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Homeopathy
Arm yourself with Arnica. For people who've experienced back injuries,
Arnica is among the most effective homeopathic medicines, says homeopath
Dana Ullman. He suggests using Arnica orally and topically, in pellet and
ointment forms, according to the package directions. He may also recommend
oral doses of Hypericum, Rhus toxicodendron, or Bryonia, depending on a
person's individual symptoms. To find out which homeopathic medicines will
work best for you, consult a homeopath.
Chinese Medicine
Zero in on the source. Practitioners of Chinese medicine attribute back pain
to one ofthree causes: overuse; invasion of Wind, Cold, or Damp; or weakness
in the Kidney organ network, which governs the bones. For overuse, Efrem
Korngold, O.M.D., L.Ac., prescribes strengthening herbs such as astragalus.
To expel Wind, Cold, or Damp, he recommends Chinese herbs such as Angelica
pubescens, clematis root, gentian root, chaenomeles fruit, and cinnamon
twig. To support the Kidneys, he suggests the herbs dry ginger, eucommia,
dipsacus, and drynaria.
Let your fingers do the working. So many studies have proved acupuncture to
be an effective treatment for lower-back pain that it has won the
endorsement of both the World Health Organization and the National
Institutes of Health. Of course, acupuncture must be administered by a
professional. If you prefer a self-care approach, try acupressure. Apply
steady, penetrating finger pressure to each of the following points for 3
minutes.
Kidney 7, located on your inner leg, two thumb-widths above your anklebone
Bladder 40, located at the back of your knee, in the hollow of your knee
crease
Bladder 60, located on the outside of your leg, in the hollow between your
anklebone and Achilles tendon
Medical Measures
Only 1 percent of people who have back pain require surgery, Dr. Shiple
says. If your doctor recommends surgery, don't rush into it. Get opinions
from several back-care specialists before making your decision. Back surgery
is traumatic and requires an extended recovery period. It works best for
people who have clear symptoms of nerve damage-primarily numbness, tingling,
or weakness on one side of the body. It doesn't do much for anyone else.
Red Flags
Consult your doctor if you experience persistent pain or pain that becomes
more severe over the course of a week or two, despite home care. You may
have an underlying health problem that's making your back hurt.
The following also warrant immediate medical attention.
Back pain that's accompanied by fever, leg weakness, bladder or bowel
problems, abdominal pain, or unexplained weight loss
Back pain that develops after abdominal surgery
Unrelenting back pain that interferes with sleep
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