healthy body tips

Back pain is one of the most common body pain problems we face. If you are having consistent backache issues that are intolerable at times, I believe you had caught up with the second most common neurological disorder - Back pain.

The occurrence of back pain can be due to many reasons. Start assessing the reason behind the pain and understand what are the causes behind it and why. As a matter of fact, back pain can be interpreted into more serious conditions such as herniated disc, spinal stenosis, spondylosisthesis, osteoporosis, or a tumor, hence it's important to find out what is the reason that is causing the pain.

Aside that, we've got 7 tips for you to relieve the pain in your back:

1. Vitamin D - Muscle pain is one of the body pain issues that will result to unbearable backaches, probably due to vitamin D deficiency. One easy way to replenish your body with vitamin D would be exposing yourself to the sun and allowing your skin to absorb the UV rays. However people with darker pigmented skin will not effectively convert UV rays to vitamin D as compared to others.

2. Yoga - Sign up for a yoga class to relieve back pain issues in just 16 weeks. The pain intensity, disability and reliance on pain killer medications will be significantly reduced.

3. Massage herapy - Go for a massage therapy if you are having lower back pains, especially for the women during pregnancy. Studies have proven that back massages will not only relieve chronic back pain, it can also effectively reduce anxiety and depression.

4. Capsaicin Cream - Studies shown that capsaicin cream can effectively reduce pain by acting as an analgesic effect. As compared to placebo, capsaicin cream can reduce pain by 11% more when conducting on a double-blind study.

5. Improving on Your Posture - Improving one's posture by eliminating bad habits such as slouching can help in reducing the pain, muscle tension on your back, and improve mobility. In our daily lives, we hardly pay attention to our sitting or standing posture and this eventually leads to muscle strain and adding stress to our spine.

6. Acupuncture - Engaging in regular acupuncture sessions can effectively reduce back pain on a long run. Studies have shown that people who are regularly taking up acupuncture sessions will have a significant reduction in pain after a year of acupuncture. After two years, people who are still consistently receiving acupuncture might had been pain-free by then.

7. Visit an Orthopedics Clinic - Seek for medical support if your back pain still persists after trying out the suggested remedies. It is advisable to seek for professional treatment if the pain is giving you symptoms that can be interpreted into serious health issues.


What is capsaicin cream?

Other names: Capsicum frutescens, Capsicum annum, capsicum cream, cayenne pepper, chili pepper, hot pepper, paprika, pimiento, red pepper.

Capsaicin (pronounced cap-SAY-sin) is the active ingredient in chili peppers. It's what gives chili peppers their kick. Why do people use capsaicin cream? Capsaicin cream is primarily used to relieve pain and itching. Conditions it is used for include:
Back pain 
Bursitis 
Fibromyalgia 
Joint pain 
Muscle pain 
Nerve Pain 
Osteoarthritis 
Pain due to diabetic neuropathy 
Phantom pain after amputation 
Post-herpetic neuralgia 
Post-surgical neuropathic pain 
Pruritis (itching)
 Rheumatoid arthritis

When it is applied to the skin, capsaicin cream has been found to deplete substance P-a neurochemical that transmits pain-which desensitizes a person to pain.

Capsaicin cream produces a temporary reduction in pain, so it must be used regularly to provide prolonged pain relief. What research has been done on capsaicin cream? hirteen out of 16 randomized controlled trials involving a total of 1535 people found capsaicin was more effective than placebo.

Arthritis - Researchers with Case Western Reserve University examined the use of capsaicin cream in 70 patients with osteoarthritis and 31 with rheumatoid arthritis. After 4 weeks of applying a 0.025% capsaicin cream or placebo to painful knees, the capsaicin patients had significantly more pain relief. Rheumatoid arthritis patients had 57% pain reduction and osteoarthritis patients had 33% pain reduction-both were considered more effective than placebo.

A European Journal of Pain study found that osteoarthritis pain was reduced after 6 weeks of using a 0.025% capsaicin cream. Back Pain - A German study compared a capsaicin plaster with a placebo for 3 weeks in 154 patients with chronic back pain. After 3 weeks, 60.8% of patients in the capsaicin group experienced at least a 30% reduction in pain, compared to 42.1% in the placebo group. Nerve Pain - A British Journal of Pharmacology study assessed the effectiveness of the topical pain-relieving medication doxepin, a 0.025% capsaicin cream, a combination, or a placebo in 200 patients with chronic nerve pain. After 4 weeks, all three treatments significantly reduced pain.

A study by researchers with the Geisinger Clinical Oncology Program found that cancer patients with post-surgical nerve pain had substantially more pain relief after using capsaicin cream, with an average pain reduction of 53% versus 17% for the placebo.

Researchers with the University of oronto evaluated the effectiveness of 0.075% capsaicin cream or placebo in 143 patients with post-herpetic neuralgia. After 6 weeks, those using the capsaicin cream had a significant reduction in pain. In contrast, patients using the placebo cream remained unchanged. A 2 year follow-up found that the pain relief was maintained or further improved in 86%.

At least 5 randomized controlled trials have found that 0.075% capsaicin cream is more effective than a placebo in relieving pain associated with diabetic neuropathy. An 8-week multicenter study of 235 patients with diabetic neuropathy involving the feet found that they were both equally effective in reducing pain. However, the capsaicin cream didn't have systemic side effects (such as drowsiness or cardiovascular side effects) prompting researchers to conclude that it may be a safer option.

Pruritic Psoriasis - A study by the University of Michigan Medical School examined the safety and efficacy of 0.025% capsaicin cream versus placebo in patients with pruritic (itchy) psoriasis. After 6 weeks, capsaicin patients had significantly greater improvement in itching. Common Doses A recommended starting dose is 0.025% capsaicin cream applied four times a day. If this dose is ineffective, a 0.075% capsaicin cream can be used under the guidance of a health practitioner. Capsaicin cream is applied directly over areas of muscle or joint pain or itching.

Capsaicin cream can cause a stinging or burning sensation on the skin. Not everyone experiences it and the sensation doesn't appear to be necessary for it to work.

Some practitioners recommend using capsaicin cream for at least 4 continuous weeks to evaluate the effectiveness. Safety Wear gloves when applying capsaicin cream. Do not apply it immediately after a hot bath or shower or use it with a heating pad. Avoid getting capsaicin cream in eyes and other mucus membranes or broken skin. he safety of capsaicin cream in pregnant or nursing women hasn't been established. Side Effects he main side effect of using capsaicin cream is that it can cause an uncomfortable burning sensation in the area.

Other side effects are coughing and skin redness. Higher doses can cause pain, inflammation, and skin blisters. Drug Interactions here have been no reported drug interactions with topical capsaicin cream. Where to find capsaicin cream Capsaicin cream can be found at drug stores, health food stores, and online. A tube or jar of capsaicin cream typically costs between $8 and $25.