Back pain is a common problem nowadays and one of the biggest reasons for absence from work. Surprisingly, it is responsible for more than 12 million days lost every year. While in some cases it isn't a serious problem and might just be caused by strained muscles or ligaments, in most cases, it is very uncomfortable and debilitating and can take a toll on life leading to loss of mobility and functional capacity. If you have a back that hurts too often, you are not alone. Lower back pain is one of the leading causes of disability and affects more than 540 million people worldwide. Also, it is estimated that there will be a significant number of cases of back pain. To be precise, upto 80% of American adults will experience back pain in their life.
In today's era, people live a sedentary lifestyle, and are used to sitting or lying down for prolonged periods. Sadly, it may cause a range of adverse health effects, including bad posture and poor back health. Furthermore, those who live a sedentary lifestyle (One-third of the global population aged 15 years and older engage in insufficient bouts of physical activity) have a higher chance of becoming obese which is also linked with lower back pain.
Right from over-the-counter muscle relaxants and pain relievers to the use of heat, massage etc, there are multiple forms of treatments available for gaining relief and treatment for low back pain.
When back pain makes carrying out daily tasks more challenging, people may switch to things like physiotherapy, acupuncture, injections like epidurals etc. In rare cases where the patient suffers from severe pain due to conditions such as lumbar herniated disk, a surgery may be recommended. On the other hand, some people feeling immobilized from back pain indulge in things like yoga, pilates, core strengthening exercises, low impact aerobics etc for finding relief from back pain. While there are many Non ayurvedic ways to cure back pain, one should always look for a promising treatment that focuses on the root cause of the back pain. It goes without saying that it is utmost important to keep one’s back healthy in order to keep moving and keep enjoying the daily activities of life. Keep reading to know about Ayurvedic treatment for back pain.
How does Ayurveda view back pain?
In Ayurveda, back pain is commonly known as Kati Shoola or Kati Graham. It is believed that it arises due to an imbalance of Vata Dosha or in other words the abnormality of Vata. Furthermore, the physical body is made up of various Dhatus or tissues such as Mamsa (muscle), Asti (bone) or Majja (bone marrow). The health of these dhatus is dependent on various things such as majja dhara kala (layers or membranes of our body) and the balance of the doshas. When the Vata dosha becomes imbalanced, these Dhatus or tissues including Mamsa (muscle), Asti (bone) or Majja (bone marrow) become stiff, hard, and rigid resulting in pain and discomfort in the lower back and also cause immobility.
Causes of Back Pain
According to the 2010 Global Burden of Disease Study, lower back pain is among the top 10 diseases in the world. It is not just painful but a major cause of work related disability and lack of mobility in everyday life. Let us now discuss why lower back happens.
Well, lower back pain in different individuals may develop due to different reasons. While strains and sprains or an injury to muscles or tendons in the back are one of the biggest causes of acute back pain, there are various other reasons too.
Below are the most common causes of back pain
- Muscle and ligament strains and sprains
- Damaged disc or herniated disc
- Medical conditions such as Arthritis, Spondylolisthesis and osteoporosis
- Injuries, fractures or falls
- Joint problems ( Certain joints play an important role in your back’s health)
- Previous occupation and degenerative disk disease
Structural problems
- An improper/poor posture such as a hunched sitting position for prolonged periods of time
- A sedentary lifestyle
- Poor physical fitness
- Older age
- Vigorous exercise and heavy lifting
- Obesity and excess weight
- Stress, anxiety, and mood disorders which is often overlooked
Furthermore, some daily activities or habits can also take a toll on your spine. Below are some examples
- Twisting the back for example right side bend when hitting a golf ball
- Over-stretching
- Wearing high heels
- Bending to the side, backwards or forward for long periods (as it puts the spine and back muscles in awkward postures)
- Sitting in one position during long drives
- Sleeping on a poor quality mattress that does not offer support to the spine while sleeping
- Lifting heavy objects
- Not taking enough calcium and Vitamin D in your daily diet
- Stretching the back too far such as when you get up from the desk after a long time
(image credit CGH earth ayurveda)
Ayurvedic treatment for back pain
Lower back pain is a cause of worry among people because it impacts mobility and affects our health significantly. Ayurveda has the perfect solution, Ayurvedic treatment for back pain in a natural and holistic manner before it becomes a serious medical condition. It addresses the root causes of pain and helps balance the aggravated Vata dosha which is the real cause of physical/bodily issues like back pain. Below are the therapies and Ayurvedic treatments for back pain.
