Effective Ayurvedic Remedies for Back Pain

Back pain is a common problem nowadays, causing discomfort in many areas of the back, including the lower back. Ayurveda connects back pain to the nature and degree of the pain, as well as the dosha; it is most commonly associated with Vata. In Ayurveda, back pain is referred to as Kateegraham and is caused by an increase in Vata Dosha and poor digestion. An unsettled digestive system promotes the accumulation of toxins, which combine with Vata Dosha and accumulate in the body's restricted pathways, resulting in the beginning of back discomfort. There are several Ayurvedic treatments for back pain. Let’s check out the treatments.

Treat Your Lower Back Pain With Ayurveda

In the hustle and bustle of modern times, strained muscles, poor posture, and inflammation of pelvic joints can lead to intense lower back discomfort, resulting in the worsening of Vata.

Within Ayurveda, addressing back, lower back, spinal, and neck pains depends upon the individual's doshas, physique, type and intensity of pain, medical background, and underlying causes. A thorough physical evaluation conducted by the practitioner precedes any definitive course of action.

The majority of lower back problems are linked to increased Vata, bone and muscle frailty (Asthi Dhatu Kshaya or Mamsa Dhatu Kshaya), and disharmony in life. A variety of Ayurvedic therapies and solutions exist for managing lower back pain. Among these, the Kativasthi treatment stands out as a top Ayurvedic remedy.

Causes of Back Pain

Pain in the back often occurs without a specific cause. Commonly related conditions include:

Muscle or Ligament Strain: These strain the back muscles and spinal ligaments that can make your back ache while lifting repeatedly or suddenly moving heavy objects.

Bulging or Ruptured Discs: Discs, which are cushioned between the vertebrae of the spine, are pads that serve as an efficient shock absorber. Often, the soft tissue of the disc might hang out or burst, compressing a nerve. Therefore, it can cause pain which is experienced as a sharp or radiating sensation.

Spinal Degeneration: Not only does disc erosion increase the pressure on neighboring discs but it's also caused the spinal canal narrowing. Back stiffness or pain affecting patients with spinal degeneration may occur right after staying in the standing position for prolonged periods as well during walking.

Arthritis: One of the possible implications of Osteoarthritis is the lower backbone. Sometimes spinal joint osteoarthritis affects spinal cord space, which is also called spinal stenosis.

Skeletal Abnormalities: Lower back pain arises due to spinal misalignment (abnormal curvatures).

Fibromyalgia: It refers to a case of chronic disease with symptoms which include intensive musculoskeletal pain, exhaustion and most of the sensory spots, especially in the region of the neck, back, shoulders, and hips.

Spondylitis: This condition seems to be caused by either a spinal infection or inflammation of the spinal joints, both of which can result in severe back pain.

Lower back pain symptoms

Symptoms of lower back pain can come gradually or abruptly. Sometimes you will feel pain when bending to lift something.

The nature of the pain can vary, encompassing sensations of dullness, sharpness, or aching, potentially radiating to the buttocks. During specific activities, you may even perceive a 'pop' sensation when exerting strain on your back.

Additional signs of lower back pain encompass

Rigidity: Challenges in movement or straightening your back, accompanied by a restricted range of motion.

Muscle Spasms: Inevitably, the muscles of the lower back beginning with their contraction or spasms happen directly after the strain is sustained, that is, with a very intense pain, which makes it impossible for the person to do their activities of daily living, including standing, walking.

Postural Issues: Individuals who have lower back pain might face considerable difficulty in keeping the body straight in the erect position and might feel pain here when doing so.

Ayurvedic Treatment for Back Pain

The Ayurvedic approach regarding back pain management uses a multi-faceted approach to evaluate people fully. It not only suggests a change of diet, an adopted lifestyle, and the use of natural treatments but also helps to ease back pain. Ayurvedic treatments for back pain include the following techniques:

Vasthi: The administration of specified oils or infusions via the anorectal passage targets the affected region, as the colon is deemed the locus of Vata. Enema usage aids in rectifying Vata imbalance, and fortifying bones and joints to alleviate back pain.

Abhyanga: A soothing massage using warm medicated oil across the body. This practice serves as a fundamental element in Ayurvedic back pain therapy, harmonizing the doshas and potentially mitigating back pain.

Agnikarma:  Agnikarma entails heating specific areas with an Agnikarma Shalaka instrument to alleviate pain. Through this Ayurvedic treatment, a person can receive quick and lasting pain relief from back pain, reducing their suffering notably.

Furthermore, there are traditional treatments like Drupda, Sodhana, Dhanyamla dhara, Snehapana, Vamana, Podikizhi, Elakizhi, Pizhichil, Vasti, Navarakizhi, Kati vasti, Pichu and more are administered based on the severity and characteristics of the back pain.

Ayurvedic Herbs for Back Pain

Shallaki (boswellia serrata): This plant is very useful as it is famous due to its power in muscle pain relief it also does the same thing for joint discomfort and it may prevent joint inflammation.

Ginger (Zingiber Officinalis): Ginger possesses two major bioactive components- zingerone and gingerol that both are anti-inflammatory in their properties and give a reduction of pain magnitude.

Guggulu (Commiphora Mukul): It is an Anti-inflammatory entity which brings about relief of stress in muscles, joints and tissues.

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera): It contains Anti-Arthritis properties making the herb successful in pain-relieving by providing calm to the nervous system.

Eating Habits and Diet Practices

Many of us suffer from back pain as our daily behaviour styles can hardly help us to do better with our diet and lifestyle. While having back pain, you can make improvements in your way of eating and learn specific nutritious patterns of diet.

• Consume meals at regular intervals.
• Choose warm and hearty servings of food.
• Avoid consuming greasy and spicy foods.
• Do not forget to reduce the amount of greasy and spicy dishes.
• Steer clear of carbonated beverages as well as any processed fare and frozen desserts.
• Try not to eat a lot after the evening, as it is not good for digestion.

Conclusion

In summary, Ayurveda presents numerous effective solutions for reducing back pain, utilizing comprehensive approaches that tackle the fundamental origins of discomfort. Ayurvedic practices, which include herbal massages, therapeutic oils, yoga techniques and nutritional adjustments, may provide a means of recreating a stable condition in people whether it is in their body or their mind, thus providing a good solution for people who have a recurrent back pain problem. Kerala is one of the perfect places for ayurvedic treatments. But there are so many hospitals. So do some good research for the best Ayurvedic hospital in Kerala and choose the right team for your treatment.