Top Natural Back Pain Remedies for Holistic Relief

Hi all I have previously posted my recipe for homemade Vicks of course inspired by EC, I was in a rush because the kids were sick and I didn't want to use the petrol on my babies (again).. to Olive oil I added Shea butter, and whatever essential oils I had that were antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal etc. So I added eucalyptus, clove, peppermint, lemon, tea tree. This worked well. Then my order of oregano oil came in and my Brew was required by family member, so that got added.

Well just had my brother in law over who would complain of back pain constantly, he was given a heat pack but of course it keeps slipping. So I thought I've read on ec (ty) where people made a hot 'pack' by adding cayenne pepper to lotions applied to skin so of course that was the new addition to my ever changing/improving Brew. His wife applied the mix and sometime later I asked how is your back pain to which he had none. None. Bless all Ec'ers on all your journeys.

Thanks Michael,

I will look into this wearable foam thing. Intriguing. I did buy an ice pack you can attach to your back. Wonderful if I am having lower back pain. My son isn't around to use it much.

~Mama to Many~

Hi M to M,

You mention a chiropractor in your posting, in which you detail your son's lower-back pain.

Ask her if wearing a foam, lower back support during the sleeping hours would assist the alleviation of his problem.

If so, then I am surprized that they did not mention it before!! ?? Wink, wink, nod, nod, say no more!?

A guy I know wears one and would not be without it, as it seems to help him no matter which mattress he sleeps on. This piece of foam is contained in a stocking/mutton cloth with a "tie-on" tail at each end and the foam part conforms roughly to the shape of the area in question. It is just under one inch thick, twenty inches long and about four inches wide from memory. I am old enough to recall the old imperial measurements!!

In the meantime, he could experiment with a (slender), rolled up, long towel laid crosswise over the bed. Too thick and he will be worse off than before of course!! Sure, it moves around a bit but one might get used to it after a while.

This guy says his back can be very stiff in the morning if he forgets to use it.

You could give him your world famous Tendonitis Treatment as an extra precaution of course, as he may have twisted something without realizing it?! More ACV??

Cheers, Michael

My 19 year old son was having lower back pain. He does lawncare and other jobs that are pretty physical. He uses his back a lot. He didn't really remember hurting it.

I made an appointment for him with my chiropractor.

Meanwhile, one night his room was really hot so he slept in the guest room. The next day his back wasn't hurting like usual. The mattress he had was on the newer side and the guest room mattress was an older one (thought probably expensive) that had been my dad's. We switched mattresses. His back pain continued to be much less.

I took him to my chiropractor anyway. She says he has some mild scoliosis.

So, I think the work he does and his scoliosis contribute to his back pain risk and a bed that didn't work for him made it all much worse.

Just changing the bed made a huge difference.

I once slept on a bad mattress for a week on vacation and had significant hip pain for a year.

So, the moral of the story is, if you have back pain, consider your bed!

~Mama to Many~

ORH. Thank You!

Ken and I are discussing this now. Common sense prevails where doctors leave off. Laura is locked into her doctor by insurance. So anything we can do to further her progress is what I am committed to.

Looking at it as an investment in our future. Health wise we are not getting younger.

Your insight is invaluable. Thanks again. Janet

JANET,,,,,,,,,,, the guy who wrote the book, PEMF, is a a Ga Tech guy, so we have things in common. He was just about 30 years behind me. He's a Redneck like me, so you can understand his book. I do think you should read his book before you buy and also research reviews. Reviews usually tell me more than an article because either you are happy or have the ass and both express it in terms that all can relate to.

As I do the shotgun approach, I never know which is doing the solving. I will tell you this. Today, I got my second ozone and blood platelet shot from the integrative doctor down in Ringgold, Ga. He uses a PEMF system to address various ails of his patients. He is no dummy.

We are not wealthy, but spend money on health toys instead of driving two new vehicles full time. My truck is 19 years old and hopefully it will get me out.

