LUMBAGO - Home Remedies

LUMBAGO - Home Remedies

"Lumbago" is a  dull pain caused by a severe and prolonged spasm of the muscles in the lower back, usually caused by fibrositis. It is always associated with muscle pain and tenderness and is also seen in conditions like arthritis or osteoporosis. The onset is very sudden and acute. It usually occurs in old age and is found more in males than in females. The factors that lead to lumbago are having a poor posture, wearing high-heeled shoes, muscle strain from lifting, being overweight, lack of exercise, dietary deficiencies, soft beds and genetic predisposition. 

SOME EXERCISES
General back massage, concentrating especially on either side of the vertebrae on the lower back and the buttock muscles, helps reduce muscle tension and pain and restore the lost mobility. Use stroking movements upward and downward and also small circular movements to help relieve the stress points.Lumbar stretch exercises, some abdominal exercises (like sit-ups) and swimming help in relieving the pain to some extent. Also maintaining a good posture when sitting, standing or sleeping is very important. Avoid slouching, slumping or leaning forward. Stretching your extremities, neck and back in the morning will help you become a lot more mobile and thus help in preventing the pain.Wearing good, comfortable shoes are very important. Avoid using high-heeled shoes.
For overweight people, losing weight is one of the most important steps towards getting relief in the pain.Hot and cold fomentation taken alternately or as comfortable to the patient will help in reducing the pain to some extent.

HOME REMEDIES
1. Sour and fried things and pulses are strictly prohibited in this condition. Wheat, bajra and jawar are better than rice. Avoid taking spicy, oily or fried food; curd; sweetmeats and sugar; pulses; tea and coffee; smoking  or taking tobacco and alcohol. 

2. The patient should take a lot of fruits and fresh raw vegetables and salads. Drink a glass of fresh potato juice mixed with  juice of beet, carrot  orcelery leaves (ajwan-ka-patta). An application of raw potato in the form of a poultice has also been found very effective in this condition. Vitamin C and B complex and Calcium are some of the important supplements to be given to the patient after consultation with a doctor.

3. Fry ten cloves of garlic in 60 ml of oil and then rub it on the back, which will help relieve the pain. Eating three cloves every morning also helps to reduce the pain.

4. The juice of one lemon mixed with common salt and honey is taken twice daily to reduce the backache.

5. A mixture of equal parts of powdered black pepper, ghee and juice of holy basil (tulsi) is given.

6. Powdered ginger is lightly fried with ghee and then garlic is mixed into it and given.