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Natural Supplement Treatments for Back Pain
Natural Supplement Treatments for Back Pain
By Brennan Howe
There are a number of different ways you can treat your
naturally: vitamins, minerals, herbs, nutrition, and homeopathy
medicine. Some will help heal your and others are
dangerous, so it’s best to consult with a physician or nurse
practitioner before taking anything and never, ever exceed
recommended dosages. The FDA has no control over natural
supplements, so it does not recommend them.
That doesn’t mean, though, that all supplements are bad. Some
medications turn out to be unsafe, too, despite rigorous trials and
testing. The bottom line is to research every product you
consider taking and make sure you get supplements from a reputable
source, like a health food store. Everybody’s chemistry is
different and reacts differently, so if you are considering taking a
supplement equivalent to a pharmaceutical, you may still have some
side effects.
There are many natural supplements that can be found in supermarkets
and drug stores. You may have to check health food stores for
more obscure supplements. Like any kind of medication that you
buy over the counter, you’ll have a choice between the store brand
and name brands. Store brands are perfectly safe to use and
are less expensive because you don’t have to pay for advertising.
You can also buy supplements over the internet, but you should be
sure you buy from a reputable source so you know exactly what you
are getting. Do some research and ask around to find out which
online suppliers are the best and most reputable.
Listed below are some natural supplement treatments that have been
shown to help alleviate back pain. When dosages are listed,
you should know that if you are particularly thin or heavy, you
should consult an expert before taking the supplement. And
remember, natural supplements will not relieve pain immediately, but
have to be taken for weeks or sometimes even months before you see
results.
Vitamins and Minerals
VITAMIN E-400 IU daily; anti-inflammatory
VITAMIN C-250-500mg twice daily
ZINC-30 mg twice daily; anti-inflammatory
CALCIUM-600mg daily; strengthens bones
BORON: 1-3 mg daily with food; helps the body absorb calcium and
magnesium
MAGNESIUM- 250 mg daily; strengthens bones and relaxes muscles
COPPER: 2 mg daily
GLUCOSAMINE SULFATE: 500 mg. three times daily. Can rebuild
cartilage in joints and has been studied by the American College of
Rheumatology as an effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.
NIACINAMIDE: 500 mg three times daily; anti-inflammatory and heals
damaged cartilage. Can cause liver damage and aggravate diabetes,
low blood pressure, ulcers, and glaucoma, so have a doctor monitor
you if you take this supplement.
Herbs
Herbal supplements can be found in capsule or powder form, or as
teas. If you are making your own herbal tea, use 1 tsp. of herb per
cup
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of hot water. Cover mixture and steep for 5-10 minutes, or 10-20
if you are using roots. You can safely drink 3-6 cups of tea daily.
Muscle Relaxants
KAVA KAVA: Recognized by some doctors as a safe alternative to Xanax
and Valium.
BLACK HAW: relieves muscle spasms and is similar to aspirin
VALERIAN ROOT: Widely researched and documented as a sleep aid,
valerian has been given a number 1 rating for safety by The American
Herbal Products Association.
WILD YAM: Long used to treat menstrual cramps; generally taken as a
tea.
JAMAICA DOGWOOD: Used to treat muscle inflammation and spasms;
little research has been done on it and excessive amounts can be
toxic. Do not use with sedatives.
Anti-inflammatories
BROMELAIN: 500 mg three times daily
BOSWELLIN: 150 mg three times daily. Has been proven in clinical
trials to help alleviate low back pain
CURCUMIN: 400-600 mg three times daily; sometimes mixed with ginger,
curcumin has not been studied in clinical trials, but herbalists use
it as an anti-inflammatory.
MSM: Has not been researched, but herbalists use it as an
anti-inflammatory.
ST. JOHN’S WORT: 300-500 mg capsule three times daily; interacts
with a wide variety of medications and should only be taken under
the advisement of an herbal specialist.
Pain Relief
WHITE WILLOW BARK: effects are similar to taking aspirin
DEVIL’S CLAW: 400 mg three times daily. Used to treat arthritis,
research shows devil’s claw may boost the effectiveness of
conventional drugs.
Homeopathy
Homeopathy is a practice of medicine that has been around for about
200 years. It is based upon what is called the Law of Similars
and works on the same principle as do immunizations: give someone a
small dose of what would make them sick to cure their sickness.
Treatments have been proven in clinical trials, and are prepared by
a homeopathic pharmacy under FDA guidelines. Researchers don’t
completely understand how homeopathic medicines work, but the
evidence is clear that they do.
Homeopathy has been popular in Europe and India for a long time, and
is gaining popularity in the United States. Many practitioners
are doctors or have some other kind of medical degree, perhaps in
nursing or psychology. The legal issues surrounding
homeopathic practitioners that do not have medical degrees is
unclear, but most homeopathic remedies are sold over the counter and
do not need a prescription. Here are some natural homeopathic
remedies that are helpful in alleviating back pain:
AESCULUS: used for dull, nagging pain
ARNICA MONTANA: used in cases of trauma to the back
COLOCYNTHIS: used for weakness and muscle cramps in the lower back
GNAPHALIUM: used to treat sciatica, which is often associated with
back pain
LYCOPODIUM: used to treat burning pain
RHUS TOXICODENDRON: used for lower back stiffness and pain
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