When you experience back pain you may not want to reach for an over-the-counter pain reliever to dull the symptoms because the pain is sending you a message that something is going wrong in your body.

Alternative medicine offers many drug-free, non-invasive back pain treatment options that seek to resolve the causes of the pain rather than simply dulling the pain away.

Here are a few alternative medicine treatments that could bring you back pain relief:

Massage Therapy for Back Pain Relief -

Massage therapy is growing in popularity as healthcare providers have come to recognize its effectiveness in providing pain relief for back pain.

Some of the benefits of massage therapy include:

1. Improved blood circulation

2. Improved range of motion from relaxed muscles

3. Increased endorphin levels, which provide natural pain relief

Work with a licensed massage therapist for the best results. If your back pain is caused by muscle spasms, you should notice some relief after the massage. If the muscles do not respond and relax then there is most likely inflammation, in which case you'll need to see a doctor.

Chiropractic Adjustments for Relief from Back Pain -

Chiropractors use spinal manipulation along with other techniques to support the body's natural healing power. Chiropractors believe that most of the diseases that humans suffer from can be traced to abnormal nerve transmission caused by "vertebral subluxation," or a misalignment of the spine

Chiropractic adjustments use gentle, non-forceful muscle and joint treatments to target the painful trigger points in order to relieve the tension and provide relief.

Acupuncture to Relieve Back Pain -

Acupuncture is a treatment based in the ancient healing system of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Since the National Institutes of Health declared in 1997 that acupuncture was safe and effective, it has grown in popularity and acceptance.

The acupuncturist inserts thin, sterile needles into specific acupuncture points along the body to restore the flow of the body's energy pathways, or meridians with each meridian corresponding to a specific organ and/or bodily function. The needles are inserted to restore the balance of "qi," or energy in the body, thus allowing the body's natural healing processes to work.

Acupuncture can relieve acute low back pain, sports injuries, neck pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome as well as many ailments and diseases.

Meditation for Back Pain Relief -

Meditation is a comprised of several different practices, which all have the ultimate goal of teaching the practitioner to quiet the mind, freeing it from the chaos and stress of everyday life and providing a quiet space for contemplation, reflection, or prayer.

By focusing the mind elsewhere, meditation encourages the body to relax which diminishes the feelings of pain and anxiety and increases a sense of peace, calm and serenity.

In addition to being able to provide relief from pain, meditation can improve your mood and memory, improve your response to stress, help you sleep better and even fight depression.

So, the next time back pain strikes, instead of grabbing a bottle of pain reliever, take a moment ant try one of these natural treatments and see if they can offer you some relief.