8 Surprising Home Remedies for Scoliosis

Scoliosis 2.jpg

Scoliosis is a medical condition in which a person's spine has a sideways curve. The curve is usually "S"- or "C"-shaped. Spinal Curvature Disorder can affect people all over the world, and some home remedies include oregano, thyme, peppermint, kale, alfalfa, sitting less, stretching more, losing weight, and regular exercise.

What Are Spinal Curvature Disorders?

When it comes to our mobility and physical capabilities, there is nothing more important than our spine, which is why Scoliosis can be so disruptive and distressing. Essentially, a spinal curvature disorder means that the normal shape of the spine is altered somehow, and this manifests in three main types: scoliosis, kyphosis, and lordosis.

Scoliosis is the disorder that most people have heard of, and is defined as a spine that does not run straight up the back, but rather has an S- or C-curve when seen from behind. Kyphosis is when the top of your spine is abnormally rounded, while lordosis manifests as an intense inward bend of the spine of the lower back. The causes for each of these disorders are slightly different; kyphosis and lordosis have quite a few similarities, including osteoporosis, slipped vertebrae, spine infections and abnormal bone growth. Scoliosis, oddly enough, appears to run in families, and the exact cause has yet to be identified.

All three of these conditions can result in back pain and discomfort, lack of flexibility and mobility, forward head position, and a lower quality of life due to constant awareness and adjustment. Scoliosis, in extreme cases, can even cause difficulties for the function of a person’s heart and lungs, which puts additional strain on the body as a whole. Formal treatments for spinal curvature disorders include surgery, back braces, medication and physical therapy, but that isn’t appealing to everyone who suffers with these conditions. As it turns out, there are a number of non-invasive home remedies that can be used to improve the strength and stability of the spine, or at least reduce the discomfort of the symptoms. Now, let’s take a more detailed look at the home remedies for spinal curvature disorders.

Home Remedies for Scoliosis

Sitting Less

When we sit down for long periods of time, our posture tends to suffer. The top of our back hunches over, our shoulders cave in, and we put excess stress on our spine and vertebrae. Unfortunately, standing for long periods of time can increase tension and strain on the spine as well. If you suffer from the spinal curvature disorder of kyphosis, you should remain active and mobile, not hunching your shoulders over while sitting (worsening the condition), nor standing for long periods. Lordosis and scoliosis are less affected by sitting, but sufferers of those disorders report that standing evenly on both legs does reduce back pain.

Kale

Kale might not be the most appetizing form of greens, but it is packed with important minerals that can significantly strengthen bone mass, namely by boosting the production of collagen, which the body needs to create muscle, tissue and bone, as well as bind those elements together. Adding kale to your diet can increase your overall bone density and prevent brittleness. When combined with a back brace or other force-oriented therapies for spinal curvature disorders, this dietary choice can help speed the process, helping the spine bend back in shape faster.

Scoliosis poster.jpg

Losing Weight

Obesity does not helpwith the severity or discomfort of spinal curvature disorders. This unnecessary weight puts excess strain on your spine and vertebrae, making your condition even worse, and making it much more difficult to correct. Losing weight through a proper diet and exercise is an important foundation before more formal treatments can be helpful in relieving these disorders.

Alfalfa

The high concentration of vitamin K found in alfalfa helps the body tightly connect bone cells and improve bone density, along with a number of other minerals found in this unassuming plant. With stronger bones, the treatments and physical therapy to reverse or moderate the effects of scoliosis can be improved and sped up. Scoliosis is not as reversible as the other two forms of spinal curvature disorder, and tends to get chronically worse over time. Therefore, moderating therapies to slow down the progression are important, combined with a mineral-rich diet.

Stretching More

Your shoulders and hip flexors are seriously affected by spinal curvature disorders, and can be major sources of pain, either due to poor posture, hunched shoulders, or constant compensation for a crooked spine. By using resistance bands to strengthen your hip flexors and shoulder muscles, you can prevent the inflammation and pain that often accompanies these conditions.

Oregano

Oregano has a naturally anti-inflammatory and soothing effecton the body, which also helps the muscles that surround the spine relax, thus reducing pain and allowing more flexibility in that area of the body. Rubbing in essential oil of oregano has been known as a remedy for scoliosis pain, and may actually improve the chances of being able to straighten the spine, due to the many antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the essential oil.

Peppermint and Thyme

It has been found that the slow buildup of microbes in the spine of someone suffering from scoliosis can exacerbate or speed up the process of spine malformation. Peppermint and thyme oil are wonderful natural antibiotics that can be rubbed directly on the spine or area of inflammation to boost your immune system and eliminate that gradual buildup of pathogens that can compromise your spinal integrity.

Exercise

While spinal curvature disorders can be painful, limiting, or even debilitating, it is important to engage in regular exercise, both to keep yourself in good physical shape, but also to improve circulation and strength throughout the body, particularly the back and spine. Exercising your core can help improve lordosis, while general resistance training and cardiovascular workouts can benefits your overall health and make your body more receptive to treatment and therapy to straighten your spine.

A Final Word of Warning: Spinal curvature disorders range greatly in terms of severity and speed of progression, but consulting with a medical professional, physical therapist, or chiropractor is always recommended. Many of these home remedies should be done in conjunction with a doctor’s more formal suggestions for braces, surgery, or medication.

References