Nature Creation ArticlesHealth, Pain, Therapy, Remedies

As people get older, chronic neck and back pain becomes extremely common. The back and neck pain not only affects the physical health of these individuals but also their social and economic well-being. Chronic lower back pain and neck pain can disrupt work, routine and other daily activities. People often choose some exercises for back pain. To know some exercises for lower back pain or chronic neck and back pain, read Exercise For Neck And Back Pain.

There are also certain low back pain treatment methods that you can undertake in order to handle the issues that may arise as a result of chronic neck and back pain. These methods for relieving back pain will not only help relieve the pain but also help you reduce the likelihood of recurrences of this condition.

The major causes of lower back pain are strains or other injuries to the muscles and ligaments surrounding the spinal column. Other reasons might include sports injuries or a sudden increase in physical activity to which the individual is not accustomed.

Although, there is no definitive chronic neck and back pain remedy , still it is a highly treatable condition. The most common therapy used to treat back and neck pain is back pain medication with pain-killing or anti-inflammatory properties.

Yet, there is a better solution instead of taking pain medication for temporary pain relief. Nature Cre­ation is made of 9 essen­tial herbs, which can be used as wrap­per for hot or cold pain relief ther­apy. There are many sizes and designs to fit com­fort­ably to your body and ergonom­i­cally sculp­ture to wrap around the pain area. Please visit the com­pany site at http://www.naturecreation.com or call 1–888-250‑2010 to learn

Back pain sends more patients to doctors than any condition other than the common cold.
It’s the fifth most common reason for hospitalizations and third most common cause of surgery. And 56% of people with lower-back aches say symptoms disrupt their daily routines, including sleep and sex. Talk about a pain in the…back.

There are many possible causes of back pain, which means there are also many non-invasive solutions, according to Todd Sinett, a chiropractor and coauthor of The Truth about Back Pain. “Back pain is rarely one catastrophic event,” he says in the book, “but several situations combining to create pain.” And it turns out that some seemingly insignificant everyday habits can take a big toll on your back over time. Here, the top 14 mistakes that may be causing your aches and how to correct them.

1. You’re Chained to Your Desk
Did you know that sitting puts 40% more pressure on your spine than standing?
Let’s be honest: Maintaining proper posture is probably the last thing you’re thinking about when under a major work deadline. And on a jam-packed day, regular stretching breaks may not seem like a wise way to spend your time. But skipping these habits may cause your back to suffer. That’s because back muscles will weaken if you don’t use them; inactive joints lose lubrication and age more quickly.

Fix It: Sitting at a 135-degree angle can reduce compression of the discs in the spine, so lean back slightly every now and then. Do it when you take a phone call or a coworker stops by to chat, Sinett recommends. Make sure your office chair supports the curve of your spine, he says: Your lower back should be supported, and your head should be straight—not lurching forward—when you look at your computer screen. Get up and walk around for a couple of minutes every half hour—take trips to get water, use the bathroom, or grab papers off the printer.

2. You Have a Long Commute
Just like at your desk, hunching over a steering wheel can tighten chest muscles and cause your shoulders to round.
Slumping posture can zap energy and make you look heavier, not to mention cause back and neck problems. Back pain is the number one complaint of the patients of Darran W. Marlow, DC, director of the chiropractic division at the Texas Back Institute, and he advises them to first think about their driving posture.

Fix it: “Be sure you sit at a 90-degree angle, close to the wheel so you don’t have to stretch,” he says. “Extending your leg puts your back in a compromised position, but many people don’t even realize they’re doing it.”

3. You’ve Been Ditching the Gym
Get moving to alleviate aches and pains and fix back pain faster.
New research shows that 40% of people become less active after back pain strikes—a strategy that’s likely to delay healing or even make their condition worse.

Fix it: In fact, most sufferers would benefit from more exercise—particularly frequent walks, which ease stiffness, says spine surgeon Raj Rao, MD. For instant relief, he recommends stretching your hamstrings and hips.

