The health of your back is affected mainly by how you carry and use your body, but also by diet, digestion and the way you cope with stress. Back pain affects most people at some time in their lives and is a leading cause of disability in the world. Many natural therapies can be used to provide relief from back pain, even when orthodox therapies fail to help.

Back pain may be a slight problem lasting only a few days or a serious, long lasting disability. Pain can result from any weakness in the back or from injury. Carrying heavy objects, exercising without due care, using a poor lifting technique, twisting or turning awkwardly – all these can cause damage. Bad posture, lack of exercise, sitting for long periods in one position, pregnancy and being overweight make back pain more likely and may worsen existing pain.

Stress is also a major cause of back pain. Less commonly, back ache results from a condition unrelated to the back, such as a urinary tract infection.If stress is a contributing factor, try to reduce the source of stress in your life, and use stress management techniques.

Hydrotherapy can be used to treat back pain. Hydrotherapy improves circulation and promotes healing. Apply a towel that has been wrung out in hot water for two minutes and then a towel wrung out in cold water for one minute. Alternate between the two towels for about 15 minutes. This is especially good if your pain results from muscle strain. This form of hydrotherapy is known as the heat and cold hydrotherapy.  There are various variations to it. For pain resulting from inflammation, just use a towel wrung out in cold water. To ease the pain of sciatica, apply just a towel wrung out in hot water.

Various herbal remedies can also help in relieving back pain. You can rub capsaicin liniment into the skin for an instant relief. Frequently apply hot compresses soaked in valerian, chamomile or ginger tea to the back to ease of the pain.  Arnica and hypericum are also helpful in relieving back pain.