Back pain is one of the most common conditions in people today.
In every doctor waiting room there is at least one person who is seeing their doctor for treatment to their back or neck pain.
Back and neck pain can come in different degrees of pain.
It can be quite mild and only provide a twinge while on the other extreme back and neck pain can be quite acute that it can restrict a person's mobility.
As the condition is so common there are many conventional ways to treat it.
Some are effective while others are not.
However, over the years many people have been looking at alternative or complementary methods to treat their condition.
These are people who have tried the conventional methods and these have not worked for them.
Other people use alternative methods in combination with conventional treatment.
As with conventional methods there are several complimentary options that you can use.
The following are 2 of them: Acupuncture This is a Chinese method that dates back over 5000 years.
Acupuncture like many Chinese treatments are based on the qi or chi, which is the bodies internal energy force.
It is believed that the chi or qi circulates through the body through different pathways.
These pathways all connect to the body's main organs.
It is believed that illness and pain are caused when the flow of the qi is either restricted or blocked.
With acupuncture tiny needles of varying lengths are inserted into certain areas of the body.
These points are called accupoints.
The idea is that when these needles are inserted and twisted into these points they will stimulate the flow of qi and remove the blockages.
Aromatherapy With aromatherapy essential oils are used and these oils are derived from plants and herbs.
It is believed that when these oils are applied and massaged on to the body their healing qualities will help to improve the bodies functioning and immune system.
There are many different oils that are used in aromatherapy and each oil has its own unique healing properties.
Specific oils are used to treat different conditions.
For back pain you can take specific aromatherapy oils such as eucalyptus and bay laurel.
There is no medical evidence that reveals the effectiveness of aromatherapy in treating back pain.
However, many people have experienced very positive results in using aromatherapy massage to relieve their pain.
It is not recommended that you use aromatherapy while pregnant.