4. You Don’t Do Yoga
By improving circulation and lowering stress, just about any kind of exercise promotes back pain recovery. But yoga may be best.
University of Washington researchers say yoga eases lower-back pain faster than conventional exercises. In a different study, 101 patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups. The first group took weekly yoga classes and practiced at home; the second group participated in weekly exercise sessions developed by a physical therapist, plus practiced at home; and the third group received a self-help back care book. After 3 months, the yoga group had better back-related functioning, compared with the other two groups. And after 6 months, patients who took yoga reported less back pain and better back-related functioning. Because it promotes deep breathing and relaxation, as well as stretching and strength, yoga may help with both emotional and structural triggers of back pain.

Fix it: You can find yoga classes everywhere—at gyms, YMCAs, and local studios. Make sure to tell the instructor about your pain so she can help modify certain moves for you.

5. You’re Addicted to Crunches
Sit-ups and crunches may actually cause more back pain than they prevent, according to Sinett.
We hear all the time how a strong core protects your back, which is true. But crunches don’t work the ab muscles that stabilize your back. In fact, they can contribute to pain by causing what Sinett calls core imbalance, “a condition of excessive compression, which results in the spine curving forward in a C-like shape.”

Fix it: You don’t have to ditch crunches entirely, but you should do them slowly and use proper form. Include them as part of a broader core workout that also strengthens your transverse abdominus. This muscle is particularly important for a strong, steady core that supports your back, and the best way to strengthen it is with (noncrunch!)

6. You’re Not the Healthiest Eater
Research shows that eating habits that are good for your heart, weight, and blood sugar are also good for your back.
Finnish research found that people who suffered from back pain were more likely to have clogged arteries to the spine than healthy control subjects. Healthy circulation brings nutrients to the spine and removes waste, says Sinett. If this doesn’t happen, inflammation can result, and inflammatory chemicals in the back can trigger nerves to send pain signals to the brain.

Fix it: A back-healthy diet is one that reduces inflammation, according to the The Truth about Back Pain. The book’s plan advises avoiding excess caffeine and processed foods (read ingredient labels for the following: hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils, enriched wheat flour, words ending in –ose, and additives that end in –ates or -ites), and eating more whole grains, soy, nuts and seeds, protein (chicken, fish, lean meat), vegetables, and fruit.

7. You Carry Your Entire Life in Your Purse
A stuffed-to-the-gills handbag may cause back damage that’s comparable to a sports injury!
When you tote a heavy bag, your shoulders become imbalanced, says Sinett. Your body elevates the shoulder carrying the bag, which throws your spine off-kilter. Doing this every day can cause back muscles to ache over time.

Fix it: First, carry the lightest bag possible. (Some of today’s styles—with chains, studs, and other hardware—are heavy even when empty!) The American Chiropractic Association recommends that your bag—when fully loaded—weighs no more than 10% of your body weight. Alternate which shoulder you carry the bag with from day to day, and consider splitting your stuff between two bags (one for each arm), which will pain-proof your load by distributing it more evenly.

8. Your Mattress Is from Another Decade
Can’t remember the last time you replaced it? Your back may be in trouble.
A good mattress lasts 9 to 10 years, according to the National Sleep Foundation, but consider replacing yours every 5 to 7 years if you don’t sleep well or your back throbs. A study at Oklahoma State University found that most people who switched to new bedding after 5 years slept significantly better and had less back pain.

Fix it: When you do replace your mattress, take a Goldilocks approach: Pick one that’s not too squishy or too hard. Very firm mattresses can increase pressure on the spine and worsen pain, say Spanish researchers. A study of 313 people revealed that those who caught Zzzs on medium-firm mattresses were more likely to report pain improvement than those on firmer ones. To help ease nighttime discomfort even more, tuck a pillow under your knees if you sleep on your back, between your knees if you’re a side sleeper, or beneath your stomach and hips if you snooze on your belly.

9. You Have a Thing for High Heels
Or flip-flops. Both lead to foot instability, which can in turn affect your back.
High heels force you to arch your back, making your spinal muscles work harder. Backless shoes like sandals cause your feet to move from side to side, according to Sinett, which distributes your body weight unevenly and can cause pain.

Fix it: You don’t have to forgo trendy footwear—just don’t walk long distances in them. Commute in comfy flats or supportive sneakers, and consider adding cushioning inserts to uncomfy shoes. When Lehigh University researchers gave back-pain sufferers lightweight, flexible shoes with simple cushions, 80% reported significant relief within a year.

