Folk remedies for the treatment of osteochondrosis

Such a disease of the musculoskeletal system as osteochondrosis is practically unsuitable for a complete treatment today.

However, the medical kit has enough tools to help effectively stop the symptoms of the disease and stop its further development.

Many of these methods require inpatient treatment, for which humans do not always have time in the modern rhythm of life. How to get rid of osteochondrosis in this case?

There is only one answer - treating osteochondrosis at home. Consider the methods of treating osteochondrosis at home using folk remedies.

Pathogenesis of the disease

According to statistics, one in three people under the age of 45 complains of back pain. In most cases this is caused by osteochondrosis of the spine.

The pathology is characterized primarily by damage to cartilage and bone tissue and, as it progresses, begins to affect the patient's nervous system.

The disease is rapidly "rejuvenating" as the population's physical activity decreases due to the development of computer technologies and the evolving transport infrastructure.

But in addition to a sedentary lifestyle, experts also name other reasons for the development of pathology:

• Ecology;
• Nutritional disorder;
• Inappropriate distribution of physical stress on the back;
• Trauma;
• Skeletal muscle weakness;
• Decreased immunity against the background of the development of chronic diseases;
• Viral and bacterial pathologies, etc.

With the modern dynamics of a person's life, they simply do not have enough time to take care of their health. There are always ten other reasons not to do this: work, family, children, etc.

Then people ask themselves for a long time: where did they get osteochondrosis between the ages of 25-30? - a disease that usually affects the elderly.

Many consider it a waste of time to go to the clinic, and a logical question arises: how to treat osteochondrosis at home?

To answer this question, it is necessary to take into account the most common therapeutic methods used by specialists in the treatment of this pathology.

Only after this can we consider treating osteochondrosis with folk remedies to understand how effective alternative methods of treatment are in general.

Treatment of osteochondrosis

Therapy of this pathology has no standard and depends on the individual diagnosis of the patient.

This suggests that before you start treatment for osteochondrosis at home, you still need to see your doctor for a diagnosis.

This must be done so as not to cause even more damage to your body. Complications of this pathology lead to protrusions and herniated discs, which can lead to headaches, loss of sensation of the limbs and even paralysis.

In inpatient treatment after diagnosis, specialists initially solve three main tasks:

• Removal of pain syndrome;
• Relief of inflammatory processes and edema. These symptoms are almost always present during the development of this pathology;
• Physiotherapeutic procedures for the restoration of damaged tissues, the main goal is to achieve a long and lasting remission.

Treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine by alternative methods cannot replace full therapy.

However, alternative treatment for osteochondrosis may well help to relieve pain symptoms and improve the patient's general health.

What drugs can be used at home

Many drugs used in the treatment of osteochondrosis have a number of serious side effects and are therefore only used with the consent of the treating doctor.

But what if the back pain is torturing you and there is no way to go to the clinic? How to cure osteochondrosis at home with the drugs available in the first aid kit?

In the case of acute pain, drugs from the group of painkillers are initially recommended.

In addition to its mild analgesic effect, aspirin has the ability to thin the blood, which promotes better blood circulation and has an antipyretic effect.

This helps reduce inflammation and swelling of the tissues that pinch the nerve endings and cause pain.

The use of pain relieving patches is advisable. Most often in their composition they contain lidocaine, which has a rapid analgesic effect.

Excellent reviews also have analgesic ointments with a cooling effect, which, as a rule, contain menthol and camphor.

If you are sure that the acute phase of the disease has passed and you have no symptoms of inflammation, it is recommended to use gels with a warming effect: turpentine ointment.

The ointment should be applied directly to the painful area and gently rubbed into the skin. There is no point in touching unaffected areas.

Cold effect gels can be applied at any time. It is advisable to apply ointments with a warming effect at night and also to wrap the affected area with a woolen cloth.

Gymnastics at home

Exercise therapy for osteochondrosis is one of the most important and effective methods in the treatment of this pathology. A common reason for developing osteochondrosis is a weak muscle frame that cannot cope with physical activity.

Thus, all the load falls on the intervertebral discs, as a result of which their degenerative changes occur.

The intervertebral discs between the vertebrae become thinner or, as they say, dry out and lose their functionality. Gymnastics allows you to increase muscle tone, improve their elasticity and blood circulation.

Depending on the localization of the tissue damage and pain syndrome, osteochondrosis can be cervical, thoracic, and lumbosacral.

