The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Coconut Oil
Posted by Mark (Toccoa, Ga - Georgia) on 01/26/2012
★★★★★
I have had back pain for several years, of course sometimes worse than others. I was just looking through ec and ran across coconut oil for back pain. Mine is constant enough I toss and turn all night, and can't sit in same position for more than few minutes. I thought why not try the co even though I was skeptical I really had nothing to lose. I applied to my lower back before bed and sure enough pain eased off tremendously, probably 70-80%, I couldn't believe it. Next three nights I applied coconut oil before bed and I haven't tossed and turned at all. I don't know why it worked for me and am curious as to how. I don't know long term results but am definitley satisfied with the short term.
Proteolytic Enzymes
Posted by Lily (Alice Springs, Australia) on 11/09/2011
★★★★★
I was having terrible lower back problem (unsure if it is sciatica) for days and even turning in bed and trying to get out if it is a struggle and challenge on how to avoid the pain. I read somewhere that proteolytic enzymes is anti-inflammatory that works on back pain. My hubby was taking it before so I had some in the fridge as part of the digestive enzymes from the pharmacy. I took one before dinner time and the next morning I realize right away the pain was significantly reduced as I did not have pain just trying to get out of bed as well as trying to stand up after being seated. Just remember you have to take it at least half or an hour before any meal. I was taking a capsule each twice a day initially when the pain was severe. I have since stopped and only go back to it once in a while whenever I start feeling the pain again. If you can't find protease/proteolytic enzymes, fresh pineapple is supposed to have the enzymes so just eat fresh pineapple (not cooked or canned ones as that has been heated so the enzymes will be gone).
Mattress
Posted by Tricia (Ireland) on 08/19/2011 84 posts
★★★★★
Two things worth spending money on are a good pair of shoes and a mattress. If you're not in one you're in the other. But you cannot tell, with either item, as to whether they will do you damage after a couple of hours use. Five minutes in the shop is not the same as eight hours solid use. I think most women will have a number of pairs of shoes in the wardrobe that cannot be worn for long.
One of the following may be worth trying. If the mattress is too hard, an upholsterer(furniture maker) would sell you a thin piece of foam that cold be laid on top of the mattress and under the sheet. This foam is used in different thicknesses by manufacturers.
If the bed is too soft - a piece of plywood or any other soft wood laid between the mattress and the bed base can be helpful. This certainly helped my Mom when she had a bad back. After about a year she felt able to remove it when she bought a new different mattress but put it back again a short time later as the new one brought back the old pains.
Heel Lifts
Posted by Holly (Portland, Or) on 04/05/2011
★★★★★
Heel Lifts for Back Pain:
For myself... I've had back problems ever since puberty and been through chiropractors, PT, Orthopedists, etc... And only did my recent chiropractor find I had a 3 MM!!! Difference in one leg. One very rarely correlated problem is for those who are HYPER FLEXIBLE, a very small leg-length difference can cause debilitating pain. I would get up in the morning and every breath I took would send shooting pains through my back and side. At any given time you could feel a knot that felt like bone, the size of a golf ball in my low back. Within 8 hours of using heel lifts, I noticed the pain all but disappeared. Now for the remaining VERY minor discomfort that sometimes I comes I stay exercised - focus on core strength.
MSM
Posted by Christine (Victoria, Bc, Canada) on 04/01/2011
★★★★★
In reply to Francisca from Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France:
Hi Francesca,
I take 2-3gms of MSM powder daily in drinks and have found it works for my creaky knees and stiff finger joints better than anything else.
You might try belly dance classes for your back ache, I had severe lumbar pain with sciatica for several years after a strain injury to my back. I took a class in belly dance and was impressed by how you are taught to separate and work muscle groups on your torso, which makes them stronger, which gives more support to the spine and seems to pull it into alignment. It takes a few months to get really fit but you see improvement after a couple of weeks.
Magnesium
Posted by Jill (Walnut Creek, Ca) on 03/17/2011
Greetings Earth Clinic Readers, After listening to a radio program recommended by an Earth Clinic commenter by Mark Sircus, I went and purchased some Magnesium Chloride tablets. It has been over four months now and I am thrilled with the results. I am forty years old and the tightness in my back had gotten so bad I couln't walk far without throwing it out of alignment creating more tightness. Not having insurance or money for a doctor, I decided to research the magnesium books and Dr. Mark Sircus' website. My hips have been tight since my late teens no matter how much yoga, walking, stretching I did. After starting with the Magnesium Therapy I'm happy to report an overall relaxation of the muscles in my body, so that I can now do therapeutic exercises without stressing my muscles. The magnesium supplements have taken away the pain and stiffness. I have purchased magnesium oil and am now using it transdermally. As a side note Dr. Sircus'advice about Iodine sounds very promising and I've just ordered iodine supplements as well.
