Stop Back Pain Now—Naturally

Oh, my aching back! Ninety percent of all Americans suffer backaches at some time in their lives – and doctors say women are at high risk since periods, pregnancy, carrying groceries and kids, housework and high heels can all cause pain-triggering muscle and joint injuries. Two out of five women have suffered back pain in the last year and for 80% of sufferers, the pain is long-lasting—starting more than a year ago. So, how can you stop back pain naturally?

Doctors often recommend bed rest, prescription medication or even surgery to deal with the nagging pain. “More and more research is showing that natural is the way to go for better relief in the long and short term, fewer side effects and more side benefits,” say Brattleboro, Vermont herb researcher, Thomas Newmark and Paul Schulick, master herbalist, authors of Beyond Aspirin. In fact, natural supplements can stop even the worst back pain – and speed healing so the relief is permanent.

Try these to Stop Back Pain

Willow bark extract: This herb contains salicin, a pain-relieving anti-inflammatory compound similar to the acetylsalicylic acid in aspirin that puts the brakes on your body’s production of pain-producing prostaglandins. Recent Israeli research shows that a 240-milligram dose daily got complete relief from back pain in 40% of sufferers in just four weeks. German researchers looking into willow bark say it works better than aspirin for long-term pain relief because it helps prevent cartilage destruction and has a lower risk of side effects.

“Like aspirin, willow bark can be irritating to the stomach, so it’s a good idea to combine it with something that would prevent those effects, like ginger, itself a powerful anti-inflammatory which soothes the stomach lining,” say Newmark and Schulick.

Find relief with: Willow bark capsules or extract containing 40 mg of salicin three times a day until the pain is gone.

MSM: An estimated 30 million people worldwide are taking this sulfur-compound derivative, with results that are nothing short of miraculous, says Stanley Jacobs, MD, professor of surgery at Portland’s Oregon Health Sciences University and author of The Miracle of MSM. And for good reason: Jacob’s research has shown it cuts pain in half for most sufferers within four weeks or less. Some patients find their pain eases within days, but complete relief may take a month or even two.

Jacobs, who has personally treated 18,000 people with MSM (methylsufonylmethane) for chronic pain since 1978, says, “Seventy percent of them got complete relief—even those who had no peace from any other type of treatment. I know it works and it works better than any other treatment available.”

Jacobs and his colleagues at Oregon Health Sciences University have found that MSM relieves pain by working as an anti-inflammatory and it also softens scar tissues. But Jacobs says MSM is far more than a pain reliever. It promotes your body’s own natural healing power by dilating blood vessels and improving blood supply to injured areas. Plus, he says, it helps reduce muscle spasm.

Find relief with: Up to 8 grams a day in capsules or a powdered form, which is less expensive, but has a bitter taste and should be dissolved in juice or water. Jacob’s suggested dosage: Start with 2 grams a day (about half a teaspoon) and slowly work up to as much as 8 grams until you get relief. If you get diarrhea, go back a notch.

Capsaicin: Derived from hot chili peppers, this heat-producing compound is used in creams like Zostrix literally blocks the pain where you need it most. British research has shown capsaicin, when applied directly to the painful spot, depletes a neurotransmitter called substance P, literally stopping pain signals to your brain! And German scientists found that nearly two-thirds of long-time back pain sufferers reduced the pain by at least 30% in just three weeks by using capsaicin cream. You may feel a sensation of heat when you apply the cream, and that means it’s working, says Mark Blumenthal, executive director of the American Botanical Council in Austin, TX.

Find relief with: Creams containing .025% up to 1% capsaicin. Apply several times a day until the pain disappears.

Curcumin: Medicine Hunter Chris Kilham, who has conducted plant research in more than 20 countries, says curcumin “deserves superstar status” among healing plants. Research shows that curcumin reduced biological indicators of pain-causing inflammation by as much as 99%. Canadian research shows curcumin also prevents the breakdown of cartilage, the cushion between joints or vertebrae, preventing arthritis from developing or worsening.

Find relief with: 375-750 mg of a high quality curcumin extract. The most absorbent is the BCMN-95 formulation.

Ginger: An herbal powerhouse that contains no less than 477 active ingredients that inhibit prostaglandin production and bring a gentle internal warmth just where you need it. Take ½ tsp or 100 mg in capsules twice a day. Ginger tea is a delicious anti-inflammatory, too.

Holy basil: A cousin of our favorite kitchen spice, Michigan State researchers found it has at least six of the same compounds found in NSAIDS, including the powerful anti-inflammatory ursolic acid, without dangerous side effects. Take one or two 400 mg capsules a day.

Of course—Exercise, especially walking, is an excellent way to relieve back pain and re-align your spine, as are those wonderful inversion chairs.