As far as results are concerned, my constant back pain is gone. If I spend 3 hours on a hoe, then it is back as it was when a youngster. I cured my poison ivy in two days instead of two weeks. My wife is sleeping better. Oh yeah, the PEMF devices do address bone healing, for certain.

Our system did not cost $9000 but $6000. I did not bust my fanny to leave money to the kids. I got them educated and they can save like we did.

Out of spit and wish you well. ====ORH===

ORH I am looking at the possibility of buying the PEMF system. I have not read Body Electric yet. You mention a book you are reading. If you mentioned the title I may have overlooked it. From $70 to $9000. I am having trouble even understanding the essential difference.
Our daughters ankle injury is my focus. Her Dr. refers to is as a highly unusual break. He feels that she has healed as much as she can. I know we can break some boundries he is not even contemplating. Since the night of her accident the most he has had to offer is predicting arthritis. Then announcing he had predicted the arthritis and confirming he is correct that she has arthritis.

We have brought her beyond his expectations yet I feel we can go further. Fighting the mycoplasma infection that Ted considers the cause of the cartilage breakdown in arthritis. I cannot think of anyway to afford a $9000 device, not saying it would be possibly worth it.

I am hoping you can provide some more information from your experience.

I honestly do not even know how to formulate the correct question. Thank you in advance for any thoughts you may have. Janet

HI U OLE PATOOTS DOIN,,,,,,, using our PEMF system today to address my low back pain, lymphodema, and poison ivy. When I address a new ail, I call the guy who wrote the book and he counsels me on the proper way to used the system. I am also reading his book and it explains things that were heretofore unknown to me. I knew about the instances but did not know why. For instance, people have come up behind you with out a sound, yet you turned and they were there. How did you know? Well the book explains that most folks put out an electro-magnetic field that extends 15'. When their field came, you sensed that force and turned. I got a gut feeling that also happens to long time married folks when you know what they are going to say before they say it. They now can interpret your brain field before you can say what you are thinking. We have been married almost 57 years and we hang out together full time. It is dang near spooky. I now have no secrets.

I am learning but can understand how a PEMF device can sooth a back pain, but to dry up poison ivy on my face is beyond my comprehension. It is doing just that. It has also stopped the itch. This in not just a few blisters, this is a thick case that must have happened when I wiped the sweat off my face at the farm and had the ivy compound on my glove.

Our system has a mat, a pillow and a probe. I use the probe for the ivy.

My Tractor Driver is using this system to address here insomnia along with the IASIS treatments from our Integrative doctor in Ringgold, Ga. Something is working because she sleeping through the night. Hope this ditty gets you to thinking because some folks can read your mind and now you have no secrets and maybe in deep trouble. You got to start behaving.

ATS======ORH======

Is it the earthpulse? I have one and it definitely helps with sleep issues.

Well now ORH I will have to contest that final assertion of yours. Bold Claim that one! My son launched his flash second-hand "mega kayak" (too heavy to lug very far! ) for just the second time, day before yesterday. Normally an accomplished fisherperson, he was more hopping mad than I can recall seeing him the first trip out, when a single, good-sized fish slipped from his slippery grasp! This time we launched him into the briny, when a whole school of good-sized trevally leapt out of the water as if signalling a good omen. We are heavily back into omens at the moment. Probably a kingfish or a bronze whaler shark chasing them I suppose. Always worry when they paddle off into the sunset, even though they are thirty seven, especially when the last glimpse you get of them from my high vantage point was of him paddling amidst a hostile foaming reef!! Next thing you know he has returned with four very nice snapper for dinner. Took a while to prepare by moonlight (and one of those nifty head lamps). Much time spent slapping mosquitoes and exchanging tall tales! We don't waste much, as we turn the trimmings into a good, sustaining fish and onion soup. Any small bits deemed non-edible go into my small, prime vegetable patch as part of the good cycle of sustaining life. Nowt like fresh snapper though! Cannot afford to buy it any more, as prices are silly these days. Thanks son-drop by any time! Does he come to see his ole pa or cos of the good fishing? I am too old to lug his kayak. Sad really. Gotta look after what little back I have left. The fish are quite safe from me for the most part!!

