Is it possible to treat osteochondrosis with folk remedies?

Osteochondrosis is a disease characterized by degenerative-dystrophic changes of the intervertebral discs and articular cartilage. Treatment of the disease is complex, including traditional medicines, physiotherapy, massage, physiotherapy exercises and traditional medicine. The latter include decoctions and infusions of medicinal plants, homemade ointments and clutches.

Osteochondrosis of the spine on a CT scan

Despite the fact that the effect of pharmacy drugs is superior to alternative methods of treatment of this disease, most drugs can cause some adverse reactions. Folk recipes are distinguished by a mild effect on the body and almost complete absence of the risk of negative reactions.

cervical

When it is localized in the cervical spine, a person is disturbed by headaches, nausea, stiffness during movement, attacks of dizziness when tilting and turning the head and general malaise. To correct degenerative-dystrophic changes in the cervical and cervico-shoulder area, the following recipes can be used:

  1. With severe pain in the neck, get readyhomemade analgesic and anti-inflammatory rub. Take 10 ml of iodine, 250 ml of 70% ethyl alcohol, 5 tablets of pre-crushed powdered metamizole sodium, 5 ml of camphor alcohol. The ingredients are mixed in a vial and shaken thoroughly. The finished rub is applied to the cervical collar area, after which this area is wrapped with a warm scarf.
  2. Garlic and ginger ointment. Finely chop 1 small ginger root and 1 clove of garlic. Mix with 1 tablespoon of butter. Apply to the neck area 2-3 times a day.
  3. Pine bud tincture. Take 150 g of well washed pine buds, pass through a meat grinder. Transfer the resulting minced meat to a glass dish and cover with sugar in a ratio of 2: 1. Close tightly and put in a dark place for 10 days. Tincture to use 1 tbsp. L. 3 times a day, regardless of food intake.
  4. Warm baths with the addition of medicinal herbs decoctionsand other natural ingredients. Due to the thermal effect, the procedure has a relaxing effect on the skeletal muscles, reduces the intensity of pain, calms the nervous system and helps improve blood circulation in damaged areas of the musculoskeletal system.
Osteophytes in the cervical spine with osteochondrosis

Bath preparation methods:

  • 20 pieces of horse chestnut pour 1 liter of water, then bring to a boil and cook for 15 minutes. The finished broth is filtered and poured into a hygienic bath. The average duration of thermal exposure is 20-25 minutes;
  • two handfuls of young birch leaves are steamed with 1 liter of boiling water and left to infuse for 30 minutes. The resulting concentrate is used as an additive to the medical-hygienic bath;
  • 250 g of pine needles are poured into 500 ml of boiling water and simmered for 15 minutes. The finished product is filtered and used hot as an additive.

thoracic

In people whose work activity is associated with a long stay in a sitting position, in addition to cervical osteochondrosis, thoracic osteochondrosis develops. In the treatment of this disease, it is customary to use such folk methods:

  1. herbal tincture. Take 50g of Potentilla herb and 70g of cinquefoil roots. The mixture is placed in a glass jar and poured with 700 ml of vodka. Medicinal tincture is stored for 15 days in a dark and dry place. The finished medicine is filtered and taken during the exacerbation period, 20 drops 3 times a day, washed down with a small amount of water. The course of therapy is 21 days, after which it is recommended to take a ten-day break and repeat the course.
  2. Alcoholic tincture of calendula flowers. Take 100 g of dried flowers of the plant, mix with 150 ml of triple cologne and 150 ml of camphor alcohol. The mixture is tightly closed with a lid and infused for 2 weeks. The finished tincture is used as a rub for muscle spasms, severe pain, burning, numbness;
  3. Water infusion of bay leaves. Mix 250 ml of water and 5 g of bay leaves. The resulting mixture is brought to a boil, poured into a thermos and left to infuse for 12 hours. The finished product is filtered and consumed 50 ml 2 times a day. The course of laurel infusion therapy is 3-4 days.

To achieve the best result, it is recommended to use the listed methods in combination with physiotherapy and therapeutic massage procedures, which effectively fights muscle hypertonus and other symptoms of pathology.

Another option to combat the clinical manifestations of the disease is hirudotherapy or exposure to leeches. EFFECT - the method allows you to eliminate muscle spasm, improve local blood circulation, as well as accelerate the recovery of the intervertebral discs. The active components contained in the saliva of leeches help reduce congestion and swelling of soft tissues. This treatment option is recommended for people with individual intolerance to certain drug groups.