Live long and prosper.
Minerals
Posted by Laurie Anne (Ridge Manor, Fl, Usa) on 01/13/2011
★★★★★
I have found that one of the simplest and most effective remedies for back pain is a good mineral supplement. Any multi-mineral tablet should suffice, but I would recommend an ionic trace mineral liquid supplement available from any vitamin/herb store/catalog taken daily at the highest recommended dose along with a multi-vitamin and digestive enzymes for complete body balancing. This will bring results within a week if it's going to help and if it helps, this regime should be continued indefinitely.
Inversion Table Therapy
Posted by Carly (Seattle, Wa Usa) on 09/10/2010
I also have an inversion table that I ignored for months... (it was so easy to do! ) anyway, after having a bad flare up of my upper back I went back to using it, and it really is amazing how good it will make your back feel. I use it for 5 mins, usually 2x a day. Also - congratulations on the book! I absolutely will be ordering a copy. I am a longtime believer and user of ACV! Best, Carly
Ted's Remedies
Posted by Bill (San Fernando, Luzon, Philippines) on 05/26/2010
★★★★★
Hi Peter...Always take the most recent remedy from Ted as the best remedy, since Ted's remedies never remain static and are always evolving. I've studied his remedies for some years now and this is the way he works. Although confusing, I find this completely understandable, because Ted is a very careful man.
So the one to follow is the 4/18/2010 remedy, here is my translation of that remedy:
Take 500mg of hyaluronic acid plus 9 gms(two teaspoons approx) of sea salt in 500 cc of water and refridgerate. Take 8 capfuls of this liquid every day in a full glass of water...
The term 'caps' or 'capfuls' means the cap from the bottle you are storing the mixture in. Do not worry about EXACT measurements here, since both ingredients are not poisonous.
Also, all his remedies are approximately based on a human being weighing about 150 lbs. So if you weigh more, take a capful or two more and if you weigh less than 150 lbs, take less. Ted will expect you to do this, since even he admits that all his remedies may take a little adjustment. And the worst than can happen here is that you get loose stools from, perhaps, taking too much sea salt.
Ted's Remedies
Posted by Terese (Terranora, Nsw Australia) on 05/24/2011
Hi Gavin,
Is there an amount of ginger, cayenne and tumeric you should take per day? I was going ok until I started working outside again, killer pain! Every day is like the second day at the gym for me.
Ted's Remedies
Posted by Not Worried Anymore!! (Manistique, Mi) on 06/10/2011
★★★★★
My husband is SO much better!! After about 6 months of taking HA he is a new man! He used to be going to the chiropractor 2x weekly, now hardly ever! No more headaches (he used to live with a headache), he can garden without his legs stiffening up and falling asleep, he can play with the kids, and hold the baby... Yay! We took down an old house on the property next door to us and he lifted heavy beams and loaded a big trailer full. He could never have done any of that before. He says he is 90% pain free! What a miracle! The only thing he has done is taking ginger and turmeric (50/50 mix- heaping TBSP 3x a day), and the HA powder from purebulk.com -1TB 2x a day in water. He had never dreamed of feeling this good ever in his life! Every month he notices more and more benefits.
Thanks to the suggestions above, he is going to try mixing cayenne pepper in the ginger and turmeric too. At 40 years old, he says this is the best he ever remembers feeling. He has had pain from his childhood and now he knows how to live without pain! Thanks everyone for all your feedback and help! May God bless you richly
Water
Posted by Lisa (Thousand Oaks, Ca, Usa) on 03/26/2010
Hi Deirdre,
Yes! Of course, you know me and the juicing! I am convinced it can turn anything around if it is done on a regular basis. So, the vegetables that will aid the kidneys are asparagus, celery, cucumber and parsley. I am not too picky about the combos of greens as I have now been juicing on a regular basis daily since Oct and so much has changed for me. Lots of energy, no need to nap in the afternoon or experience that LOW slump around 3pm, my skin is so smooth and some people say, "Wow your skin glows!", melasma gone from my face, a large mole in the corner of my right eye is now only the size of a pinhead, sleeping well... I could go on and on. My point is that with all the benefits it is easy for me to drink my big glass of green juice every morning and then feel all the cells in my body sing praise! Try a combo of celery/asparagus/parsley and add a lemon or an apple for flavor. We even forage in our yard for the wild dandelions that I used to think of as annoying and now bless them for how they heal my body. They are powerful liver detoxers.
