|
|
|
Improving Your Golf Game, the Optimal Recipe
There are hundreds, probably thousands, of articles about how to improve your golf. Just pick up any weekly or monthly issue of any golf magazine. You will read page after page on how to get better at your driving distance, how to improve your...
Materials for Snake and other Reptile Cages
What kind of materials should you use when constructing a reptile cage? This question was posed to me once by someone wishing to build their own reptile cage. They were particularly asking about pine and cedar as they had heard these were no good....
Revitalize Your Health With Herbal Supplements
There is a reason why comfort foods like homemade soups and aromatic herbal dishes seem to have a healing effect on the body. It is because many of the fresh herbs and spices used to create these tantalizing dishes have tons of healing supplemental...
The Important Golf Rules and Tips
Golf rules and tips are a dime a dozen. You can go to any bookstore or look on any golfing website and find hundreds of tips and rules for you to learn. How can you keep from being overwhelmed by all of these rules and tips you need to learn? Learn...
Traveling With Scuba Dive Gear and Equipment
With today's state of air travel and airport security, scuba divers often have to decide how to travel with all their dive gear. For those scuba divers who plan to rent all their equipment at their destination, this isn't an issue. However, the...
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Back Pain - Natural Supplement Treatments
There are a number of different ways you can treat your back
pain naturally: vitamins, minerals, herbs, nutrition, and
homeopathy medicine.
Some will help heal your back pain 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.
Since supplements are not FDA approved they must be accompanied
by a two-part disclaimer on the product label: that the
statement has not been evaluated by FDA and that the product is
not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease."
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 publicized 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 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
About the author:
Rene Graeber graduated from the University of Munic in
Educational and Sports Science and from the Paracelsus School of
Medicine in Hamburg from Naturopathic Medicine. If you're
looking for the latest, helpful information about alternative
medicine the visit his website in Germany at http://www.naturheilku
nde-preetz.de
|
|
|
|
|
|