Cheers, M

HI U OLE PATOOTS DOIN,,,,,,,, well, I got my new health toy today and it is a hi dollar PEMF system. Went the best way and that is the absolute top of the line system. Over my lifetime I have learned to buy the very best. I bought it to address my sleep, relaxation and back pain. Will post of my experience as I learn. I also post to get folks to start researching this system and what it can do for their health. It uses the natural magnetic frequencies of the earth.

Oh yeah, in addition to all the muscadines, blue berries and blackberries, we also planted a float of lettuce and spinach last Sat. Today, I bought a sack of range cubes to sink in the lake to attract minnows, which will then bring in Crappie. I cheats as all know. No better fish to eat than Crappie.

Trying to live off what God offers.

======ORH=======

Natural remedy for disc and spine problems: St Johns Wort tincture, applied directly to the spine and taken internally, is one of the late Rev. Hanna Kroeger's cures that works well.

Hi Susan, good post! I have chronic pain from fibromyalgia as well, and use Serrapeptase. I will NEVER be without that. No more writhing in pain all night. It had hurt just to move, let alone turn over, or try and get out of bed! I can walk upright again. It literally gave me my life back. Works right away. I also take MSM.

Rsw, what you did was made your own TEETER HANGUP, to relieve the back of the daily compression you get from ordinary life. They claim it gives relief and your relief is their confirmation that it works. I wanted one but my place is so tiny.....maybe I can make a subsitute like you did!?

I use DMSO for back pain or if I get pains from working out and it works great. I also used it in a spray bottle with coconut oil to get rid of an abscess and both every time I use it, it's worked great. I have been using a mix of 50-50 ratio. After a bit of research, maybe this is too strong? The only things I don't like about using this product is, it makes my breath smell garlicky or toxic my partner would say and my skin on my lower legs gets really dry, does this happen to anyone else?

Just yesterday, there was an article in the Norfolk, Va newspaper about a major hospital using copper in their sheets and bedrails in some of their units to study the effects of lowering infections such as mrsa - before the results are completely studied, they reported a reduction in the infections.

Well here is another tale from"Down Under"! Don't you just love them?!

On the thorny subject of "Bad Back Syndrome" the following could be a cautionary tale we could all learn from (although parts of this might be a tad dated by now). A fellow goes into his favourite Bone Cruncher with pain in his right, lower back, buttock, thigh and right knee. In those days it was considered smart to apply ultra-sound and heat; in his case he had done so for three weeks prior to entering the House of Pain. All to no avail. He could not bend backwards and didn't enjoy standing tall. He made the mistake of lying face down on a table with its top end raised up when he really "should" have laid face down on the flat table on the other side of the room. Adopting the "U" shaped posture might be considered a good Yoga position to-day but back in those dim, dark days it was frowned upon by the Bone Crunchers' Institute. Well, far from passing out, after five minutes, he claimed that he had never felt better! His pain had shifted but he felt better.

If your pain moves to the centre line after treatment, then that is considered to be a positive signal that you could benefit from more treatment. A chance discovery that apparently revolutionized such treatment. And yes, a New Zealander pioneered it - a certain Robin McKenzie! Discovery by fortunate chance!

Caution : this treatment would not be appropriate for all back conditions (obviously). Get good, qualified advice whenever you have a serious back problem.

HI U JANET,,,,,,,,,,,,, thank you for your input. As you know I's getting lots of suggestions and can only do so much. I will add your post to my file and get to it when others fail.

What is messing up my mind is that sitting cures my pain. Standing or sleeping causes my pain to come back. Need a really smart dude to figure this one out. It seems to be a structural thing.

The spine doctors have no clue, except shots.

=====ORH============

Robert Henry. I was thinking about your condition. We cured my husbands spinal stenosis. His c7 c6 discs were blown.

Instead of surgery we went through each of Ted's remedies 1 by 1.

1 whole lime squeezed 1/2 tsp bakiing soda 2x a day 1/2 hour after food. We have done the Apple Cider Vinegar too. My favorite adds 1/4 tsp potassium bicarbonate to the lime remedy.