Ayurvedic therapies
Ayurveda therapies like
- Pinda Sweda (Inducing sweat by heat application and medicated boluses)
- Dhanyamla Dhara (continuous pouring of a warm, fermented liquid that is made from medicinal herbs and cereals)
- Kati Basti (warm medicated oil is kept over the body with the help of a dough of black gram)
- Pizhichil (applying of warm medicated Ayurvedic oils over the whole body to induce profound perspiration and eliminate toxins from the body)
- Pichu (a layer of sterile cotton wool soaked with warm medicated oil is applied over the affected area, it's a palliative therapy)
can help address back pain in a natural and comprehensive manner. These specialized treatments or therapies are performed by an experienced Ayurvedic practitioner and depend on the cause, severity, nature and stage of the disease, Prakriti (patient’s bodily constitution) and the doshas. Due to this reason, Ayurvedic treatment for back pain is highly effective.
While all Ayurvedic therapies are meant to detoxify the body and balance the doshas, Patra Pinda sweda is an unparalleled therapy for balancing the Vata dosha. In this therapy, the leaves of medicinal plants having analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties are conscientiously used for fomentation (sweat inducing) of painful parts. This therapy is highly recommended for aching joints and muscles commonly associated with back pain.
Panchakarma
Sitting at a desk in the office or while working from home for 8-9 hours a day often leads to bad Posture. This further causes narrowing of the intervertebral joint space and results in an Imbalance of Vata. To address this imbalance of the Vata dosha, herbal medications are administered orally to the patient. Alongside this, detoxification procedures like Panchakarma are conducted to help restore the balance of the Vata dosha. Ayurvedic therapeutic enema or Basti, one of the Panchakarma therapies is considered the most promising treatment to balance Vata (the air factor). During this treatment, an enema comprising herbal preparations and medicines is administered through the anus. Once it gets absorbed in the intestine, it helps in correcting the Vata imbalance and also strengthens the bones and joints, thereby reducing back pain. It is pertinent to note that Panchakarma therapy gives good results along with ayurvedic medicines.
Abhyanga
Abhyanga is a very popular Ayurvedic treatment for back pain for treating lower back pain. It involves the massage of the entire body from the scalp to the feet using warm medicated oil to loosen the trapped ama or toxins and alleviate the aggravated vata dosha. Usually the practice of Abhyanga is recommended daily. It not only has nourishing benefits but helps provide significant relief from back pain by balancing the Vata dosha. When combined with massage strokes, it helps promote overall health and wellness.
Herbs
Ayurvedic herbs are made of plants and have great historical importance. They are effective in treating diseases and enhancing general health and well being. Herbs like Guggul, Nirgundi, Shallaki, and Ginger are quite beneficial Ayurvedic treatment for back pain and can significantly help in relieving the symptoms of back pain. If you have chronic back pain, start taking ginger in your daily diet.
Yoga
Yoga is a mind-body practise that's often recommended to enhance the positive impact on the body. It is considered an effective therapy to treat back pain and the stress that accompanies it. Practising yoga exercises like Pranayama along with Anulom Viloma for a few minutes a day can be beneficial for lower back pain.
Key takeaways
- Dealing with chronic back pain can be debilitating and uncomfortable. It can reduce movement, agility and flexibility and restrict daily life activities thereby impacting the quality of life.
- All back pain isn't the same. Back pain in different people may have different causes. While sitting for prolonged periods of time and living a sedentary lifestyle is one of the major causes of back pain, there are other reasons too. Some medical conditions such as Arthritis, Osteoporosis, and degenerated discs can also cause back pain.
- According to Ayurveda, back pain is considered to be the result of aggravated Vata dosha. Ayurveda therapies like kativasti, kaadidhara, local patra potala sweda aim at alleviating imbalanced body energies and bringing Vata dosha into balance hence recommended as Ayurvedic treatment for back pain.
- Treatment for back pain in Ayurveda is strictly based upon the predominance of the doshas and the underlying cause of back pain. Treatment approaches may include Panchakarma therapies like Abhyanga, Kati vasti, Kaadidhara, local patra potala sweda, internal medicines, external oil massages applications and diet and lifestyle modification.
- Abhyanga massage therapy is a quite popular Ayurvedic massage therapy to warm up muscles and loosen the trapped ama or toxins. Regular Abhyanga massages can help reduce inflammation associated with back pain and bring your body back to its original state of health.
Ayurvedic treatment for back pain requires an experienced Ayurvedic Doctor who has access to quality herbs, oil and concoctions and experienced massage therapists. Hence when booking an ayurvedic treatment for back pain look for expert advice and qualified professionals price should be kept as a secondary factor.
Frequently Asked Questions about Back Pain
What is the fastest way to get relief from back pain?
