Back Ache – A threat to life – An Ayurvedic Perspective
Were there times when your lower back laid limitations on you? Ever felt like you couldn’t take a morning walk any more? Have you ever felt backing off from your favourite sport , or even a simple task such as picking up a sock proves testing? Yes, we concur with the fact that an aching back can very well slow down life as the focal elements of daily functions such as sitting, standing, walking ,running involves our back.
Back pain has emerged as one of the most common causes for an absence from workplaces, in this day and age, back pain is not narrowed down to older individuals, in today’s time and age. You must be wiped out with all those external as well as internal medications! The former was just an abridged version of a much larger picture a backache presents. The real query must have been frolicking around you, are these medications enough, what else do I have to execute for a much happier lower back?
Let’s dive deep into the realms of an uncomforting back by kicking off with the causes.
CAUSES FOR A LOW BACK DISCOMFORT
Any discomfort of the bodily structures that guard the back such as lumbar spine, ligaments surrounding them, discs between the vertebrae, spinal cord and associated nerves, the abdominal muscles, pelvic organs or even the skin blanketing it all may impede back ache. It may also arise from an incoherent activity, an injury, stress or strain, poor posture or maybe secondary to any medical condition.
AN AYURVEDIC PERSPECTIVE
According to Ayurveda, the tridosas namely vata pitta and kapha form the cornerstone of ayurveda, back pain plays a victim of the vata’s cold quality that constraints the prevailing structures! This quality of vata also bears responsibility for recurring muscle spasms by squeezing it. Vata’s ruksha guna (dryness) also comes into play with its tissue-eroding nature which is a forerunner to a stiff muscle and inability to function in full form.
PRACTICES FOR A HEALTHIER BACK
1. Lifestyle and Nutrition
Ayurveda is not just any science, it’s an ultimatum of life
Let’s resort to a much healthier lifestyle by exploiting this science. Therefore mentioned backache demands a vata pacifying lifestyle and diet, let’s give the once over the habits that comply to the former, sleep should be optimal- tuck yourself under your blanket when cold winds hit and sleep away! Keep away from cold foods such as ice cream and let it be taken over by a warm hot bowl of soup or any food that is warm, unctuous and aids in an easy digestion negating the cold, dry and processed foods. Avoid much straining and shun the light! An Epsom salt bath is preferred!
2. Herbal remedies
Indigestion forms the root cause of many diseases and hence can be alleviated simply by resorting to a diet modified in accordance with the cause. Let’s call in common, renowned ayurveda herbs in order to ward off the ama(toxins) that might have accumulated in the body such as yogaraja guggulu,nirgundi,maharasnadi kwath. Dhanwantharam kwatham, Panchasakar churna-these herbs also find application in samana and sodhana therapies that involve in eliminating these toxins, however care should be taken in selecting certain herbal remedies as it may vary according to the prakriti,vikriti and cause of the same.
In order to alleviate the discomfort, anti- inflammatory herbs such as turmeric,ginger etc infused milk can be administered.
3. Yoga
certain yoga postures in lie with the objective proves fruitful in a healthy and happier back which can be securely done anywhere. However, caution is to be provided while practicing the same as faulty methods might result in detrimental.
- cats stretch (marjariasana)
- bridge pose(setubhandasana)
- locust pose(shalabhasana)
- cobra pose(bhujangasana)
- reclined twist(natarajasana)
- triangle pose(trikonasana)
- child’s pose(shishuasana)
Practicing breathing yogas that balance vata can be followed.
4. Meditation
A harmoniously positioned meditation assists in relaxing tense muscles and renders flexibility, the key to meditation lies in the sitting posture we adopt and also cashing in concentration to your breath or something peaceful, domino effect will be a calming vata and voila!
5. Maintaining correct posture
A good postural habit should be given grave concern owing to today’s sedentary lifestyle and also more desktop jobs, postures are not applicable only for sitting, a good posture must be emphasised while standing, walking, lifting objects, climbing etc in order for the muscle to function with its maximum efficacy, in order to retreat to a correct posture, one can make us of back friendly sofas, easy chairs,usage of low heels in the case of females, sleeping in a recommended position etc.
6. Abhyanga (medicated oil massage)
Abhyanga reaps a remarkable benefit against back pain which are as follows :-
- It pacifies the gati (movement) of vata thereby providing relief from pain, a particular abhyanga identified as Kati vasti is being employed in terms of backache.
- Observing abhyanga consistently supports a harmonious relationship with the tridosas and the body and helps in unclenching the sore muscles thereby relaxing the respective area.
7. Other ayurvedic therapies
A dilapidating back pain can be supervised by certain individualised therapies based on the prakriti, etiology, chronicity of the same etc. ranging from abhyanga (oil massage) to pizhichil (warm oil therapy), pinda sweda (fomentation with medicated boluses ) etc. Many other palliative measures can also be made use of.
Ayurveda to the rescue
The above mentioned tips can be tailor made in order to inculcate your habits for a healthier back and thereby a content life with which daily tasks will be better off. Ayurveda is a time tested science which never fails to prove its effectiveness by its long lasting results! In today’s time and age, ayurveda shines itself by its comprehensive lifestyle and dictum that if followed keeps many disorders at bay and keeps our overall well being in check!