2nd and probably the most important was the lysine remedy. Ken is a big guy so our lysine remedy is 1000mg of lysine powder in a glass. 500 mg of vit c as sodium ascorbate or vit c a pinch of baking soda. 5 drops of methylene blue. I make it all in a 10 oz water bottle, mark 4 sections pour out the first one into a glass. Adding 1000mg of l threonine and 1/4 tsp of humic acid mix to the first dose. Then he takes the 3 remaining doses hourly. This we did for two full weeks as the nerve path can have a virus alongside the injury.

Humic acid 2 tsp 1/2 tsp sea salt 1 and 1/2 cups of distilled water for this and one other remedy making. Blend or leave overnight on the counter.

Hyaluronic acid 20 capsules opened in blender. Add 1/2 tsp sea salt 10 oz distilled water blend. Take 2 tbsp 3x a day.

For further pain relief what we affectionately call lick the mower. But is so effective for pain. This is Tony Pantellarescos controversial dose. 1 1/2 tsp of liquid chlorophyll 1/2 tsp of trisodium phosphate tsp. 1 liter of water. Shake, take 1 oz as often as needed. Tony uses distilled waterr.

Our topical remedy every day during the healing. A thin layer of dmso add magnesium oil then hyaluronic acid mix. 2x a day if we can on Ken's spine and hips.

He saw a Palmer school chiropractor.

He now has little to no problems. Ken works 7 days a week 12 hour a day. Hard physical work on cement. He has thrown it out 1 or 2 times but the chiro puts it back and he is good.

I have found as we have become immersed in alternative medicine we forget the basics. You know all of this like the back of your hand. Thought a review might help. Janet

Finished the bottle of Canabis oil that Rsw and Timh recommended. Might have helped, but did not leave me pain free. Canceled my next ozone shots as they do not appear to be helping. My next issue is to change up my bed. I will put plywood on my mattress and a 1 1/2" memory foam over that.

Went to the farm today and planted part of our fall garden. I worked until I could not stand the back pain and then sat down for about 10 minutes and was good to go. That procedure is a mystery to me. If we have someone on EC that can explain this to me I will dance at their next wedding. It has to be a lumbar thing from my crushed T 12.

Taking our Rat Terrier pup to the farm and she is in P pore condition. Soon her tongue is as long as her ears trying to keep cool. Once back home she sacks out for the rest of the day. She is a hunting dog, but our daughter in law kept her for over a month and turned her into an A/C lap dog. Dogs need to be treated as dogs.

Head back to the farm tomorrow to finish planting our fall garden. Wish we could share our figs, apples, pears and muscadines with all you city slickers. Fall tomatoes are starting to ripen. Old tomatoes vines are dying. If you read what is going on down in Venezuela, then you will figure out how to grow a garden regardless of where you live. Freeze dryer to be delivered Monday. This device will allow us to keep fruit, meat, and veggies for 25 years. Life is fixing to get about as interesting as we can stand.

BE PREPARED ==========ORH================

HI U KEIKO,,,,,,,,,,, Thanks, copied your post and will research. Back is improving as I said. Problem with my shot gun address is that you got to guess as to what has helped.

Saw my Pharmacist friend after church and she told me that a worm pill that once sold for $ 5/ pill was taken off the market. It is back and now sells for $700/ pill. These folks need to attend church with me and read Revelations Chapter 16.

ATS ======ORH===========

ORH,

I have been reading your posts for many years and enjoy your sense of humor and fond way of teaching on earthclinic. I have gone through many health issues too, and this site has been a blessing in my recovery and I presume many others too. Thank you earthclinic team.

Sorry to hear you are in much pain! Have you tried craniosacrial balancing? If you are not familiar it's an energetic form of clearing and healing the body. There's a book Wisdom in the Body by Michael Kern which describes the method of craniosacrial approach. I'm not a doctor, however, I can confidently say this approach has helped me clear two epidural spots in my back after having two c-sections (fifteen years later). This method worked while in massage therapy classes. If you are interested, try to find a specialist who is certified by the Upledger Institute. Or, a body worker who is familiar with this approach. It may take a series of sessions to release your back. As always check with a medical doctor too.