10. You Ignore the Pain
Trying to block out pain could make it worse, finds research from the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.
A better approach: Let yourself consciously experience the hurt. In a standard pain test, psychologists had 68 back-pain sufferers plunge their hands or feet into ice water. When the volunteers were instructed to suppress the shock of the icy water, a key muscle in the back clenched. In contrast, the muscle didn’t tense up when volunteers thought only about the shock. Over time, an increase in muscle tension intensifies pain, says lead researcher John W. Burns, PhD.

Fix it: Accepting pain may be the best way to mentally cope. “Try thinking about the sensory details of the experience, not the negative emotions,” says Burns. “If you have a back spasm, describe the pain to yourself—if it’s burning or throbbing—and remind yourself that it will pass.”

Overall, if you are looking for temporary natural back pain reliever, there is Nature Creation. Nature Creation is made of 9 essential herbs, which can be used as wrapper for hot or cold pain relief therapy. There are many sizes and designs to fit comfortably to your body and ergonomically sculpture to wrap around the pain area. Please visit the company site at http://www.naturecreation.com or call 1-888-250-2010 to learn more of this amazing product

Note: Article was quoted from Prevention Magazine

There is a strong connection between stress and back pain. Stress causes a release of stress hormones. Stress hormones increase the perception of pain.

Stress hormones also cause the muscles to tighten up. The muscles may tense up so much they go into painful spasms. Back and neck muscles are particularly sensitive to the effects of stress.

Muscle tension reduces blood flow to the tissues (reduced oxygen and nutrients to the tissues). Reduced blood flow delays healing. Adequate circulation is also necessary to flush acidic waste products (byproducts of muscular activity) from the tissues. A build up of acidic waste products in the tissues can cause fatigue and pain.

Stress in itself can cause back pain. A person with a ‘bad back’, e.g. a person who has scar tissue from an old injury or degenerative changes in the spine due to aging, may notice the effects of stress triggering back pain even more than someone with a healthy back. The slightest muscle tension may be ‘the straw the broke the camel’s back.’ For instance, if spinal nerves are already restricted by scar tissue or calcium deposits it may take minimal muscle tension to compress nerves and cause pain. Sciatica may flare up when one is feeling stressed.

Tense back muscles increase back pain and pain increases tensing of muscles – a vicious cycle of stress and back pain can be created.

The back is less capable of tolerating even mild abuse (lifting something slightly heavy, poor posture, a sudden twist, sitting too long, etc) when a person is under stress. Stress causes the muscles to tighten up, leaving them vulnerable to injury.
Reducing Stress

Relieving stress can reduce pain that is aggravated or caused by tense muscles. Managing stress on an ongoing basis may also help prevent back pain from occurring in the first place.

Relaxation Techniques
Relaxation techniques invoke the “relaxation response”, muscles relaxation and blood pressure, heartbeat, and respiration decrease. This is the opposite of the “stress response” where muscles tense and blood pressure, heartbeat, and respiration increase. Nature Creation is the natural pain and stress relief herbal packs, which may help you to achieve your relaxation objectives while relieving pain naturally. Each pack is filled with 9 essential natural herbs which you may use it as hot or cold pain treatments and/ or relaxation therapies. There are more than 18 different designs which each will comfortably fit onto the contour of your body.

Exercise
Stress can be relieved through exercise. Aerobic exercise is a particularly effective form of exercise for relieving stress -aerobic exercise burns off stress hormones and increases the body’s production of endorphins – naturally occurring chemicals that relieve pain and improve mood. Stretching exercises also can relieve stress and loosen tight muscles. Yoga incorporates poses that increase strength and flexibility with breathing techniques to relieve stress.

There are many relaxation techniques, from simple deep breathing exercises that are easy to learn on one’s own to self-hypnosis that must initially be taught by a qualified professional. Other relaxation techniques include meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, biofeedback.

Many doctors recommend heat and/or cold treatments to reduce rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.

Cold compresses reduce joint swelling and inflammation. You can apply a cool compress or cold pack to the affected joint during an RA flare-up to help ease inflammation and pain.

You don’t want to overdo cold treatments. Apply the cold compress for 15 minutes at a time with at least a 30-minute break in between treatments.

