Folk remedies for the treatment of osteochondrosis

Diseases of the musculoskeletal system, such as osteochondrosis, are virtually unsuitable for complete treatment today.

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

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

There is only one answer - home treatment for osteochondrosis. Consider methods of treating osteochondrosis at home with 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 primarily characterized by damage to the cartilage and bone tissue and begins to affect the patient's nervous system during progression.

The disease is rapidly "rejuvenating" due to advances in computer technology and evolving transport infrastructure due to the declining physical activity of the population.

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

• Ecology;
• Dietary disorder;
• Improper distribution of physical load on the back;
• Injury;
• Weakness of skeletal muscles;
• Decreased immunity in the background of the development of chronic diseases;
• Viral and bacterial pathologies, etc.

With the modern dynamics of a person’s life, there is simply not enough time to take care of their health. There are always ten other reasons not to do this: work, family, children, and so on.

Then one wonders for a long time: where did he get osteochondrosis at the age of 25-30? - a disease that usually affects older people.

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

To answer this question, it is necessary to consider what are the most common therapeutic methods used by those skilled in the art to treat this pathology.

Only then can we consider treating osteochondrosis with folk remedies to understand how effective alternative treatments are in general.

Treatment of osteochondrosis

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

This suggests that you should still see your doctor for a diagnosis before starting treatment for osteochondrosis at home.

This should be done so as not to cause even more damage to the body. Complications of this pathology lead to protrusion and herniation of the intervertebral discs, which can lead to headaches, loss of limb sensitivity, or even paralysis.

In the treatment of inpatients after diagnosis, specialists solve three main tasks:

• Removal of pain syndrome;
• Relieving the inflammatory process and edema. These symptoms are almost always present during the development of the pathology;
• The main goal of physiotherapy procedures to repair damaged tissues is to achieve long and lasting remission.

Treatment of osteochondrosis of the spine with alternative methods should not be a substitute for complete therapy.

However, alternative treatment for osteochondrosis can help reduce the symptoms of pain and improve the patient's overall health.

What medications can be used at home

Many of the medicines used to treat osteochondrosis have a number of serious side effects and should only be taken with the permission of your doctor.

But what if you suffer from back pain and there is no way to go to the clinic? How can osteochondrosis be cured at home with the medications in the home first aid kit?

The first thing that is recommended for acute pain is medications that belong to the group of painkillers.

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

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

The use of analgesic patches is recommended. In their composition, they most often contain lidocaine, which has a rapid analgesic effect.

Excellent reviews also have cooling painkillers that usually contain menthol and camphor.

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

The ointment should be applied directly to the site of pain, rubbing gently into the skin. There is no point in touching unaffected areas.

Cold acting gels can be applied at any time. It is recommended to apply warming ointments at night and wrap the affected area in a woolen cloth.

Gymnastics at home

Practical therapy for osteochondrosis is one of the main and effective methods for treating this pathology. A common cause of osteochondrosis is a weak muscle skeleton that is unable to cope with physical activity.

Thus, the total load falls on the intervertebral discs, resulting in degenerative changes in them.

Intervertebral discs become thinner or, as they say, dry out and lose their ability to function. Gymnastics allows you to increase muscle tone, improve their flexibility 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 classes, but it is not only recommended to train the more affected area, which causes discomfort to the person, but all parts of the spine.

Attention!If you experience pain while exercising, exercise should be stopped immediately and should only be performed under the supervision of a professional.

1. The first two exercises perfectly stimulate the intervertebral discs in the cervical spine, promote better fluid circulation and thicken them. To do these, you must take a sitting or standing position. We perform back and forth bends with a small range of motion. The gestures should remind you that you are talking to the person and how you agree with them, saying yes.
2. The next exercise is similar to the first, you just have to turn your head left and right as if to say no. Movements should not be made with a large amplitude, this should be about 30% of the maximum possible tilt or rotation of the head. It is performed several times a day, at the right time, for 2-3 minutes.

3. The following exercise to treat the spine at home strengthens the muscles of the neck and shoulders well. Standing with shoulder-width legs, arms down along the body. We make circular movements with our shoulders back and forth. Several times a day, in several approaches, 15-20 times per direction.
4. For training the lumbar spine, it is recommended to do an exercise that is more like a belly dance. Starting position, standing legs shoulder-width apart. With the pool, we make circular movements, first in one direction and then in the other. At the same time, we make sure that the chest and shoulder straps remain as motionless as possible. Enough two to three times for 20-25 turns in different directions.

5. The following exercise is aimed at strengthening the latissimus and trapezius muscles. Position of the body, lying on its stomach, arms outstretched. Raise your arms, shoulders, and head, linger for a second, and lower to your starting position. The exercise is performed 10-15 times.

In addition to strengthening the back muscles, we should not forget about the abdominal muscles, which are involved not only in deep breathing but also in proper 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 cure for osteochondrosis. The therapeutic effect is achieved by strengthening the muscles and improving the blood circulation in them, which prevents the development of the inflammatory process and the edema around the cartilage tissue.

Physiotherapy at home

Folk remedies used to treat osteochondrosis are often taken from the life experiences of generations and are successfully used as physiotherapy in traditional medicine.

Some of them are easy to do at home.

Hot and cold shower

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

For many, this procedure is only related to hardening, and not everyone understands how this procedure helps fight pathology.

The explanation here is quite simple - a sharp diversion of blood flow through the muscles, cartilage, and skin.

This facilitates the outflow of excess fluid from the areas of inflammation and edema, as well as the influx of essential trace elements into the damaged tissues.

The moment a person is under a jet of hot water, protective mechanisms are activated in the body that protect him from overheating.

This is achieved by blood flowing from the internal organs to the muscles and skin. The blood vessels dilate, the amount of blood increases, and the excess heat leaves the outside.

When you suddenly stand up to the cold water currents, the opposite reaction occurs - the outflow of blood from the muscles and skin to the internal organs.

This is the process of thermoregulation of the body, and at the same time the blood circulation in the damaged tissues normalizes, which contributes to the improvement of the condition as a whole.

The procedure is quite simple. Stand under hot water that does not burn for 20-30 seconds.

Then switch the water to cold for 10-20 seconds. The procedure should be performed 3-5 times, sealed with water at a cool but comfortable water temperature.

Despite the obvious advantages of the procedure, it still has contraindications:

• This procedure is contraindicated if the patient has symptoms of a cold or acute respiratory illness;
• Cardiovascular diseases;
• Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and other internal organs, etc.

The amount of blood that goes from the internal organs to the muscles and back is quite large and can cause a heart attack, stroke, or internal bleeding. Therefore, this complex should be performed by gradually increasing the time interval under cold or warm water.

First, do not charge more than 5-7 seconds under running water and gradually increase these values to 30 seconds over several weeks.

Salt baths

Another folk remedy for the treatment of osteochondrosis is a salt bath. They are a great help if your back pain is caused by muscle overload.

You will need sea or ordinary coarse salt to make the bath. Fine and evaporated cleaning will be less efficient in this case.

The volume of a standard bath varies between 170 and 195 liters, this amount of water requires about 5 kg of salt.

The water temperature is 36-38 ° С. Any essential oil 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 virtually incurable, but treatment with alternative methods as an adjunctive therapy to the main treatment can still be stopped and thus gained.