Acupressure for Back Pain: A Natural and Safe Alternative to Opioids and Other Painkillers

Millions of people around the world deal with back pain every day. Regardless of its cause, back pain can interfere with your daily life.

Sadly, lots of people resort to opioids and other painkillers to deal with back pain. But these sometimes come with serious side effects. For a natural, safe, and effective alternative to opioids and painkillers, you may wish to try acupressure.

To learn more about acupressure and how you can get started with it, continue reading below.

What Are the Downsides of Using Opioids?

At a glance, opioids and other painkillers may look like quick fixes for back pain. However, they come with downsides and risks that you should keep in mind. Here are the main drawbacks of using these drugs to treat back pain:

Side Effects

Opioids and other painkillers may cause unwanted side effects like drowsiness, confusion, nausea, constipation, and more. Some of these side effects interfere with your daily life. In some cases, they may even increase your risk of falls, accidents, and medical complications.

Masking of Underlying Cause

Opioids and other painkillers only give you temporary relief from your back pain. Unfortunately, they don’t do much to address the root cause of your pain. In fact, opioids may make you less aware of pain signals and prevent you from properly treating back issues.

Loss of Effectiveness

The more you use opioids and painkillers, the more tolerant your body becomes of them. This means that over time, you’ll need to take higher doses to feel the same pain relief. As you may imagine, this can increase your risk of overdose and side effects.

How Does Acupressure Work for Back Pain?

According to traditional Chinese medicine, acupressure restores the smooth flow of energy in your body by applying pressure to specific points.

By stimulating acupressure points with your fingers, thumbs, elbows, or special tools, you effectively activate your body’s natural healing abilities and release endorphins, which are your body’s natural painkillers.

Aside from providing relief from back pain, acupressure also helps reduce inflammation, improve circulation, relax muscles, and ease tension.

How Can You Get Started With Acupressure?

Acupressure is easy to get started with. If you’re applying pressure to your legs or arms, you can easily do so without any equipment. But with your back, you may find that using special tools makes things easier. We’ll recommend our favorite products later on. For now, here are some tips to help you get started with acupressure for back pain:

Find a comfortable position. Whether you choose to sit down or lie down, be sure you find a comfortable position.
Locate the acupressure point that you want to stimulate. You don’t need to know where each acupressure point is. Some of Pure Gemme’s products treat large areas of your back at the same time. So, you can easily use your intuition to feel for any tender or sore spots.
Breathe deeply and relax. If possible, set aside a few minutes to put your phone away. Focus your mind on the sensation of the pressure on your back and the effect it has on your body. Take deep breaths and relax.
Be respectful of your body’s limits. If at any point you feel any pain or discomfort due to applying pressure on your back, feel free to take a break.

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What Are the Best Natural Acupressure Products?

Pure Gemme provides many great products that integrate acupressure to relieve symptoms of back pain. Here are a few we recommend to help you get started:

2-in-1 Back Stretcher and Massager. Experience your own acupressure massage with the help of this one portable device. This back stretcher eases muscle pain effectively in both your upper and lower back.
Ultimate Back Stretcher Massager With Heated Magnet Therapy. This innovative device can do wonders for you if you suffer from back pain. It’s designed to provide you with a deep acupressure massage experience that targets the most vital points on your back.

Back pain is a common problem that can affect people at any age. It’s caused by different factors, such as muscle strain, injury, and stress. Doctors often prescribe opioids and other painkillers for back pain relief, but using these often can bring about serious side effects. Moreover, they don’t really address the root cause of your back pain. For a safe and effective alternative to opioids, acupressure is great. To get started with acupressure, consider buying one of Pure Gemme’s recommended back pain relief products on our website.

Frequently asked questions

Is acupressure safe for back pain?

Acupressure is safe for back pain as long as you do it gently. However, there are a few cases where you should consult a health professional before trying acupressure, such as when you’re pregnant.

How often should you do acupressure for back pain?

How often you perform acupressure for your back pain largely depends on your needs and preferences. It’s best for you to experiment with different schedules and see what frequency works best for you.

How long does it take to see results from acupressure for back pain?

The results you experience from acupressure for back pain may vary. Some people may feel relief from their symptoms immediately. Others may need a few more sessions to notice a difference. In general, however, it’s best for you to perform acupressure regularly and consistently for significant results.

References

D’Aquino, P., & Carreau, G. (2022). How to use acupressure for back pain: 12 steps (with pictures). *wikiHow*. https://www.wikihow.com/Use-Acupressure-for-Back-Pain

Jacques, E. (2023). Benefits and risks of opioids for chronic pain. *Verywell Health*. https://www.verywellhealth.com/opioids-for-chronic-pain-2564486

Taking narcotics for back pain: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14, 2022, from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000413.htm

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