Heat compresses relax your muscles and stimulate blood flow.

To use heat therapy, you can try a moist heating pad or a warm, damp towel. Many people like using Nature Creation heat natural packs. Don’t go too hot. Your skin should not burn.

You can also use heat therapy by standing in the shower. Letting the warm water hit the painful area on your body may help ease pain.

A hot tub is a good way to relax stiff muscles — and it’s enjoyable. (Caution: Avoid hot tubs or spas if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, or are pregnant.)

If stress is not handled properly, more serious illnesses may result.

How Serious a Threat to Your Health is Stress?

Many believe that practically every illness has stress reaction as a contributing factor. Someone who handles stress well just simply doesn’t get sick.

How often are the times you have caught a cold or flu also been times when you were worried or stressed about something more than normal, or even dealing with some kind of trauma?

This is why it is wise to remember whatever remedies you choose for temporary relief, there must in addition be conscious work toward releasing stress patterns and habits that keep the worry mode, or anxiety in place.

Here’s something to think about. Is stress different today than it was a few decades ago? Contemporary stress tends to be more pervasive, persistent and insidious because it stems primarily from psychological rather than physical threats. It is associated with ingrained and immediate reactions over which we have no control and were originally designed to be beneficial such as:

* The heart rate and blood pressure soar to increase the flow of blood to the brain to improve decision making.
* The blood sugar rises to furnish more fuel for energy as the result of the breakdown of glycogen, fat and protein stores.
* The blood is shunted away from the gut, where its not immediately needed for purposes of digestion. It goes to the large muscles of the arms and legs to provide more strength in combat, or greater speed in getting away from a scene of potential peril.
* Also clotting occurs more quickly to prevent blood loss from lacerations or internal hemorrhage.

These and myriad of other immediate and automatic responses have been exquisitely honed over the lengthy course of human evolution as life saving measures to facilitate primitive man’s ability to deal with physical challenges.

However, the nature of stress for modern man is not an occasional confrontation with a saber-toothed tiger or a hostile warrior but rather a host of emotional threats like getting stuck in traffic and fights or misunderstandings with customers, co-workers, or family members, that often occur several times a day.

Unfortunately, our bodies still react with these same, archaic fight or flight responses that are not only usefulness but potentially damaging and deadly. Repeatedly invoked, it is not hard to see how they can contribute to hypertension, strokes, heart attacks, diabetes, ulcers, neck or low back pain and other “Diseases of Civilization.”

Feeling a Bit Stressed These Days?

You’re not alone! Traffic jams, deadlines, bills to pay, job changes, endless chores and errands, relationships, family problems, it’s always something and of course we are on the brink of war.

Stress is experienced by everyone at one time or another. It requires the body to make physical and chemical adjustments in order to maintain the necessary physiological balance for survival. A racing heart, a burst of energy, and muscle tension are the body’s physical responses to stress. When faced with danger, some of the first stress reactions are a rise in blood pressure, quicker breathing and heart beat, and dilated pupils. Sight and hearing become more alert.

This reaction is an instinctive response that protects us from threats to our survival. Physiological changes are part of the “fight or flight” response, which prepares and energizes a person to confront or flee from danger. After the threat has passed or a change takes place, the “alarm” signs disappear. The body is still aroused but is adapting to the change.

When you “gear up” under stress, your body begins to do more of some things and less of others. For example, blood circulation increases, but digestion slows down or even stops. First symptoms of these digestive orders may be Persistent Indigestion or Colitis.

Once the stress ends, your body goes to work to restore the balance. However, if stress returns too soon, your body will never have time to get back on an even keel. Eventually, this can lead to major health problems. Exhaustion occurs, causing damage to the person’s physical and emotional well-being. If the stress is short-term, chances are good that it can be dealt with. It is long-term stress that causes the body to break down and has many real physical effects.

Some of the disorders associated with stress are:

* Anxiety
* High blood pressure
* Headaches
* Depression
* Weakened Immune System
* Higher Cholesterol Levels
* Sleeplessness
* Impotence
* Migraine Headaches
* Diarrhea
* Loss of Appetite
* Increased Appetite

If stress is not handled properly, then more serious illnesses will result.

