How to use apple cider vinegar for back pain? How does it work? Is it effective to relieve low back pain? What about sciatica? And finally, what are the other natural remedies to relieve back pain?
I. Bref Reminder on Back Pain
Under the name of back pain, we find many different pathologies, covering different disorders.
Quite widespread, with 8 French out of 10 affected, back pain can be of several types. It can be lumbago, a herniated disc, or sciatica.
Back pain is a pain in the lower back.
This type of pain can last a few hours or several days, and be temporary or chronic.
The causes of back pain are diverse. A prolonged sitting position, a sudden movement, or a bad posture, carrying a weight, can be responsible for back pain.
II. Apple Cider Vinegar for Back Pain
1. How Vinegar Acts on the Back
Apple cider vinegar is more than a cooking ingredient. It has countless benefits, and can also soothe back pain.
This product is very useful against back pain, rheumatism, or aches.
Its action is linked to its richness in mineral salts. Indeed, apple cider vinegar is rich in calcium, phosphorus, sulfur, and fluorine.
An NCBI study shows that the acetic acid contained in apple cider vinegar acts on pain, anxiety, and stress.
2. How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar for Back Pain
# Apple Cider Vinegar Bath for Back Pain
One of the methods to use apple cider vinegar against back pain is to pour 2 large glasses of vinegar into your bath before getting into it.
A handful of Epsom salt can also be a plus.
It is also possible to use this mixture in a foot bath, especially in cases of sciatica.
In this case, use 10 liters of hot water, a handful of cooking salt, and 2 glasses of apple cider vinegar.
Once your feet are in the water, stay there until the water has cooled.
# Apple Cider Vinegar Poultice
A poultice is another option against sciatica. For this, macerate a bunch of parsley in 25 cl of apple cider vinegar, and soak a gauze in the preparation. Apply the gauze to the painful area.
Against lumbago, mix in a container ½ glass of apple cider vinegar and 3 handfuls of dried verbena.
Put it on the fire for about ten minutes, and make a hot poultice with it. Once the poultice has cooled, apply camphorated oil to the area, massaging gently.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey for Back Pain
The mixture of apple cider vinegar and honey helps to alkalize the human body and fight against bacteria.
It is a drink that brings a lot in case of different ailments, ranging from sore throat to joint and muscle pain; among which we find the back pain.
4. Why Is Apple Cider Vinegar Beneficial for Back Pain?
# Weight Loss
The apple cider vinegar and honey drink help for weight loss. It is to be consumed on an empty stomach, in the morning, and burns fat while reducing the appetite. Of course, this is only possible within the framework of a healthy diet.
Being overweight is a factor that can cause joint pain and back pain due to the spine’s inability to support excess weight in the body, especially if there is a lack of abdominal muscles.
# Anti-inflammatory Properties
Cider vinegar has recognized anti-inflammatory properties, just like honey. The combination of the two products can therefore be effective in relieving the symptoms of pain in people suffering from back pain.
# Indigestion and Nausea Relief
In case of indigestion or difficult digestion, apple cider vinegar and honey can help. This preparation relieves stomach aches and regulates intestinal transit.
Similarly, nausea is alleviated in many people after consuming apple cider vinegar and honey.
# Regulation of Blood Sugar Levels in Type 2 Diabetes
This is one of the most interesting properties of apple cider vinegar since it helps cardiovascular health by regulating blood sugar levels.
This is why the consumption of apple cider vinegar is an asset to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes and thus avoid, even adjacently, the back pain related in many cases to diabetes and overweight.
5. Back Pain and Sciatic Nerve
The sciatica is the longest nerve in the human body. When we talk about back pain and sciatica, we are talking about pain on one side of the body, running down one leg. Often the pain reaches the foot, touching the buttock.
Having sciatica, or sciatic neuralgia is the result of an irritation of this nerve. A herniated disc is one of the main causes of sciatica, but it is also possible to develop one after a trauma.
6. Can Sometimes Apple Cider Vinegar Cause Lower Back Pain?
There is no mention anywhere that the consumption of apple cider vinegar could be the cause of back pain.
On the contrary, this product is cited as a natural remedy for both joint and muscle pain.
7. How to Use Turmeric and Apple Cider Vinegar for Inflammation
Prepare your mixture by heating 940 ml of water. When it starts to boil remove it from the pot to add ¼ cup of honey.
Insert 60 ml of cider vinegar, a teaspoon of turmeric, and 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Stir.
Place the whole thing for 2 hours in a cool place, and drink a glass of the preparation whenever necessary.
III. Potential Side Effects of Apple Cider Vinegar
Like all products, even natural ones, apple cider vinegar has side effects.
For example, it can, over time or in large quantities, cause gastric pain. Apple cider vinegar is also dangerous in case of stomach ulcers.
IV. Other Home Remedies to Relieve Back Pain quickly
# St. John’s Wort Oil:
As massage is one of the most effective ways to get rid of your back pain, you can use St. John’s wort oil for this.
All you need to do is massage with this oil between one and three times a day.
St. John’s wort oil is an analgesic and painkiller. It will relieve your muscles quickly.
# Vervain Poultice:
To use a vervain poultice, start by putting 2 handfuls of vervain in two cups of previously boiled wine vinegar.