Lumbar

Signs of degenerative-dystrophic lesions of the lumbar spine can serve as a factor in partial loss of working capacity. For therapeutic purposes, the following recipes of traditional healers are used:

  1. Red pepper warming mixture. Mix 80ml of refined sunflower or olive oil with 5g of chili powder and 10ml of kerosene. The resulting mixture is carefully shaken and used as a compress on the lumbar region. The agent has a locally irritating, anti-inflammatory and anti-edematous effect.
  2. Oregano herbal massage oil. Mix 0. 5 l of olive oil and 150 g of chopped dried oregano herbs. The resulting mixture is infused for 7 days, after which the oil is filtered and used in a relaxing massage of the lumbar region.
  3. Infusion of strawberry leaves. The medicine is prepared at the rate of 50 g of dried strawberry leaves and fruits per 500 ml of boiling water. The medicine should be infused in a thermos for 1 hour. It has a tonic and anti-inflammatory effect.
  4. Warm baths with sea salt. This therapeutic technique helps to relax the muscles of the lower back, improves metabolism in the structures of the spine and accelerates the regenerative processes in damaged intervertebral discs.

Knee and hip joints

Destructive processes in osteochondrosis affect not only the structures of the spine, but also the area of the knee and hip joints. Alternative medicine experts recommend the use of rubs, compresses, applications and baths based on natural ingredients for the treatment of this pathology. The most effective ways to treat the knee and hip joint at home include:

  • Hot therapeutic baths with a decoction of twine. The fresh and dried herb sequence contains an abundance of tannins, manganese and other biologically active components that can effectively fight inflammation and swelling of the joints. Take 2 handfuls of dry grass, pour 1 liter of boiling water. Boil the resulting mixture over low heat for 15 minutes, then strain. Add to hot bath.
  • Homemade egg butter. Separate 2-3 yolks from boiled eggs, fry in a pan until a dark liquid appears. The resulting medicine is poured into a separate bowl and used hot to scrub the damaged joints.
  • Pack of burdock leavespreviously passed through a meat grinder.
  • Fir oil, available in phytopharmacy. It is used during the relaxing therapeutic massage.
  • Lavender and bergamot oil. During use, try to prevent the oil from coming into contact with the mucous membrane of the eyes.

Effective folk recipes for the treatment of osteochondrosis

Table 1.Effective folk recipes for the treatment of osteochondrosis

An unconventional treatment Recipe and method of administration Therapeutic effect
Infusion of green fir cones
  1. Prepare 25 pieces of spruce cones.
  2. Take 1 cone a day, pour 300 ml of boiling water, leave for 40 minutes and drink hot 2 times a day for ½ cup.
  3. The infusion must be prepared daily with fresh raw materials.
It improves metabolic processes in the body, relieves inflammation and accelerates the regeneration of cartilage tissue
dill tincture
  1. Pour 150 g of dill seeds into 0. 5 liters of vodka.
  2. The finished mixture is infused in a dark place for 12 days.
  3. Use 15-20 drops 3 times a day.
Helps eliminate dizziness, normalizes metabolism
Black radish with honey
  1. Take 1 large fruit, wash it well and grate it on a fine grater along with the peel.
  2. In the resulting suspension add 1 tbsp. L. honey and 1 tsp. vinegar.
  3. The finished mixture is tightly capped and insisted in a dark place for 5 days.
  4. It is recommended to use the medicine externally in the form of compresses.
It has a local irritating and anti-inflammatory effect. Relieves pain and stiffness in the spine

Recommendations for treatment with non-traditional methods

Before starting self-treatment at home, it is necessary to be examined by specialists: a therapist, a rheumatologist and a neurologist to establish an accurate diagnosis, identify the cause of the disease, severity, predict the risk of complications and possible side effects.

During therapy with folk remedies, the following recommendations should be adhered to:

  • during the period of subsiding of acute manifestations, daily morning exercises should be performed, which will improve the flexibility of the body, normalize joint mobility and prevent another exacerbation;
  • observe a correct diet - eat dairy products, fresh fruits and vegetables, cereals. Follow the normalization of body weight. Eat in portions and divided, use kitchen salt as little as possible;
  • take into account contraindications for the use of folk remedies by patients with concomitant pathologies. For example, thermal effects on the body are categorically contraindicated for people with malignant and benign neoplasms, chronic pathologies of the cardiovascular system, blood diseases and severe disorders of the central nervous system;
  • throughout the course of treatment with traditional medicine, it is necessary to be under the supervision of a doctor.

Be sure to consult your doctor before treating any diseases. This will help account for individual tolerance, confirm the diagnosis, make sure treatment is correct, and rule out negative drug interactions. If you use prescriptions without consulting a doctor, this is entirely at your own risk. All information is presented for informational purposes and does not constitute medical aid. You are solely responsible for the application.