Enerchi Health - A Complete Guide to Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Back Pain- Examining The Approach That Works For You
By Marina John

It's back. Chronic sufferers of back pain know that this ailment is one of the most uncomfortable and limiting of health problems. A large percentage of Canada's population has suffered back pain at one time or another.

Just as back pains can include discomfort in the neck, shoulders, upper or lower back, many reasons are used to explain the reason for back pain. Arthritis, kidney problems, stress, inflammation and bad posture are really just a few of the reasons medical science uses to explain back pain.

In fact, it is the main cause of restricted activity among Canadians, according to the National Population Health Survey of 1996/97. One of the most common causes of missed workdays and bed rest, back pain is the leading cause of disability between the ages of 19 and 45 and around 3.5 million Canadians suffer from it. Most people treat back pain by popping large amounts of painkillers but there are complementary and alternative approaches to the allopathic or pharmaceutical route that are fast becoming a popular way of treating back pain.

Gentle on the Nerves- Chiropractics

One of the most popular alternative treatments for treating back pain is chiropractics. Chiropractors look to the spine and the nervous system when the body is in pain. The nervous system spreads throughout the body, and connects to the brain. Chiropractors work to restore motion to joints as well as improve the functioning of the nervous system.

Statistics Canada data found that over 11 percent (3 million) of Canadians consulted a chiropractor in 1996. The figures today are closer to 15 per cent or over 4 million Canadians annually as the practice grows ever more popular.

Dr. Michael Schmolke, a chiropractor at the Embody Chiropractic, Massage & Wellness Clinic, agrees that his branch of complementary & alternative medicine is more widely accepted and closer to the mainstream than others.

"Your body wants to be in balance, in its natural state," he says on pain. "If something is wrong, your body will start off with whispers, and then it starts screaming at you. My job is to find out what the cause is."

Dr. Schmolke suggests one exercise you can do at home that will improve posture and help to straighten the spine if done regularly. When sitting down, tilt your pelvis upward so that the curve of the lower back is lesser and you sit up straighter. This exercise will help to strengthen the muscles around the spine as well.

Meditate on the Matter

Because stress can be one of the triggers of back pain, meditation is one way of dealing with it. Meditation teaches one how to relax the muscles of the body as well as the mind, promotes peace of mind and proper posture.

"Pain is like an oil light going on in your car. It's saying- pay attention," says Ginger Cuness, a meditation instructor at the Canadian Meditation Institute, who turned to meditation as a way to deal with breast cancer.

Although a meditation instructor is irreplaceable, books and video tapes from your local lending library or bookstore can provide meditation exercises in the art of yoga and other relaxation techniques.

How about Homeopathy?

Rather less well known in Canada than it is in other countries, homeopathy is all the rage in other parts of the western hemisphere. One quarter of the French population use it, and a full one third of the population in England enjoy its effects.

"Homeopathy in Europe is way ahead of us," said Valerie Erickson, who runs a homeopathy clinic, Vital E-Force, out of her home. "It's considered an important part of any health program."

Homeopathy is complementary to allopathic medicine. A practice centuries old, is based on the principle that less is more and by isolating a particle of that which causes pain and diluting it to such a degree that the energy left by the particle is greater than its physical form healing will occur.

Erickson suggests homeopathic remedies such as Arnica, Berbarus, Bryonia or Rhus toxicodendron for back pain, depending on specific symptoms. A consultation with a homeopath to find a suitable remedy will naturally offer the best results.

To the point- Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture

Dr. Melonie Jensen, DTCM, R.Ac, a practitioner of traditional Chinese herbal medicine, treats back pain with acupuncture. According to Chinese medicine, the body is divided into 12 meridians which circulates the bodies vital energy (chi). This chi should always be moving. Whenever there is a disruption the flow of Chi, illness will result.

After an interview, pulse and tongue diagnosis, an acupuncturist will determine where the vital chi or life-force energy is blocked and insert acupuncture needles at different points along the affected meridians. Unblocking this chi will help relieve the pain. "Acupressure is an alternative for those who prefer a slightly less invasive procedure to acupuncture, with similar results" says Jensen.

The Moving Meditation- Tai Chi

Like Chinese medicine, Tai Chi is another approach that looks at the energy of the body while also encapsulating aspects of the physical body.

People who have limited movement may find Tai Chi helpful. The slow movements are gradual and calming, increasing elasticity of the body.

Watching Patti Trautman, the administrator of the Taoist Tai Chi Society, go through a simple beginner's sequence of movements, one is struck with the controlled elegance and strength of the movements. Tai Chi works to simultaneously relax and strengthen the body, often focusing on the microfibres that hold up the spine. The exercises teach students to align the pelvic girdle and the shoulder girdle.

"Tai Chi can be very effective therapy for back pain," says Trautman. "Tai Chi teaches posture, and posture improves back pain."

The Nature of Nutrition

Dr. Tasleem Kassam, BSc, N.D, takes a much more nutritional approach to back pain.

"Your digestive system is the cornerstone to being healthy," she says. She tries to emphasize the importance of a good, balanced diet.

The naturopath takes a broader approach to the problem of back pain than most practitioners of CAM. Naturopaths use hydrotherapy, herbs, homeopathy and acupuncture as some of the options to treat back pain.

"Back pain is caused by chronic stress," Dr. Kassam explains. "If your back muscles are inflamed, it helps to avoid pro-inflammatory foods like dairy and red meat. Epsom salt baths are also helpful."

Heaven Scent- Aromatherapy

If one prefers a gentler technique, Aromatherapy is often hailed as a stress reliever, among other things. Hundreds of essential oils can be combined in a number of varieties to be inhaled or applied to a part of the body that is in pain.

"If people have arthritic back pain, using anti-inflammatory essential oils like sweet marjoram or a full body aromatic massage can be helpful," says Jennifer Gerlitz, an aromatherapist. "Massage can be deeply relaxing and help to manage back pain."

The Inner You- Biofeedback

Bio-rhythm Feedback is another approach that is growing in popularity. This approach has the advantage of being able to track your bio-electrical activity and tell you exactly how your muscles are firing. Those who work in this field have discovered that muscles are the source of a lot of back pain.

When a muscle is overused, it grows strained and muscle trauma occurs. The surrounding muscles work harder than ever, and serious muscle damage can occur. In the case of the lower back, there is often an imbalance in the muscle structure, so that one side of the back is working too hard and the other side does not take up the slack.

This treatment for back pain helps to coax the weaker muscle to gently take up the slack by introducing tiny exercises that carefully target a specific muscle or set of muscles.

"Our goal is to eliminate pain, not to help you live with it," says Dr. Stuart Donaldson, Ph.D of Myosymmetries, and this is one technique that has been effective in eliminating back pain.

Conclusion

Just as there are different types of back pain, there are different solutions for dealing with the problem and sometimes you may have to experiment and try a few different approaches before you find one that works for you.