Do this for 10 minutes.
On a thick gauze strip, put the liquid and put on the part of your back that hurts. Do this with the mixture as warm as possible, as heat helps enormously to relieve the pain.
Leave it on for 15 minutes until it gets cold.
Choose the officinal version of verbena, and preferably make this poultice in the evening.
# Mustard Seeds:
Mustard seeds can provide relief from back pain, especially when used as an infusion.
For 5 minutes, infuse a teaspoon of mustard seeds in a cup of boiling water. If you want, you can add a little corn flour.
Soak a clean cloth in this mixture, before applying it to the part of your back that hurts.
Leave the poultice on overnight if possible.
# Devil’s Claw:
To work on your back pain with the devil’s claw, you have many choices.
You can for example consume it in the form of tea, in association with horsetail. Put one gram of plants in 200 ml of water.
You can also take devil’s claw in capsules or tablets, in balm or cream, and even in mother tincture. In a glass of water, dilute between 5 and 15 drops and make a cure of 3 weeks.
# Coconut Oil
You can mix coconut oil with arnica to relieve your back pain.
Arnica is a natural pain reliever, while coconut oil is rich in oleic acid, vitamin K and lauric acid.
Both products work wonderfully in case of back pain.
# Turmeric
Turmeric is another name for Curcuma Longa, which is used in case of various pains, whether they are articular or muscular.
The properties of turmeric are revealed when used with black pepper.
# Essential Oils
The essential oil of St. John’s wort, for example, can be applied directly to the affected area. You can mix it with vegetable oil.
This oil has anti-inflammatory virtues and will bring you a certain relief to your back pain.
# Apply a warm or cold compress
Cold should be applied in case of over-inflammation. It allows the blood flow to decrease and reduces swelling in case of sprain or tendonitis.
Warm compresses are perfect for muscle stiffness. Hold the compress for about 30 minutes on the painful area.
# Massage
Massage remains one of the most common methods used in cases of back pain. It is necessary to use an anti-inflammatory oil.
You can thus, if you suffer from backache, make your massage with essential oil of wintergreen.
Mix two drops of it with a tablespoon of arnica vegetable oil.
By massaging gently, with large gestures, apply this oil to the painful area.
You can do it 3 to 4 times a day, and this for 1 month.
It is important not to use the essential oil of wintergreen pure but always to mix it with vegetable oil.
You can also use marjoram oil or chamomile oil for your massage.
# Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese method that uses needles to relax sore muscles.
It is a natural way to relieve your back pain. Acupuncture is practiced with the help of professionals.
# Chiropractic Treatment
Chiropractic is a rather effective alternative treatment method for low back pain and other similar pains.
In case of back pain due to muscle strain, the chiropractor improves the blood circulation in the affected area.
V. Other Questions About Apple Cider Vinegar for Back Pain
1. How Can I Add Apple Cider Vinegar to My Diet?
Apple cider vinegar can easily be added to a daily diet. You can use it as a dressing for your salads.
You can also drink it by mixing it with spring water or adding it to some teas.
2. How Does Apple Cider Vinegar Relieve Arthritis Pain?
Apple cider vinegar relieves arthritis pain because of its remineralizing properties.
It has been proven that acidity of the body causes arthritis pain. By acting on it, the apple cider vinegar relieves.
3. Does Abdominal Bloating Cause Back Pain?
Some abdominal disorders can indeed cause back pain. This is the case with colopathy, which can cause heartburn and radiate pain in the back.
This is possible because the entire digestive system is connected neurologically and mechanically to the vertebrae.
4. Can Kidney Pain Be Confused with Back Pain?
It is common to think of back pain as being in the kidneys.
Kidney and back pain are easily confused.
For example, when we talk about “kidney pain”, it is a pain located in the back and the pelvis.
5. Can Back Pain Result from a Urinary Tract Infection?
Pyelonephritis is a urinary infection affecting the kidneys. It is manifested by urinary burning, fever, frequent urination, and back pain (in the area of the last ribs).
It is, therefore, possible that backache is caused by a urinary infection.
6. Is Apple Cider Vinegar a Good Anti-Inflammatory?
The anti-inflammatory properties of cider vinegar are well known. This compound is a natural anti-inflammatory, which can relieve various pains.
Sore throats, joints, or muscles can be soothed by cider vinegar.
7. Can Apple Cider Vinegar Hurt Your Kidneys?
Apple cider vinegar is known to act on the health of several organs, including the kidneys. There are natural recipes using apple cider vinegar to relieve kidney failure.
The method consists in drinking a glass of water diluted with apple cider vinegar before, during, or after meals. It is also a way to prevent kidney problems.
8. Is It Better to Take Apple Cider Vinegar Pills or Liquid?
Apple cider vinegar pills and tablets are not regulated by the FDA. Therefore, the dosage is not fixed.
Consuming cider vinegar tablets avoid dental erosion and the acidic taste of the compound. But it is difficult to control the quantity absorbed and to know if they keep the same effects.
Useful Links:
What is the source of low back pain?
Apple cider vinegar diet: Does it really work?
Apple Cider Vinegar for Perioral Dermatitis [Use & Benefits]