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Nutritional Supplement Guide for a Pain-free Back
There are a variety of circumstances that can cause back pain from poor posture to inactivity, sitting at your office desk for too long, excessive weight or walking too long in high heels. If you are a chronic sufferer of back pain and tired of the constant trips to the doctor then its time to start looking for another answer. You may want to try to use nutritional supplements to help. These are not short-term answers but have proven to have very positive results if you can invest the time. If on the other hand you suffer from acute back pain, nutritional supplements will be of no use to you.
Supplements can strengthen bone and cartilage, reduce inflammation, relax muscles and alleviate pain. If you stick to a regimen of supplements then over time they will help with pain relief because they will improve your general back condition. There are two groups of supplements. The first are ones are used to strengthen.
Glucosamine sulfate: This one helps to build up cartilage as well as improves the surrounding tissue. It could take two to three months before seeing any benefits when using this one. It is suggested that for best results take it on an empty stomach.
Calcium: This old favorite is used to strengthen bones. It should be taken with food.
Magnesium: Although this also strengthens the bones it can be used as a muscle relaxant as well. Magnesium and Calcium are often sold in one pill as a double hit bone-enhancing package.
Vitamins C and D: Both are used in strengthening bones and cartilage.
Boron: This is very useful as its job is to assist the body in absorbing the calcium and magnesium. It’s often found in multivitamins and should be taken with food.
S-Adenosylmethionine: It is used for muscle strengthening.
The second group is supplements that are used for pain relief.
Niacinamide: It is a form of vitamin B that assists with both the healing of weakened cartilage and is used quite successfully as an anti-inflammatory.
White Willow Bark: It gives the same anti-inflammatory and pain relieving results are aspirin but with fewer side effects.
Bromelain: This one is known for its ability to lessen inflammation and so affect back pain that results from sports injuries, surgeries or arthritis. Interestingly it is an enzyme that is in the pineapple. This should be taken on an empty stomach.
Cayenne: Although this is used usually as a spice it has become quite popular as a health remedy. It has two uses for back pain. It can be taken internally as that way it improves blood flow or it can be used in cream form to assist with muscle pain.
Devil’s Claw: It comes from an oddly shaped plant that grows in Africa and has many uses. It is known to lessen muscle discomfort because it contains the chemical harpagoside which helps diminish swelling. It is believed to be able to enhance the affects of prescription medications.
Turmeric: The ingredient found in this plant that works to fight back pain is called curcumin. It assists with back pain primarily when it’s caused by arthritis since it is an anti-inflammatory.
Boswellia: This Indian herb works well as an anti-inflammatory but because of its strong properties it is known to cause stomach discomforts and so should be taken with food.
Flaxseed. It has healing properties as well as acting as an anti-inflammatory. This is because of the omega-3 fatty acids in it.
All of these nutritional supplements with the exception of white willow bark can be taken with over the counter painkillers. But, hopefully using them will eliminate the need for the others. They can all be taken in powder or pill form. Doses vary based n one’s specific problem. Before deciding to use any of these you should first contact your physician to confirm doses and frequency of use. If the pain is bad enough see you doctor to determine the seriousness of your back problem. Ask if you should you use nutritional supplements or is it serious enough that you require surgical intervention. As well, keep in mind many of these should not be used during pregnancy or with various medical conditions.
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