tissue. This can cause sciatic nerve inflammation called sciatica.
• Lumbar Spinal Stenosis, which is a nerve compression disorder, is also one of the major causes of sciatic nerve problems that are more common in old age.
• Spondylolisthesis, which is a disorder affecting the lumbar spine is also one of the causes of sciatic leg pain. Spondylolisthesis is either acquired at birth or caused by spinal degeneration or physical stress. Sciatic nerve problems can also be a result of direct nerve compression caused by external forces to the lumbar or sacral spinal nerve roots.
• The Piriformis Syndrome is named after the piriformis muscle, which is located in the lower part of the spine and connects to the thighbone and assists in hip rotation. Sciatic pain is the result of irritation of the sciatic muscle by the piriformis muscle.

Treatment of Sciatic Nerve Problems

Most of the times, sciatic nerve problems heal with time. The primary treatment for sciatic nerve problems includes medicines and exercises to relieve pain. Using a cold pack on the middle of the lower back can also provide some relief from pain. Short walks can be another option in this regard. However, the walking distance should be increased gradually. Drugs used for the treatment include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In addition to this, physical therapy or even surgery might be suggested in severe cases.

Treatment For The Sciatic Nerve

  – Sciatic treatment can often be carried out successfully at home without professional intervention. Some simple exercises and self-care methods can often be.  

Sciatic Nerve Pain Treatment  – Sciatic nerve relief can often be accomplished with self treatment and without the need for professional care or invasive treatment. Simple exercises and self-care methods can often be the difference between a speedy recovery and …   Read more…

The Facts about Low Back Pain  – Sciatica is a condition in which a herniated or ruptured disc presses on the sciatic nerve, the large nerve that extends down the spinal column to its exit point in the pelvis and carries nerve fibers to the leg. … The physician will examine the back and conduct neurologic tests to determine the cause of pain and appropriate treatment. Blood tests may also be ordered. Imaging tests may be necessary to diagnose tumors or other possible sources of the pain.

Relieving Sciatica With Exercises And Self-Treatment  - In some cases, the piriformis contraction may produce compression of the sciatic nerve, but the muscle itself can cause “referred pain” (similar to the arm pain that often accompanies a heart attack) that mimics sciatica.

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