Table of Contents
Overview
As you might not know, the spine that supports our body and brain assist us to stand erect. However, as this supporting structure is severely affected and curved, we might be unable to stand correctly. This is what occurs when we have scoliosis, one of the popular spinal curvature disorders [1] alleviating most people around the world.
What is Scoliosis?
In a medical standpoint, scoliosis is known as a back condition distinguished by the abnormal curvature of the spine. The spine when affected cannot run straight up the back and has a C or S-curve as watched from behind. According to a study, there are two mains types of scoliosis, including kyphosis [2] and lordosis [3] . While the former happens as the top of the spine [4] is rounded unusually, the latter is described as the severe inward bend of the spine from the lower back.
What causes Scoliosis?
In fact, there can be some contributing factors taking responsibility for scoliosis; however, most of them are found unclear. Many health practitioners as well as experts still believe that muscular dystrophy [5] or cerebral palsy [6] can be partly committed to this condition. Additionally, a recent research has said that a poor posture habit can be one of the scoliosis causes, particularly in teenagers and adults while they are standing and sitting. When this poor habit gets clearer, the body needs to compensate. The process of compensation can possibly result in muscle contraction [7] and subsequently lead to scoliosis.
Read also: How To Improve Posture
What are the symptoms of Scoliosis?
Apart from the unnatural curvature of the spine, common symptoms of scoliosis consist of shoulders that are different to each other in heights, head that not directly centered above the pelvis, different heights between the left and right rib cage, uneven waist, changing in look and so on.
How to Treat Scoliosis?
In some specific cases of situation, severe scoliosis can require a surgery [8] while several mild cases can be solved and treated effectively with the help of good exercises and proper nutrition.
Given below are top 10 workable tips on how to treat scoliosis that you should take a notice of.
1. Oregano
In scoliosis, the musculature which surrounds the spine has experienced tremendous strain caused by the curvature of the spine. Therefore, herbal oils extracted from oregano [9] that possesses an innate property [10] help your muscle relax. If you can spend time on massaging the spine and some areas surrounded with this herb, it can generate the positive outcomes.
This essential oil found in oregano also helps foster the immunity system. With prolonged treatment, this cure can correct the curvature to some extent. However, it is highly recommended that you should keep doing physical therapy along with it to receive the maximum recovery.
Read also: Home Remedies to Boost Immunity
2. Thyme and Peppermint
It is said that scoliosis can be result from the build up and development of microbes. Thus, in order to prevent it, herbal oils like thyme oil is consider as an effective scoliosis treatment. Thyme oil is known as an antibiotic ingredient in nature, which can help reduce the development of microbes [11] and give a hand to slow down or stop the progress of this disease.
Furthermore, thanks to the anti-inflammatory compounds in both peppermint and thyme oils, they are responsible for worsening the inflammation of the surrounding musculature areas. To treat scoliosis efficiently, you should massage it regularly with the combination of peppermint and thyme oil along with physical therapy to receive better improvement.
3. Alfalfa
Learning how to treat scoliosis is no longer hard to tell with the help of alfalfa [12] , a well-known herb that is rich in both vitamin K [13] and silica. Vitamin K aids in knitting the bone cells associated with vitamin D. This also supports the bone mass to remain and manage well the level of calcium [14] .
Silica and vitamin K help alfalfa rank top in the list of home remedies for scoliosis. A daily application of alfalfa combining with physical therapy helps you greatly correct the spinal curvature.
4. Kale
Another powerful help on how to treat scoliosis is kale herb that has been shown to be effective for increasing and strengthening the bone mass. More importantly, it boosts the collagen production, the elastic fiber [15] binding bones and so on. This herb provides your bone mass with an elasticity that its increasing can reduce the bone brittleness [16] [17] .
5. Nutritional Supplement
Your scoliosis sometimes can come from the deficiency of nutrients. Some essential substances need to be supplied into the body are calcium [18] and magnesium [19] . Those supplements help your muscle at the back relax and thereby relieving the chronic muscle that is connected with scoliosis. In addition, you should take selenium supplements [20] with the recommended dosage is 200 mg daily combing with meals. Selenium helps decline the osteopontin levels [21] that trigger scoliosis. One more thing you should remember that the high source of osteopontin can cause bone remodelling [22] [23] and lead to some dangerous situations of scoliosis.
Read also: How to Keep Your Bone Strong and Healthy
6. Stretching more
The spinal curvature disorders can have a negative impact on both your shoulders and hip flexors. By using resistance bands to foster the hip flexors and shoulder muscle, you can banish the inflammation as well as pain that are accompanied frequently with the condition.
7. Regular Exercises
Even though the spinal curvature disorders are painful or even debilitating, it is extremely important to participate in some exercises regularly to keep yourself staying in a good physical shape and strengthen the circulation as well as foster the back and spine. Exercising helps with lordosis improvement while the resistance training [24] [25] and some cardiovascular workouts make your overall health condition better to help straighten the spine.
8. Sitting less
One of the most potential helps on how to treat scoliosis is to limit the period times of sitting, which otherwise, turn your posture to become worse. Likewise, standing for such long period of time can create tension and strain on the spine. Once you are likely to experience the spinal curvature disorder of kyphosis, you need to stay active, instead of bending your shoulders when neither standing nor sitting. Sitting can less affect lordosis; however, people who are suffering from those disorders state that standing on legs evenly can ease the back pain caused by scoliosis.
9. Acupuncture
Acupuncture [26] helps fix scoliosis caused by muscle contractions because of its capability of releasing the body’s stagnant vital energy. When the vital energy starts flowing freely, your muscle can begin relaxing and returning to the normal shape. This can greatly improve scoliosis. In order to encourage the vital energy and correct scoliosis, electrical current can be passed through the acupuncture needles. This treatment makes the effects of the acupuncture progressive and thereby leading to deeper healing and longer-lasting outcomes.
10. Changing the lifestyle
Since lifestyle is partly committed to the symptoms of scoliosis, changing lifestyle plays such an important role in dealing with scoliosis. By now, you should improve your posture and search for how to move your body properly. Regularly exercises, particularly stretching, help relieve the symptoms of scoliosis effectively.
Warnings
Spinal curvature disorders can be complicated if left treated with improper instruction. Thus, consulting to a medical professional, chiropractor or physical therapist is highly recommended. These above-listed home remedies on how to treat scoliosis should be completed in combination with doctors’ useful advice for the safety reasons.
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