Acupuncture - Originating in China, this age-old practice involves inserting long, extremely slender needles into specific points along the body to relieve pain discomfort and discomfort. Acupuncture also can be combined with electrical stimulation (electro-acupuncture).

Biofeedback - This involves using visual or sound cues to control the biological response to pain and stress.  Learning to relax muscles and induce a state of calmness can help back and neck pain patients. Some also claim that biofeedback improves blood-flow to affected limbs, however there is no scientific evidence to support this.

Homeopathy - This is an alternative, non-toxic approach used to treat illness and relieve discomfort in a wide range of health conditions. Founded in Germany in the late 1860's, the practice of homeopathy is based on using the "law of similars" to stimulate a healing response – a principle that goes back to the days of Hippocrates. The law of similars states that a substance that will cause disease symptoms  in a normal person can, when given in homeopathic dilutions to an ill individual, prompt the same set of symptoms to initiate a healing response.

Hypnosis - This involves entering a state of altered consciousness, usually artificially induced, in which you focus your attention and awareness in an intense manner. It may be helpful to back and neck pain patients to learn self-hypnosis techniques to distract themselves from pain and/or improve sleep.

Manipulation - Chiropractors, osteopathic physicians and manual therapists most commonly practice this intervention. Manipulation involves the movement of tissue by the laying on of hands. When performed gently, it is usually referred to as mobilization. (NOTE: Do not undergo vigorous or "thrust"-type manipulation or numbness, weakness or paralysis may follow.)

Doctors of Chiropractic and Osteopathy often perform manipulations that are called adjustments. Patients often experience temporary pain relief from this therapy and many prefer these interventions because they avoid the potential side effects or complications of medications or surgery.  Long-term and ongoing dependence on these therapies to provide pain relief is discouraged.

Over-the-counter herbal remedies - There are many different herbal remedies, but there is little research about the beneficial effects of such products.  Your doctor much be informed if you are using herbal medicines.  There are certain dietary supplements and other remedies that contain active biologically effective substances (eg, gingko, ginseng, vitamin E) that may cause bleeding at the time of surgery or spinal injection procedures.  If taken to excess, some herbal remedies can cause cardiac irregularities.  Deaths have been reported as a result of some remedies (eg, ephedra).