Also to ease your pain organic or wild crafted St. John's wort with frankincense - boswellia carterii and German chamomile- matricaria recutita ( 1 ounce, 5 drops frankincense 4 drops g. Chamomile (from Nepal)) . When purchasing essential oils I suggest only buy oils which have been gc/ms tested.

This is my two cents worth for the day!!

Many blessings to you and your tractor driver!!

What a lucky break, ORH! Hopefully the healing will continue well now that the "blockage" is gone!

Age is in one's attitude, so going by that, yo still one mean whippersnapper!

The persistence blurb is from Calvin Coolidge, says the Google maven!

HI U OLE PATOOTS DOIN,,,,,,,,,, me, I'm a little better and don't know why. This will be one of my sagas so get in a comfortable position. All know I fell in Feb '14 and crushed my T 12 Vertebrae. From there it has been about as exciting as I can stand. I have been to Spine MD's, Chiropractors, taken Ozone shots, lots of DMSO w/ liniment. Now taking Hemp oil as recommended by Rsw and Timh here on EC. My latest toy is a spine decompression machine. I spent several sessions on it to no avail. Finally, I asked my Tractor Driver to run our hi-dollar vibrator on low down my back while on this machine. All of a sudden I heard and felt a loud pop. Scared my mule and told her to stop.

The next morning my feet and legs no longer looked like they belonged to an elephant. Wow, what is going on? My back pain is still there, but less, and moved up my spine from my L 5. I knew that our lymph system going down each leg come out at our T 12 Veb, and figured that it was restricted and that is the reason I can't get my feet and legs to normal size. Am I making progress? Yep, but not enough to get out of pain. The procedure I did broke some hung up vertebrae loose. I've had numerous MRI's so why did not my doctors see my problem? What I've learned at 79 is that no doctor is as interested in your health as you. Also, no Finance guy is as interested in your wealth as you. After a lifetime, I learned to look after my own health and my own money.

The only time I have ever heard the term FOUR SCORE is in Lincoln's Gettysburg address. Well in a few months, that is how old I will be. Was hoping to go out without a lot of pain and suffering but guess us old folks just have to grin a bear it. If you follow my diatribes then you know that I fought cancer to a stand still after 5 years and will whip this problem also. Persistence will solve all of mankind's problems. Guess what US President said that? Not going to tell you.......... LOOK IT UP.

LOVE YOU ALL ===========ORH=============

Turmeric for back and joint pain - No side effects and works well for relief. I take 1 tsp of turmeric powder mixed in a warm glass of water (just a few ounces so I can swig it fairly quickly). Usually the pain is minimal or non-existent within a half hour. I used to take hydrocodone regularly as my back pain was constant and severe (my entire family has a history of bad backs). I have not taken hydrocodone for over 2 years now.

What kind of vitamin C are you using?

List of possible 'Bad Back' Remedies I have looked at over time.

