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What are the Best Backache Remedies?

Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum

Backaches are something that everyone deals with from time to time. At times the aching back is due to some sort of injury in an accident, while at other times the backache is due to straining the muscles while lifting something heavy. Fortunately, there are several ways you can deal with minor to a minor to moderate backache quickly and effectively.

When the backache is due to strain, your best bet is to soothe those injured muscles as quickly as possible. Begin the treatment by applying an ice pack to the area of the strain. This will help to ease the inflammation and help facilitate the healing process. Several hours later, you can begin to apply heat to the strain, using a heating pad.

An ice pack can help with a backache.
An ice pack can help with a backache.

Over the counter medications are common backache remedies that help many people with minor pain. Tablets or capsules formulated to ease the discomfort of back pain often work well overnight. In the interim, try applying a small amount of deep heating rub. These over the counter creams are sometimes marketed as muscle rubs as well as heating rubs. Be sure to follow the instructions found on the packaging and don’t exceed the recommended amount.

A massage may help ease the pain of a bachache.
A massage may help ease the pain of a bachache.

Don’t forget the possibility of using herbs to treat a backache. Time-honored backache cures of this type include rubbing the back with oil extracted from the garlic plant. This oil is prepared by pan frying ten or twelve cloves of garlic in a small amount of mustard oil. After the cloves are fried, remove them from the oil and allow it to cool. Gently rub the garlic oil into the muscles of the back and allow it to remain in place for two to three hours. This treatment can be repeated for several days if necessary.

Aromatherapy may be used in conjunction with other backache remedies to try to help individuals to relax.
Aromatherapy may be used in conjunction with other backache remedies to try to help individuals to relax.

Another home backache cure involves extracting the juice from a fresh lemon and adding a liberal amount of salt to the juice. As with the garlic oil, the combination is rubbed into the strained muscles of the back and allowed to remain in place for a couple of hours. As a bonus, the scent of the lemon may help to relax the mind, which in turn may aid in helping to relax the back muscles.

Mustard oil can be used to treat muscle pain by stimulating circulation.
Mustard oil can be used to treat muscle pain by stimulating circulation.

One common backache remedy that helps many people is therapeutic touch or massage. The process may be combined with aromatherapy in order to help relax the mind and all the muscle groups in the body. As tension releases, the strained muscles also relax and become more susceptible to the healing touch of the practitioner.

For advanced cases, seeing a healthcare professional is your best hope for taking care of the backache. A doctor can conduct an examination and run any tests needed to determine the origin of your pain and settle on the most effective treatment. Since the condition can be a symptom of a developing health issue, it is important to seek medical care if your backache does not respond well to home remedies or over the counter medications within a couple of days.

Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum

After many years in the teleconferencing industry, Michael decided to embrace his passion for trivia, research, and writing by becoming a full-time freelance writer. Since then, he has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including WiseGEEK, and his work has also appeared in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and several newspapers. Malcolm’s other interests include collecting vinyl records, minor league baseball, and cycling.

Learn more...
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum

After many years in the teleconferencing industry, Michael decided to embrace his passion for trivia, research, and writing by becoming a full-time freelance writer. Since then, he has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including WiseGEEK, and his work has also appeared in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and several newspapers. Malcolm’s other interests include collecting vinyl records, minor league baseball, and cycling.

Learn more...

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    • An ice pack can help with a backache.
      By: Kimberly Reinick
      An ice pack can help with a backache.
    • A massage may help ease the pain of a bachache.
      By: apops
      A massage may help ease the pain of a bachache.
    • Aromatherapy may be used in conjunction with other backache remedies to try to help individuals to relax.
      By: dolphfyn
      Aromatherapy may be used in conjunction with other backache remedies to try to help individuals to relax.
    • Mustard oil can be used to treat muscle pain by stimulating circulation.
      By: spline_x
      Mustard oil can be used to treat muscle pain by stimulating circulation.
    • An electric heating pad can be wrapped around an aching back to provide pain relief.
      By: nito
      An electric heating pad can be wrapped around an aching back to provide pain relief.