Courtesy of doctoroz.com
...you can fill in the blank...sitting too long, sleeping wrong, I once pinched a back nerve throwing a piece of paper in the trash can. There are so many reasons aches and pains.
The Dr. Oz Show had a great segment on natural cures for aches and pains. With all the issues of taking too much OTC pain relievers (acetaminophen, ibuprofen), kidney issues, hearing loss, ringing in the ears. For those who prefer video, the first five points are captured on video in two parts on the site:
Part 1 Part 2
1.
Vitamin B12: It helps with back pain. Taking it daily, helps thicken the coating around your nerves. Take 1-2 mg a day.
2.
Capsaicin: This is the substance in chili peppers that makes them spicy. It also comes in a cream. It blocks the nerve pain impulse. You can rub this on your back and neck muscles three times a day. A bonus use for this substance is it also comes in a nasal spray bottle and you can use it like nose spray to get rid of headaches.
3.
Boswellia Extract: It is an herbal extract that comes from a flower. It is also called "Indian Frankincense". It reduces joint pain because it minimizes cartilage damage. 300 mg a day is ideal. The concentration should be at least 40% concentration to work on the pain and increase mobility. You should be able to find this at a health food store.
4.
Powdered Ginger: Many people already have this in their cupboard. You can mix it with hot water or lemonade. It reduces inflammation at the joint site. 1/2 teaspoon a couple times of day. Or, if you want to use capsules1-4 grams a day.
5.
Arnica: Good for intense pain. It comes in a gel and made from a flower. It can be found in health food stores. Good for stiffness and sore muscles. Also reported to be helpful with arthritis. Use three times a day and make sure you don't put it on broken skin.
The next two are actual motions or movements. At the risk of being unclear I am going to take the verbage directly from the
article.
6. "
Full-Body Pain Preventer: Pelvic Power Tilt
This simple move stops pain before it starts, by taking a whole-body approach. When one part of your body hurts, the rest of it compensates by taking on additional muscular stress and strain, leading to even more pain and creating a vicious cycle. The pelvic power tilt stabilizes and strengthens your whole body by targeting your core.
Simply lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Pull your belly button in toward your spine and hollow it out. Then lift your pelvis slightly off the floor – only an inch – then slowly lower back down, repeating 20 times.
This easy move can be done anytime, anywhere around the house. Do it 2 to 3 times a week to protect your entire body from pain." Video of technique can be found
here.
7. "Pain Reset: Positional Release Therapy
Before you endure another day with spasms or sore muscles, shut down your pain in 90 seconds or less with positional release therapy.
This technique is strong enough to get rid of your pain, but gentle enough to be used in any age group, and only needs to be done once a week. It’s a low-risk way to reset the body by positioning the body in a
strain-counter strain method, alleviating any type of pain from your neck, elbow, leg,
arthritis pain, or even menstrual cramps.
Find the tender point that hurts the most. Then, take a pencil and use the eraser end to press down on the tender point for about 90 seconds. As you press down, rotate the eraser to work out the
muscle while simultaneously relaxing the area by taking deep breaths.
Positional release therapy breaks the pattern of pain in the muscle, melting away tightness. When you hold the eraser down on the spot, it signals your nerves to relax that spasm of pain, providing the instant relief your body needs." Video of this technique can be found
here.
The article goes on to say that through yoga practice and core strengthening exercises (Pilates, anyone?), you can help prevent many aches and pains.