• Acupuncture
• Agave
• Alexander Technique
• Alfalfa
• Alkalize regime
• Aloe Vera
• Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)
• Apple Pectin
• Arnica
• Astaxanthin
• Avocado
• Bicarbonate of Soda
• Black Currant
• Black Pepper
• Borax
• Borage Oil
• Boron
• Boswella Carterii
• Bowen Therapy
• Bread elimination
• Bromelain / Pineapple
• Cabbage and Cabbage Juice
• Cardamom
• Castor Oil (externally)
• Cayenne pepper
• Celery Juice
• Chanca Piedra
• Cherry Juice
• Chinese Parsley
• Chlorophyll (concentrated)
• Chondroitin
• Cinnamon (Sri Lankan)
• Cissus
• Cloves
• Coconut Oil
• Cod Liver Oil
• Cold packs
• Cold showers
• Collagen Type 2 (Chicken Cartilage)
• Colloidal Silver
• Curcumin
• Dairy Elimination
• Devil's Claw
• DMSO
• Emu Oil
• Epsom Salts Bath (15 mins)
• Essential Oils (some) (Un-concentrated)
• Evening Primrose Oil
• Exercise (gentle but sustained and regular)
• Fenugreek
• Fish Oil
• Flax Seed Oil (Omega 3 & 6)
• Garlic
• Gelatine
• Ginger
• Ginger Tea
• Glucosamine
• Gluten elimination
• Grain elimination
• Grapefruit juice (or "White" Grapefruit Juice?)
• "Grounding"
• Green Tea
• Guacamole
• Hemp (if available) (Omega 3/6/9)
• Honey
• Hyaluronic Acid
• Infra-red lamp (15 mins)
• Inclined-bed therapy
• Inversion Therapy (Not too long! )
• Juicing
• K Vitamin
• L.Glutathione
• Lemon Juice
• Lemon Water
• Lime Juice
• Licorice Root (if you don't have high blood pressure)
• Licorice Tea (ditto)
• Magnesium
• Magnesium Chloride (Liquid)
• Magnets
• Massage
• Meditation
• Minerals (ALL)
• Mint
• Molasses (Drink in morning)
• Molasses "Brew"
• MSM
• MSM and Vitamin C
• Multi Mineral tablet (Crucial)
• Noni Juice
• Olive Oil
• Omega 3
• Onion
• Osteopathy
• Parsley
• Peppermint Tea
• Pineapple / Bromelain
• Potassium
• Praying
• Raised Bed Theory
• Relaxed Disposition
• Sauna
• Selenium
• Serrapeptase
• Spa Bath
• Stress Reduction
• Stretching (with care) (not early a.m.! )
• Sugar elimination
• Sulphur
• Sunshine
• Tai Chi
• Tart Cherry Juice
• Turmeric and (Pinch of) Black Pepper
• Turmeric and Fenugreek
• Turmeric and Ginger Tea
• Turmeric in Tomato Juice
• Turmeric Powder
• Turmeric Tea
• Vitamin K
• Vitamin B 6
• Vitamin B12
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin C Flushing/Higher Dosage
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin E
• Water (increased amount)
• Willow Bark
• Yeast elimination
• Yoga
• Zinc
• N.B. (Some sea-foods/shellfish & herbs may be suspect during pregnancy or contra-indicate with other meds).

I have a long history with back problems and multiple traumas to my body. I have been through two cervical fusions (3 levels fused) and an arm surgery (where they removed bone, and gave me hardware of plates and screws in my arm). I have recovered from all my surgeries but had been dealing with the residual side effects of chronic pain and many years of being on pharmaceuticals. Today, I am clean, as far as pharmaceuticals goes, none of that crap in my blood stream. It has been a four year journey since my first neck surgery. I was on ten different medications. I started by juicing and eating clean, I slowly worked my way off ten different medications. Then in the 6 months I stopped an anti-depressant (amitriptyline, not sure I spelled it right) which I was on for 20 years for chronic pain. I felt horrible after coming of that med, had worked through most the issues, but man was I in pain every day. Everyday was a battle to feel better, which usually took me most the day.

Anyway, my journey with MSM started like a lot of people... I took it and didn't notice much. I often would forget my second dose. Then one day I just started remember to take it, not only that, I even started taking it three times a day, 6 grams total divide into three doses. Those doses were followed with 5,000 mg of Vitamin C. I kid you not, two days after starting this routine, I woke up with ZERO pain. I was dumbfounded to say the least and honestly it has been an adjustment in my brain to not have chronic pain everyday. It has been amazing and I will tell anyone about it.

If you are not having results using MSM for back pain, look at your dosage, larger is not always better. Also I didn't notice the results from MSM until I started chasing it down with Vitamin C. After reading up more on MSM it seems that it works synergistically with Vitamin C.

I just started my BF on this, as he has a lung dysfunction. Vitamin C has done wonders for him.

I am amazed that I have no pain, I had only know about MSM earlier, maybe I could have avoided some of my interactions with the medical field.

Could you provide links for the exercise videos you mentioned?