Really, I urge everyone to give green juice a chance to help heal your body. It is powerful.
Peace,
Lisa
Water
Posted by Lisa (Thousand Oaks, Ca, Usa) on 03/31/2010
Hi Janice,
We have a Breville and not the high end one. When I decided I wanted to go the route of juicing and raw, I wasn't sure how committed I would be with it and it really was experimental to see if there would be any changes. It was only $99 which of course is the low end of juicers really. I didn't and couldn't invest the money on a really cadillac-type but, I figured it was better than nothing at all! As David Wolfe often says when asked, "The best juicer is the one you have sitting on the back shelf!" At any rate, I love this thing! It's easy to clean and does a great job. I don't recall where I learned this tip since I'm constantly researching and studying new sites for tips in juicing and rawfood. The tip was, if you only have a centrifugal juicer then, take the leafy greens and roll them up tightly to put into the feeder. In between, use harder veggies to clear the greens from the blades such as carrot, celery, beet, etc. It really works! We juice parsley, cilantro, dandelion, kale, chard, etc. Perhaps if we had a high end juicer then we would get more juice from the greens but hey, it's working for us and I have my health back! Hallelujah! I have watched people on youtube get very creative who don't have the money to invest but want to juice. I love that- the desire to find health makes people get very ingenious.
So, give that a try. The key is to keep it all tight. I hope this helps you and you succeed.
To your health, Lisa
EC: We also use a Breville... stainlesss steel version. It's fantastic! We bought a re-manufactured one on Amazon and paid about $175 for it (vs $275 for a new one). We had to return the first juicer to Amazon as the on/off button got stuck after 2 weeks, but the second one they sent us has been running perfectly for at least two years now.
Deirdre
Water
Posted by Mark Dewitt (Cincinnati, Oh) on 01/07/2010
★★★★★
I had severe back pain years ago. When standing up from a seated position, I could only do so very gingerly. If I were walking my back would give out and I would go down on my knees.
Part of my job is interviewing authors when they are in town for a radio station and pod casts.
One day there was a book that came in the mail that was called Your Bodies Many Cries For Water written by Dr Batmanglelde. His book was a lifesaver for my back and he has an interesting story.
I increased my water intake and this worked a miracle on my back. It is not an instant cure like many on this web site but this really works.
Be sure to take your 8 glasses of water or more for great results
Ball Point Pen Technique
Posted by Lita209 (Sanford, Florida) on 09/11/2009
Redou: Do you have a picture that explains this exercise? I cannot understand it. Thank you!
Magnesium
Posted by Ted (Bangkok, Thailand) on 06/12/2009 392 posts
★★★★★
I have a direct feedback from a couple of users of Inversion table for their back problems, while it goes away rather quickly it keeps coming back. The maximum time in reducing the problem is 4 days and then it comes again. It's no permanent solution otherwise they had to go to the hospital again and again or had to buy the machine. That's not the CAUSE of the problem. The problem is the muscles pull on the back along with the usual weight problem, but it's always the excess calcium in the muscle tissue and the nerves that causes the muscle pull back and "contract" causing a back problem. If it happens long enough it can cause spinal "compression".. To reverse this and see the result significantly is to just take the magnesium supplements. Not just any magnesium supplement, but the water soluble kind. The worse magnesium supplements I have ever seen is sold in most drug store, and if I read their ingredient, it's mostly worthless, such as magnesium phosphate, magnesium oxide and magnesium carbonate. These have very poor water solubility and is not bioavailable. Whenever the added wax on top of that to keep the tablets in nice form, they also block the absorption such as mangesium stearate. The other thing that prevents magnesium from being utilized is the problem of calcium carbonate or any calcium that is mixed in the supplements.
The best form of magnesium I have found are magnesium chloride has the least of the problem and the magnesium gluconate. After taking them sa 100-250 mg the muscle pain will be reduced within 30 minutes and most is gone by the third or fourth day, including the back pain. The key to using these forms of magnesium is to dilute with plenty of water so it won't have the laxative effect and cannot be mixed with any alkaline preparations such as baking soda or citrates. The magnesium is taken solo. One simple way to take it that I h ave used for the fastest acid reflux remedy is the magnesium solution at 60-80% plus distilled water at 20%-40% and prepare as a dropper where the dose is between 6-12 drops in a glass of water depending on your size the dose is adjusted accordingly. For example a person of 120 pounds will likely take 5 drops but a person twice that weight likely to take 10 drops in a glass of water. I prepare in dilutions such as this to prevent the laxative effect and hence greater magnesium absorption. This is the best of all remedies for most of the back pain problem I have noticed without the use of pain killers.
