Here is a safer, healthier way to treat backache, muscle pull
Nov 02, 2004
The water story is endless. Water has many more medicinal uses: For instance, it can be used for treating backaches and spasms as explained below.
By Jjuuko Ndawula
The water story is endless. Water has many more medicinal uses: For instance, it can be used for treating backaches and spasms as explained below.
Water as muscle relaxant
Water can be used to treat muscle spasm (the involuntary, painful contraction of muscles that can stiffen an arm or leg or make it really impossible to straighten your back). This treatment can be used regardless of the cause –– whether injury or come on by a disaster like osteoarthritis.
Spasticity, another form of muscle tightness seen in some neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis, stroke or cerebral palsy, can also be relieved using water. In severe cases, other drugs may be used concurrently with water to relieve symptoms.
Muscles spasm resulting from direct injury can be treated with water directly. However, if the spasm is severe, muscle relaxant drugs can be tried for a short period. In spasticity, the sufferer’s leg may become so stiff and uncontrollable that walking unaided is impossible. In such cases, a drug may be used to relax the muscle. The relaxation of the muscle often permits water to be used for longer-term relief from spasm.
How it works
Water stimulates the nerve signals from the brain and spinal cord that causes muscles to contract, thus reducing excessive stimulation of muscle as well as unwanted muscular contraction.
Thus it opposes the forces that cause spasms.
Water in treating backache
Hundreds of people are suffering silently from backache. Most of these people use strong painkillers, which cause several side effects. One method devised by older people in villages is to lie down facing the floor and let someone catwalk on their back. The weight on the back stimulates the nerves, resulting in some temporary relief. However, this method is dangerous because it may dislocate or even break bones. Water gives much better results.
Method
Get a big basin, a towel and blanket. The basin should be big enough for your body to fit in. Fill the basin with warm water to a depth of about two inches (5cm). Lie down in the basin with arms and legs outside the basin. In this position, the entire spinal column with the exception of two or three vertebrae of the neck will be under the water level. Wet the bath towel, fold it lengthwise, and place it as support for the neck and the head on the slanting wall of the basin.
When the head is allowed to rest on the towel, the whole spine will come in contact with water. After taking up this position, cover the whole body except the head with a blanket to protect the body from the outside draughts. This treatment should last 15 to 20 minutes.
Treating muscle cramps
Cover the painful region with cloth dipped in hot water, subjecting the region to the action of steam. You can also apply heat by means of a hot-water bottle. This results in sedation of muscles, improving circulation and relieving pain. Apply a cloth soaked in cold water and wipe the area.
Advantages of using water
The main long-term risk associated with muscle relaxant drugs is that the body becomes dependent on them. If the drugs are withdrawn suddenly, the stiffness may become worse. These drugs are also associated with liver damage.
Any one taking these drugs should have his or her blood tested regularly to assess liver functions. Unless used cautiously, drugs can paralyse unaffected muscles and might interfere with functions such as speech and swallowing. Water also helps in improving memory, improving vision, boosting libido, increasing size of the penis and treatment of colds.
The writer is a medical doctor with a PhD in traditional medicine
The water story is endless. Water has many more medicinal uses: For instance, it can be used for treating backaches and spasms as explained below.
Water as muscle relaxant
Water can be used to treat muscle spasm (the involuntary, painful contraction of muscles that can stiffen an arm or leg or make it really impossible to straighten your back). This treatment can be used regardless of the cause –– whether injury or come on by a disaster like osteoarthritis.
Spasticity, another form of muscle tightness seen in some neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis, stroke or cerebral palsy, can also be relieved using water. In severe cases, other drugs may be used concurrently with water to relieve symptoms.
Muscles spasm resulting from direct injury can be treated with water directly. However, if the spasm is severe, muscle relaxant drugs can be tried for a short period. In spasticity, the sufferer’s leg may become so stiff and uncontrollable that walking unaided is impossible. In such cases, a drug may be used to relax the muscle. The relaxation of the muscle often permits water to be used for longer-term relief from spasm.
How it works
Water stimulates the nerve signals from the brain and spinal cord that causes muscles to contract, thus reducing excessive stimulation of muscle as well as unwanted muscular contraction.
Thus it opposes the forces that cause spasms.
Water in treating backache
Hundreds of people are suffering silently from backache. Most of these people use strong painkillers, which cause several side effects. One method devised by older people in villages is to lie down facing the floor and let someone catwalk on their back. The weight on the back stimulates the nerves, resulting in some temporary relief. However, this method is dangerous because it may dislocate or even break bones. Water gives much better results.
Method
Get a big basin, a towel and blanket. The basin should be big enough for your body to fit in. Fill the basin with warm water to a depth of about two inches (5cm). Lie down in the basin with arms and legs outside the basin. In this position, the entire spinal column with the exception of two or three vertebrae of the neck will be under the water level. Wet the bath towel, fold it lengthwise, and place it as support for the neck and the head on the slanting wall of the basin.
When the head is allowed to rest on the towel, the whole spine will come in contact with water. After taking up this position, cover the whole body except the head with a blanket to protect the body from the outside draughts. This treatment should last 15 to 20 minutes.
Treating muscle cramps
Cover the painful region with cloth dipped in hot water, subjecting the region to the action of steam. You can also apply heat by means of a hot-water bottle. This results in sedation of muscles, improving circulation and relieving pain. Apply a cloth soaked in cold water and wipe the area.
Advantages of using water
The main long-term risk associated with muscle relaxant drugs is that the body becomes dependent on them. If the drugs are withdrawn suddenly, the stiffness may become worse. These drugs are also associated with liver damage.
Any one taking these drugs should have his or her blood tested regularly to assess liver functions. Unless used cautiously, drugs can paralyse unaffected muscles and might interfere with functions such as speech and swallowing. Water also helps in improving memory, improving vision, boosting libido, increasing size of the penis and treatment of colds.
The writer is a medical doctor with a PhD in traditional medicine