Re: Coccyx Pain

I woke up with terrible back pain a few days ago. Taking paracetamol (like acetaminophen) and ibuprofen eased it enough to allow me to stiffly walk out of the house.

I was doubtful about the coconut oil cure, but tried it anyway since I had some in the house. Like many others, the pain went away almost instantly. I felt about 70-80% better within the hour, and it got better after two hours. I need to reapply it before sleeping, but it works very well. I still feel some stiffness, but I can walk and bend a lot.

I also took a bath using magnesium flakes, which helped a lot.

I have been reading on Earth Clinic and recommending the site to others for years, and I have tried almost all of the cures for back pain. Most suggestions helped temporarily, and I do think there is value in the remedies I tried, but I have found something that helps me long-term: leg lifts.

I am a 45 year old woman, and I want to help you because I know the pain and frustration you are experiencing. There were times I could not get off the floor because of the pain.

I got shoved to the floor at a rock concert when I was 17 and have had lower back pain in increasing intensity since. When I was 30, my hip would fall out of its socket, and starting about age 33, I would regularly trip on sidewalk cracks, which would send a shooting pain through my back. I remained active through it all, even running a 5K, but the pain kept coming back.

I went to 4 different chiropractors for 6 months at a time, and they helped, but it was prohibitively expensive and, of course, temporary. One chiropractor told me that I had advanced stage arthritis in my lumbar vertebrae and that I would have to get treatment for the rest of my life or my spine would fuse completely. I didn't believe this was my fate.

I was in a bad car accident when I was 35. I was rear-ended while I was at a stop sign and the result was horrendous whip-lash. I couldn't even stand up without passing out. Back to the chiropractor I went. The first adjustment helped me to start functioning again. I recognized a pattern at this chiropractor. He had a tool that was hooked up to a computer and he would run it along my spine. I asked him about it. He said that it measured how much my muscles were pulling by how much heat they put out. If the muscles were pulling equally on both sides (and the computer would show a green color), then he reasoned the adjustments he did to my spine were "taking". If one of the muscles attached to a vertebrae were pulling harder on one side, it meant that muscle was working harder, so the computer would show a yellow(moderate pulling) or red (pulling hard) color and he reasoned that the adjustments weren't "taking".

What he didn't know was that I was conducting my own experiment. I would go to the gym and lift weights for a week before he ran his test, and the colors on the computer would be green (muscles pulling evenly). Then I would not lift weights for a couple weeks and when he ran his test the results would be a mess of yellow and red. And the pain would come back.

I knew the chiropractor could put my vertebrae back where they belonged, but I wanted to figure out what was making the vertebrae get out of place.

I truly believe that if we use our muscles, it will even out our spines.

My husbands spine was a giant "S" from carrying a ladder at work every day. He stopped carrying the ladder and lifted weights intensely for 6 months. His next x-ray showed that his spine was perfectly straight!

I also figured out that my right leg was lower than my left leg (after much research on Earth Clinic) due to my hips being misaligned. My hips were tilted forward and down, more so on my right side. This is why I kept tripping over sidewalk cracks with my right foot. So I started researching hip exercises and found some videos on the internet. I did the exercises and realigned my hips! I did these leg lifts every day at first, and now I only do them about twice a week to keep my hips in line. I have no more lower back pain, and if I feel it coming on, I do the leg lifts and it goes away!

This is the main pain reliever: Lay on the floor (or in bed if you have to) on your side. Don't prop yourself on your elbow, just lay on the floor. Your legs should be stacked (you can bend the bottom leg for stability). Now lift your top leg about 18 inches. While the top leg is elevated, at the peak of the lift, twist it so your toes point toward the sky. Hold this for a count of 3. Then twist it back so your toes point forward again. And then lower your leg back down to stack on the bottom leg. Super easy. Lift, twist, hold, untwist, lower. Do this about 20 times, or as many as is comfortable. You will feel the muscle at your hip get a little cranky. That means it's getting stronger. Roll over and do the same on the other side with the other leg.