Ted
Magnesium
Posted by Jess (Mi, Usa) on 02/25/2016
You can use your flakes to make Magnesium Oil, which some people take internally. It may not be very palatable, I haven't tried it.
Bring 1/2 cup distilled water to a boil. Add 1/2 cup magnesium flakes. Dissolve. Use this to spray on the body for transdermal application. 1 teaspoon has 550-600 mg of magnesium. You could try 1/8 teaspoon a few times a day and see how if it agrees with you. Cut back if you get diarrhea. I wouldn't take more than 1 teaspoon total in a day, though.
DMSO
Posted by Lucinda (Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA) on 01/04/2009
★★★★★
Found some roll on DMSO in a closet I was cleaning out and found your website. I have lower back pain and I put some on it. Already, it feels good! Thank you, Lucinda
DMSO
Posted by Jodi (North Fork, California USA) on 12/07/2008
My husband has been having upper back and shoulder pain so bad that he can't sleep at night. He's tried all kinds of pain killers without any effect. Last night I put some DMSO on his back and his skin blistered up and his pain doubled. Can anyone tell me what we did wrong? I used a roll-on applicator that the DMSO came in and didn't put much on at all. I did, however, buy it at a feed store. Did I buy the wrong type?
DMSO
Posted by Tapike (San Augustine, Texas) on 12/10/2012
I don't seem to have any sensitivity to DMSO, but for those of you who do, try looking for it with Aloe Vera added to it. The Aloe Vera seems to help in counteracting any redness, itching or blistering that the DMSO may cause. If you can't find the combination (usually found at local ranch/agricultural feed stores), then just buy some pure Aloe Vera juice or gel & stir in a little DMSO before applying. In buying DMSO, look for a 70% DMSO/30% Distilled Water ratio on the bottle. Try a 50/50 mixture of Aloe Vera & DMSO & if that's too strong, adjust the ratios accordingly until you have one that works best for you. Someone else may have better predetermined ratios than I do, however.
Sleep on the Floor
Posted by Jennie (Fort Wayne, Indiana) on 06/17/2008
★★★★★
I had chronic back aches for nearly 20 years until I began sleeping on the floor. It has been over two years now and my pain is greatly reduced. I will mention that it took a couple weeks to get my body completely used to it, and my hips hurt a bit from sleeping on my side on the floor. But after that first 2 weeks or so, I have felt great. (plus, it is much cooler in the summer time!)
EC: We agree -- this is a fabulous cure for back aches!
Magnets
Posted by Chu (Edmond, Oklahoma) on 05/31/2008
★★★★★
i have found that sleeping with magnets applied to my back completely eliminates my back pain, i was having pain in my back for two weeks so i researched and read that magnets may help, it took about on week but the pain was completely gone, it came back once more after i strained my back again and the same remedy worked again, i was able to find a back magnet called norso on ebay for around $10.
Magnets
Posted by Bustherh (Auburn, Maine, Usa) on 05/08/2012
★☆☆☆☆
Magnets may work for some people but I just have to add that I have been sleeping on a magnetic mat for a couple of months now which makes the bed a little more bearable just because the bed was too soft, but other than that it has done nothing for my back pain. Thank god I did not pay for it, this particular mat costs $800.
Copper
Posted by Alex (Thessaloniki) on 08/07/2018
★☆☆☆☆
I wore a copper bracelet for about 2 months every night and it did nothing about my herniated disc.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kathy (Las Vegas, Nv) on 04/07/2010
Just yesterday one of my friends told me the same thing! Everytime she has it her back hurts! Interesting...
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Eileen (Kerry, Ireland) on 09/02/2010
Hi, ive been taking ACV for the last week and half and I've found I have back pain as well, muscle spasm for last two days. Could that be from the ACV?!!
Magnesium
Posted by Ted (Bangkok, Thailand) on 05/24/2007 392 posts
Sometimes the sudden pain, from lower back (at least for me, which is more often than I care to recall) is due to a magnesium deficiency. If I take say 250 mg of magnesium chloride or other similar magnesium such as mangesium citrate or magnesium gluconate, the pain goes away completely on the third or fourth day. However most of the intolerable pain goes away in about 30 minutes to an hour. In case magnesium is not available, you can try sunflower seeds which contain some magnesium. But they take a lot longer to see results - sometimes more than a week.