There are also exercises for different departments, but it is not recommended to train only the more affected area, which is uncomfortable for a person, but to train all parts of the spine.

Attention!If pain occurs during therapeutic gymnastics, the training should be stopped immediately and only carried out under the supervision of a specialist.

1. The first two exercises perfectly stimulate the intervertebral discs in the cervical spine, promote better fluid circulation and thicken them. To perform them, you should take a sitting or standing position. We do head bends forwards and backwards with a small range of motion. The movements should remind you that you are having a conversation with the person and, in accordance with them, say yes to them.
2. The next exercise is similar to the first, only now you need to turn your head left and right as if saying no. Movements should not be carried out with great amplitude, they should be around 30% of the maximum possible tilt or rotation of the head. They are performed several times a day at an appropriate time for 2-3 minutes each.

3. The following exercise for home treatment of the spine strengthens the neck and shoulder muscles well. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and your arms lowered down along your body. We make circular movements with our shoulders back and forth. It is also done several times a day in multiple approaches, 15-20 times in each direction.
4. To train the lumbar spine, it is best to do an exercise that is more like a belly dance. Starting position, feet shoulder width apart. We make circular movements with the pelvis, first in one direction, then in the other. At the same time, we make sure that the chest and shoulder girdle remain as immobile as possible. It is enough to do two or three times in different directions for 20-25 turns.

5. The next exercise aims to strengthen the latissimus and trapezius muscles. The position of the body, lying on your stomach, arms stretched forward. We raise our arms, shoulders and head, linger a second and lower ourselves to the starting position. The exercise is performed 10-15 times.

In addition to strengthening the back muscles, one shouldn't forget about the abdominal muscles, which are not only involved in deep breathing, but also in correct posture. Weak abdominal muscles contribute to the development of lumbar lordosis.

Attention!Exercise is only good for the body with regular exercise.

Exercise is a good remedy for osteochondrosis. The therapeutic effect is achieved by strengthening the muscles and improving blood circulation, which prevents the development of inflammatory processes and edema around the cartilage tissue.

Home physiotherapy

Folk remedies for osteochondrosis are often taken from the life experience of entire generations and used successfully in traditional medicine as a physiotherapeutic procedure.

Some of them can easily be done at home.

Cold and hot shower

The first folk remedy that allows you to treat osteochondrosis at home is a contrast shower.

For many, this procedure is only associated with hardening, and not everyone understands how this procedure helps in the fight against this pathology.

The explanation here is very simple - a sharp redirection of blood flow in the muscles, around the cartilage and skin.

This promotes the drainage of excess fluid from areas of inflammation and edema and the influx of essential trace elements into damaged tissue.

The moment a person is under jets of hot water, protective mechanisms are activated in the body that are supposed to keep them from overheating.

It does this through the outflow of blood from the internal organs to the muscles and skin. The vessels widen, the amount of blood increases and excess heat is dissipated to the outside.

If you suddenly stand on the jets of cold water, the opposite reaction occurs - the outflow of blood from the muscles and skin to the internal organs.

This is the process of thermoregulating the body, and at the same time blood flow to damaged tissues is normalized, which helps improve the overall condition.

The process is simple enough. It is necessary to stand under tolerant, non-scalding hot water for 20-30 seconds.

Then put the water on cold for 10-20 seconds. The process should be done 3-5 times and end with a cool but comfortable water temperature.

Despite the obvious advantages of this procedure, there are still contraindications:

• It is forbidden to perform this procedure if the patient has symptoms of a cold or acute respiratory disease;
• Cardiovascular diseases;
• Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and other internal organs, etc.

The volume of blood from the internal organs to the muscles and back is large enough and can cause: heart attack, stroke or internal bleeding. Therefore, this complex should be carried out with a gradual increase in the time interval under cold or warm water.

Do not initially spend more than 5-7 seconds under running water and gradually bring these values to 30 seconds over several weeks.

Salt baths

Another folk remedy for treating osteochondrosis is salt baths. They are excellent for when back pain is caused by muscle overload.

To prepare a bath, you will need sea or ordinary coarse salt. Fine and cleaned by evaporation is less effective in this case.

The volume of a standard bath varies from 170 to 195 liters; about 5 kg of salt are required for this amount of water.

Water temperature from 36 to 38 ° C. All essential oils can be used for the best effect. After the procedure, it is recommended to stand under slightly warm running water for a few minutes.

Osteochondrosis is practically incurable, but by treating it with alternative methods as an additional therapy to the main treatment, it is still possible to stop and gain from it.