Alternative Origins of Back Pain
Relieve Muscle Achiness by Addressing the Causes of Tension & Stress
Back pain has many causes and many possible treatments including TCM, Raindrop Technique with essential oils and Louise Hay's affirmations to support upper & lower back.
Back pain can be, and often is, attributed to everything from too-heavy knapsacks and shoulder bags to the catch-all term “stress.” Holistic healers may approach back pain as a sign of energetic imbalance, a life in need of new direction or emotional support, or even bacteria infecting spinal fluid and the areas along the spine.
TCM, Touch for Health, and the Chinese Meridians
In Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM, the energies of the entire body are gathered into meridians, fourteen energy channels that indicate the state of health or illness of each organ. The meridians can be manipulated with acupuncture or by gently tapping or tracing them by hand to encourage healing. Each meridian corresponds to a particular organ, and is connected or related to a set of muscles and, usually, part of the spine.
Touch for Health applied kinesiology teaches that massaging the vertebrae can release energy blockages and restore health to the corresponding organs and systems – and the reverse is also true. If an organ is stressed or unhealthy, the lack of wellness is often transferred to related place on the spine, and can throw the back out of alignment. Realigning these energies can correct imbalances that contribute to back pain.
Raindrop Technique
Raindrop treatment is a specialized form of massage using therapeutic-grade essential oils. The oils are dropped onto the spine from a height of 6-12 inches and massaged in using “feathering” touch based on Native American healing techniques.
Raindrop technique includes not only the oils for relief of muscle pain and tension, but also the most powerful oils for fighting bacteria and viruses. It is believed that bacteria living along the spine contribute to back pain, acidity, soreness and disease. The raindrop oils drive out and kill these bacteria. Read more about raindrop technique.
Safety note: Raindrop technique was developed by D. Gary Young in consultation with Lakota Native American healers. It is only safe if done correctly, with therapeutic quality oils. If you are uncertain of the source of your essential oils, do not use them internally or for raindrop.
Louise Hay – Emotional Sources of Back Pain
Louise Hay, the original pioneer in the field of relating physical symptoms to emotional roots, has been known to attribute back pain to a feeling of being unsupported in life. Different parts of the back lend slightly different emphasis.
Healing the relevant emotional issue will usually heal the physical concern. Bear in mind that this approach deals with feelings, not the actuality of support or lack of support.
According to Louise Hay:
- Lower back pain generally signifies fear of money and lack of financial support.
- Middle back pain is often symptomatic of guilt, feeling “stuck in all that stuff back there” or a person feels pressured and wishes they could tell someone to “get off of my back.”
- Upper back pain often indicates lack of emotional support, feeling unloved, and/or holding back love. (1)
Louise Hay’s affirmations for healing back pain:
- Life supports me. I trust the universe. I freely give love and trust.
- Lower back: I trust the process of life. All I need is always taken care of. I am safe.
- Mid back: I release the past. I am free to move forward with love in my heart.
- Upper back: I love and approve of myself. Life supports and loves me. (1)
Learn more:
(1) Descriptions and affirmations drawn from Louise Hay, “You Can Heal Your Life,” Hay House, 2004.