Magnesium
Posted by Carl (Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria) on 07/08/2012
I started on Iodine recently and have been taking evaporated milk with it to mask the taste. I have over the years been suffering with lower back pain (On and off, more off). I have not had a spasm for some time. About 2 days ago I felt the first dreaded signs of an upcoming spasm. (I am currently finishing a huge project against deadlines so under a lot of stress as well and that always goes in hand with lower back pain for me) It hit me yesterday and I was debilitated with pain. :(. I started going through the site thinking the iodine played a role. I now realize that it might be the excessive milk I have been taken. I very rarely drink milk and only have cheese occasionally. So I believe the sudden intake with the resultant excess calcium must have played a role. Any body care to comment? It will be welcomed. I will now look for the Magnesium Chloride. I have used coconut oil (Natural Hair Treatment Product) this morning and it gave me some relieve. I also made one teaspoon of turmeric with ground black pepper and halve a spoon of ginger powder in warm water with a few drops of sesame oil. I mixed a teaspoon of honey to help getting it down. I do feel some relieve but nothing dramatic.
Peace to all, Carl
Clove Oil
Posted by DeAun (Edwards, Missouri) on 04/27/2007
★★★★★
I tried the clove oil on spine to relieve chronic back pain, which I think might be caused by a virus. After a couple of days, I have experienced tremendous relief. I feel quite limber and much better than I have for years. Thanks to Ted and Earth Clinic for all you do!
Eliminate Dairy
Posted by Phil (Dearing, Ga) on 03/31/2010
Oh and Oly, NEVER EVER use heat pads instead always use ice packs.
My father always believed in heat, But again My chiropractor always told me to never use HEAT. Heat can temporally paralyze you. Make your condition worse... You want to Ice for 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off, repeated for maybe say an hour.
Turmeric, Glucosamine, Green Tea
Posted by Don Juan (Westminster, CA) on 01/04/2007
★★★★★
I was reading about Turmeric for boils/MRSA and had been suffering back aches nightly, for a month or two. I went as far as buying a new Bed, still the backaches persisted. Last night, I bought some spice islands turmeric, off the spice isle at the grocery store, and picked up a bottle of CVS brand 1500mg glucosamine tablets Woke up this morning feeling pretty Good, nowhere near the level of Back pain on previous nights I've been experiencing some lumps and pimple like boils under my arm pits lately and had one on my face too I hadn't given it much though, but the boil on my face got me going and I decided to read up using google last night. Earlier yesterday, I put a Hot compress on my face, and drained that awful boil I knew from previous attempts that it could make it worse, But i went ahead and drained it, and used peroxide by noon I was swelled up pretty good, would you believe this morning the thing is Damn near cleared up, and my Back feels OK for the first time in months I'll follow up after a few days This morning I've made a Tea using the coffee maker I put two constant comment orange pekoe flavored green tea bags into a coffee filter along with a tablespoon of Turmeric powder, and a tablespoon of sugar The turmeric takes some getting used to but the Tea is simply wonderful hate to add sugar but i had too I'm having my second 12 oz cup of hot green Turmeric tea as I type
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Emma (Centralia, Illinois) on 12/28/2016 11 posts
Hi Susan, good post! I have chronic pain from fibromyalgia as well, and use Serrapeptase. I will NEVER be without that. No more writhing in pain all night. It had hurt just to move, let alone turn over, or try and get out of bed! I can walk upright again. It literally gave me my life back. Works right away. I also take MSM.
Boswellia
Posted by KarenM (West Australia) on 05/25/2023
What is "sw***on" and "EC"?
Stretching
Posted by Gwen (Richmond, Va) on 02/18/2024
The video is said to be private. Any suggestions on stretches for back discomfort? Thank you.
Recommended Books
Posted by Lois (NE) on 09/23/2023
★★★★★
I agree and highly recommend Dr. Sarno's books.
Magnetic Field Therapy
Posted by Steve (Nv) on 03/07/2017
Is it the earthpulse? I have one and it definitely helps with sleep issues.
Magnetic Field Therapy
Posted by Janet (In) on 06/01/2017
ORH. Thank You!
Ken and I are discussing this now. Common sense prevails where doctors leave off. Laura is locked into her doctor by insurance. So anything we can do to further her progress is what I am committed to.
Looking at it as an investment in our future. Health wise we are not getting younger.
Your insight is invaluable. Thanks again. Janet