There is no escape from stress. You must learn how to handle it.

Relaxation is often difficult. But necessary to alleviate the stress. Nature Creation (www.naturecreation.com) is one company who manufactures natural herbal therapy packs. The products are filled with 9 essential natural herbs, which the essence of scents will bring natural relaxation stimulation to your brain. In addition, the products can also be used as hot or cold therapy. These are excellent if you have muscle stiffness, body pain, headache, cramps or awkward twist of your nerves.

The design of Nature Creation products are ergonomically fit comfortably to the contour of your body. There are 18 patented shapes and sizes and five unique colors to choose.

Please visit the company website to learn more of the products and all the benefits.

The overall qualities of warmth and heat have long been associated with comfort and relaxation, heat therapy goes a step further and can provide both pain relief and healing benefits for many types of back pain. In addition, heat therapy for back pain is both inexpensive and easy to do.

How heat therapy works
Many episodes of lower back pain result from strains and over-exertions, creating tension in the muscles and soft tissues around the lower spine. As a result, this restricts proper circulation and sends pain signals to the brain.

Muscle spasm in the lower back can create sensations that may range from mild discomfort to excruciating lower back pain. Heat therapy can help relieve pain from the muscle spasm and related tightness in the lower back.

Heat therapy application can help provide back pain relief through several mechanisms:

* Heat therapy dilates the blood vessels of the muscles surrounding the lumbar spine. This process increases the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the muscles, helping to heal the damaged tissue.
* Heat stimulates the sensory receptors in the skin, which means that applying heat to the lower back will decrease transmissions of pain signals to the brain and partially relieve the discomfort.
* Heat application facilitates stretching the soft tissues around the spine, including muscles, connective tissue, and adhesion. Consequently, with heat therapy, there will be a decrease in stiffness as well as injury, with an increase in flexibility and overall feeling of comfort. Flexibility is very important for a healthy back.

There are several other significant benefits of heat therapy that make it so appealing. Compared to most therapies, heat therapy is quite inexpensive. Heat therapy is also easy to do – it can be done at home while relaxing, and also make it an option while at work or in the car.

For many people, heat therapy works best when combined with other treatment modalities, such as physical therapy and exercise. Relative to most medical treatments available, heat therapy is appealing to many people because it is a non-invasive and non-pharmaceutical form of back pain relief

How to Apply Heat Therapy

The most effective heat therapy product is Nature Creation Herbal Pack. They can maintain their heat at the proper temperature. “Warm” is the proper temperature. Patients should not have their heat source be hot to the point of burning the skin. The desired effect is for the heat to penetrate down into the muscles. Simply increasing the temperature of the skin will do little to decrease discomfort.

In many instances, the longer the heat is applied, the better. The duration that one needs to apply the heat, though, is based on the type of and/or magnitude of the injury. For very minor back tension, short amounts of heat therapy may be sufficient (such as 15 to 20 minutes). For more intense injuries, longer sessions of heat may be more beneficial (such as 30 minutes to 2 hours, or more).

Two options of heat therapy include moist heat and dry heat.

* Dry heat, draw out moisture from the body and may leave the skin dehydrated. However, some people feel that dry heat is the easiest to apply and feels the best.

* Moist heat, steamed or moist heating packs can aid in the heat’s penetration into the muscles, and some people feel that moist heat provides better pain relief.

Nature Creation products can be used as dry heat and moist heat treatments.

Finally, it is important to use enough insulation between the heat source and the skin to avoid overheating or burning the skin.

Please note that heat should not be used in certain circumstances. For example, if the lower back is swollen or bruised, heat should not be used. Patients should consult doctors if they have heart disease or hypertension. Heat application is also not suitable in the following cases:

* Dermatitis
* Deep vein thrombosis
* Diabetes
* Peripheral vascular disease
* Open wound
* Severe cognitive impairment

In general, if the injured area is swollen or bruised it is better to apply cold treatment to reduce the inflammation or swelling.

In summary, heat therapy is an easy and inexpensive option to provide relief from many forms of back pain. It may be used alone or in conjunction with other therapies. Because it is so simple, it is often overlooked and physicians may forget to mention it, but heat therapy used in the right way can be a valuable part of many back pain treatment programs.