Back pain can be frustrating, draining and can cause severe discomfort impacting mobility and flexibility. Thus people suffering from back pain are always eager to find the fastest way to relieve the pain. Fortunately, there are many remedies to manage back pain. However, applying hot or cold compress can provide fast and immediate relief for most types of lower back pain. Apply heat and ice for not more than 15 to 20 minutes at a time and always take a 2-hour break in between the use of ice or heat to avoid damage to the skin and the nerves and frostbites. While back pain due to sprain or pulled back muscle may respond better to this therapy, back pain due to conditions such as degenerated discs, osteoporosis, arthritis, or other medical conditions generally requires elaborate diagnosis and treatment.
Is Ayurvedic treatment good for back pain?
According to Ayurveda, back pain is the result of vitiated Vata. Ayurvedic therapies like Panchakarma, Vasti, medications, herbal massages such as Abhyangam etc aim at removing the toxins from the body and balancing the aggravated Vata dosha in a natural and safe manner. Thus Ayurvedic treatment is very beneficial in offering much-needed relief from back pain. Additional benefits are that the medicine and herbs recommended by the Ayurvedic Doctor are not addictive.
Which ayurvedic oil is good for back pain?
Back pain is a really common problem such that most people may have more than one episode of back pain within a year. An effective remedy to ease back pain naturally is a hot oil massage. Some oils that can help alleviate back pain are Mahanarayan oil, Ashwagandha oil, Vata Samaan Thailam, Karpooradi oil, and Dhanwantharam oil. In Ayurveda, back pain is considered to be the result of aggravated Vata dosha. It is known that regular application of Ashwagandha oil can help reduce the Vata dosha and reduce muscle spasms. Besides helping reduce back pain, it also helps nourish the bones, muscles and tissues.
Which oil is best for lower back pain?
The lumbar spine, or the lower back, is a complex structure made up of vertebrae (bones), joints, ligaments and tendons, nerves, and muscles. It bears most of your body’s weight and helps provide support to the body helping it walk, move and remain flexible. However, owing to a complex structure, it is also more susceptible to injury and pain. Eucalyptus oil is widely known for offering relief from lower back pain due to its great medicinal properties and healing power. Add 15-20 drops of eucalyptus oil in warm bath water to effectively leverage its healing powers and benefits.
Is Ayurvedic massage good for back pain?
An Ayurvedic massage is extremely good for relaxation and helps provide relief from aches and pains. It involves the application of warm essential oils on the whole body or the affected area that hurts. Furthermore, the essential oils used in Ayurvedic massage are quite nourishing and detoxifying and aid in the elimination of the ama or the toxins. When excess doshas get eliminated that are the root cause of the back pain, the recipient gets relief and is also able to sleep better at night.
Which ayurvedic oil is best for muscle pain?
Mahanarayan Oil is a popular traditional oil that has long been used in Ayurvedic medicines to soothe sore muscles and joints. Made from a combination of sesame oil, camphor oil, and a variety of herbs such as Manjishtha, Ashwagandha etc, Mahanarayan oil has rejuvenating and analgesic properties and thus is ideal for muscle pain. When massaged directly on the affected area gently, it not only helps soothe sore muscles and tendons but helps detoxify the deep layers of the skin and muscles.
What drink helps back pain?
Ginger, a common and widely used spice, contains antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Also, green tea has anti-inflammatory properties and can help soothe pain. Due to this reason ginger-green tea is a good herbal drink for back pain since it combines the pain-relieving benefits of both green tea and ginger. Including this drink in your daily diet can help reduce overall inflammation associated with back pain.
What causes back pain in Ayurveda?
Ayurvedic experts believe that back pain is the result of imbalance or Vikrati of Vata Dosha which is one of the biological energies found throughout the human body and mind. When
Vata (composed of space and air) gets imbalanced, Dhatus or tissues such as Mamsa (muscle), Asti (bone) or Majja (bone marrow) become stiff, rigid and cause back pain.
How should I sleep with lower back pain?
Sleeping in an awkward position can not just cause back pain but can aggravate back pain. So it is important to sleep in a proper position to avoid hurting your back. If you are someone who is suffering from back pain, sleep on your side with a pillow between your knees that will keep your hips, pelvis, and spine in proper alignment. However, avoid sleeping on the same side every night as it may contribute to muscle imbalance and even scoliosis.
**The benefits of Ayurveda vary from person to person and the results may vary immensely based on the quality of the herbs, oil concoctions and medicines. BalanceBoat.com is not responsible or liable for the effectiveness and outcome of the Ayurvedic treatments. The information above is shareable purely for educational purpose it is not to be considered as a replacement for medical advice. Please always consult a certified specialist/Doctor before you embark upon a treatment.
