Treat your back pain without drugs

DIY

For acute back pain, try a heat remedy that will stimulate blood flow. We like Thermacare's Heat Wraps (£5.97 for two single-use wraps, from pharmacies). Clinically proven to be as effective as six ibuprofen tablets, it delivers heat for up to eight hours. Or try Cuxson Gerrard's Belladonna Plasters (from £1.49 for a 19.5cm x 12.5cm plaster, available at pharmacies), which use extract of nightshade to warm the area and stimulate blood flow. Each plaster can be worn for two to three days.

Walk tall

Bad posture can cause and exacerbate chronic back pain. Consider Alexander Technique lessons to correct the bad habits affecting your posture in daily life (visit www.stat.org.uk for more information). Changing your shoes can make a huge difference too - Earth Shoes, although expensive (from £79 at www.lovethoseshoes.com), have a slight incline in the sole that redistributes your weight to give perfect posture and ease back pain. They also help you burn three times as many calories as usual, and banish cellulite.

Relax

Meditation can help your back pain by releasing tension that stores up in your muscles. For an easy way to relax, add sea salt to your bath water (try Malki Dead Sea Aromatherapy Bath Salts, £5.95 from Boots). It detoxes and reduces fluid retention, easing aching joints.

Stay active

It's important not to give up on exercise - the days of bed rest are long gone. Swimming, walking and gentle stretch classes, such as beginner's yoga, are all helpful and can ease symptoms. Discuss any exercise with your GP first.

See a therapist

The following all have a good success rate with back pain and some are also available on the NHS:

Bowen technique

A gentle, rolling massage that releases muscle stress and stimulates a selfhealing process. Visit www.bowentherapists.com.

Acupuncture

The Chinese therapy that involves fine needles being inserted into key areas (acupoints) on the body's invisible healing energy lines (meridians) has been proven to work. Even western doctors, who don't accept the idea of the meridians' healing properties, concede it's effective, if only because it stimulates blood flow in the affected area. Visit www.acupuncture.org.uk. Read more on acupuncture, and find a practitioner

Osteopathy and chiropractic

A treatment that manipulates the joints in the spine. Osteopathy also uses some stretching and mobilising techniques. Visit www.bso.ac.uk and www.chirouk.com. For information, visit www.backcare.org.uk. Read more about osteopathy and find a practitioner