Backache is one of our most common ailments: causes can range from pulled muscles and damaged discs (the spongy plugs that separate the vertebrae and act as shock absorbers) to poor posture, kidney disease, gynaecological problems or simply sitting in an awkward position for long periods.

Some sorts of backache are dignified by rather grander names: “lumbago” simply means pain in the lower back (the lumbar region) from whatever cause, whereas “sciatica” is a pain felt along the back and outer side of the thigh, leg and foot, with accompanying back pain and stiffness, often caused by a damaged disc putting pressure on the sciatic nerve. “Fibrositis” is an inflammation of fibrous tissue, especially muscle sheaths, which often affects the back muscles. It leads to pain and stiffness and can be treated with anti-inflammatories and those remedies recommended for rheumatic disorders.

Herbal BeautyAll these various sorts of backache require very different treatment, so accurate diagnosis is important if therapy is to be at all relevant. If the problem originates from mechanical damage in the back itself, treatment from an osteopath or chiropractor can often solve the problem; massage from a remedial masseur or physiotherapist can also give relief, while poor posture can be helped by learning the Alexander Technique through a series of lessons.

For persistent backache with no obvious cause, changing sleeping arrangements can sometimes help: mattresses should give support (they don’t have to be hard!) and putting an extra pillow under the mattress to raise the top of the bed can be worth trying. It can also be useful to alternate lying on your back with knees bent and then curling into a small ball with the spine curved, as in the foetal position, as you fall off to sleep.

As well as using massage oils containing juniper, rosemary, lavender, thyme or eucalyptus, add 2-3 drops of these same essential oils to a hot bath.

For backache related to kidney weakness, drinking buchu and cinnamon tea can be helpful: use one teaspoon of buchu leaves and a generous pinch of dried cinnamon to a cup of boiling water and infuse for 10 minutes. Repeat up to three times a day for up to a week.

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