Back pain: Making this childhood treat could help reduce symptoms

Back pain is a common condition that can be very painful for sufferers.

Many sufferers seek treatment to reduce symptoms, as they wait for the condition to disappear in a few weeks or months.

Options available include painkillers, as well as staying active to strengthen muscles and even trying to relax.

You can also try specialist treatments like a massage, therapy or, in some cases, surgery.

Back pain symptoms can be reduced by cooking gingerbread men, according to the Virginia Spine Institute.

This is because they contain the spice ginger, a possible anti-inflammatory agent used in traditional medicine.

“Ginger is said to improve circulation and blood flow,” said the US-based organisation on its website.

“Ginger contains anti-inflammatory compounds. In a study by the American Pain Society in 2010, subjects performed exercises meant to induce pain and inflammation for 11 consecutive days.

“The subjects give the ginger versus the placebo reported nearly 25 per cent reduction in exercise induced muscle pain 24 hours after a workout.”

Several previous studies have suggested that this spice may be beneficial in reducing pain.

A 2010 study from the Journal of Pain, and reported on in The Daily Express, said that ginger could be used to kill pain from sport or gardening.

In this, 78 students were asked to take capsules for 11 days and then carry out strenuous arm exercises on the eighth day. The participants then rated their muscle pain over the next three days.

“Daily consumption of raw and heat-treated ginger resulted in moderate-to-large reductions in muscle pain following exercise-induced muscle injury,” concluded the scientists.

Commenting on the study, the NHS said on its website, “Although this study suggests that taking ginger supplements may reduce muscle pain after exercise, this theory should ideally be tested in further, larger studies.”

Other ways to take ginger include by drinking ginger tea and cooking cakes containing the substance.

You can also reduce back pain by using peppermint oil, according to Dr Josh Axe, a clinical nutritionist.

“Peppermint and wintergreen oil are effective analgesics that cool inflamed joints and reduce back pain.

“You can mix these oils with coconut oil and rub onto joints or make a homemade muscle rub.”

Dr Dawn Harper, a GP, suggests that taking pilates may be the best way to prevent back pain.

“Once someone has strained the muscles in their back, it is often a recurrent problem so I am a huge fan of people doing core strength exercises and taking time to think about their posture. Pilates is great for this."