Many people have experienced some type of back pain at some point in their lives. But not everyone understands what causes lower or upper back pain. Your spine is made up of 26 bone discs called vertebrae, and these vertebrae protect your spinal cord and allow you to stand and bend. Spinal diseases often cause pain and limit movement when bone changes put pressure on the spinal cord, spinal discs, or nerves. If you're suffering from any type of back pain, it's critical to seek professional help. However, there are several steps you can take to help treat pain naturally. Here's part one of our guide that will explore some natural upper back pain remedies.

Epsom Salt Baths
Epsom salt is thought to help reduce many different types of pain and swelling, particularly those associated with muscle strains. Therefore, relaxing in a warm bath with epsom salt is a viable upper back pain treatment option that's completely natural. The magnesium present in the salt will help your back muscles relax. You shouldn't soak for more than about 30 minutes, however, or else you may experience some dehydration.

Chamomile Tea
It may sound surprising, but drinking a hot cup of chamomile tea can naturally reduce upper back pain due to the fact that it calms the muscles and helps them relax. If you have any preexisting heath problems, you should ask your doctor before trying this as a remedy, but chamomile tea can help soothe the muscles causing the upper back pain for some temporary relief.

Ultimately, being aware of the many natural ways to treat upper back pain can help you achieve temporary relief. Again, physical therapy centers provide the best professional treatment that's more likely to work for the long term. In fact, a 2015 study published in the journal Health Services Research found that initial treatment with physical therapy results in 72% fewer costs in the year following the episode. The study compared patients who received either an MRI or physical therapy after their primary care visit. However, understanding pain management techniques can help improve day-to-day activity.

Keep an eye out for the next post, where we'll discuss some more natural upper back pain remedies.