I also do similar exercises called "clam shells" Where you lay on your side with both knees bent and lift your top knee about 10 inches while keeping your feet together. Put your hand on your hip to make sure your hip is not moving while you lift your knee. You will feel this toward the back of your hip joint in your gluteus. Do about 25 of these or as many as you can. These muscles will get strong quickly!

We don't use these muscles in day-to-day living, not even running. I believe that when these hip rotator muscles atrophy, our hips become misaligned and it pinches the lumbar vertebrae. Before I started doing these exercises, I had horrible pain, and it receded after the first set. After about 4 days of doing these leg lifts 3 times a day, the pain was gone!

There are a lot of videos on the internet that show exercises for realigning your hips, just search "hips" on the video site. The ones I found to be most effective are by physical therapists who do the exercises themselves to show you how.

I also keep my upper back pain free by lifting free weights at home during TV commercials. I don't lift heavy weights, rarely over 5 lbs. I think the key is to keep using muscles evenly, especially if you have a job where you have to use your dominant arm to lift or repeat movements.

I hope this saves someone a lot of pain and hassle. Don't give up. Do what you can, and especially just keep moving!

God bless you all.

Anita

Elizabeth, it's not a set science. Just do it! Try with a teaspoon morning and night. It can't hurt.

How much and how often should I rub organic virgin coconut oil on 89 year old mom?

I'm surprised by the Weston Price 2010 article which says cod liver oil is poison.

My husband had severe back pain to the point where he could hardly walk when he was around 30. He read at the time that cod liver oil would be beneficial so he started to take a dessertspoon full each day and within 3 months the pain was gone. He was some twenty or so years later, diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis through a problem with he eye which caused the back pain.

I won't say he never had another twinge but I could count on one hand the times this has happened. He has continued with the cod liver oil everyday of his life since and he is now 72 years of age.

I too take a capsule as I couldn't take it off the spoon. I am 68 and thank God I also can still get around without any arthritis.

I will take the point of Vit A interfering with Vit D as I personally have problems with chronic coughing and are upping my dose of Vit D to 4,000 IU per day and haven't been doing it long but have noticed a difference.

I'm amazed that coconut oil worked, but it did. I had horrible back pain after doing the plank for 3 minutes which was 30 seconds longer than I should have done). I paid the price for my competitiveness and my back got so stiff and painful had been that way for well over a week. After finding this remedy on Earth Clinic I'm delighted to report that the pain has eased and my back feels looser. There is still stiffness and some pain, but it is way better and it seemed to work almost instantly. Thank you Earth Clinic!

MSM is amazing! Just start slowly! 1/4 of teaspoon or less and increase gradually.. I just started for low back pain after microdiscectomy 4 years ago and pain ever since they found osteophytes or bune spur and I'm sure inflammation and starting taking MSM. It's relieved my back pain. We need to start putting these doctors in jail for what they are doing to people and performing surgeries that were not necessary.

You can use your flakes to make Magnesium Oil, which some people take internally. It may not be very palatable, I haven't tried it.

Bring 1/2 cup distilled water to a boil. Add 1/2 cup magnesium flakes. Dissolve. Use this to spray on the body for transdermal application. 1 teaspoon has 550-600 mg of magnesium. You could try 1/8 teaspoon a few times a day and see how if it agrees with you. Cut back if you get diarrhea. I wouldn't take more than 1 teaspoon total in a day, though.

Hi Ted,

The only kind of Magnesium Chloride I could find locally in stores was a bath salt in big flakes. I bought it but then decided it would be next to impossible to dose uniformly and accuately, unless you have some ideas. Should I return it and order online, or do I dare pop a couple flakes into distilled water and gulp? Thanks, Lonni

Could be you are stretching your hamstrings. Tight hamstrings can cause lower back pain. Clever to use the marks.

Hi all!

I have been pondering the use of mullein for back pain and was doing some research. I found this fascinating article about herbs and back pain. I thought some of you might be interested, so here it is:

http://www.herbcraft.org/backpain.html

~Mama to Many~

Gel caplets.

Kindly google what pulsed magnetic therapy is all about and go for the treatment. I have a slip disc at L5 and this has helped me tremendously.