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eLearning Series:
Relieve My Back Pain NOW!
( 23 pages )
BACK
PAIN TREATMENT:
HOMEOPATHY & CHIROPRACTIC
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
- PHYSICAL
TREATMENTS
Unless back pain
is due to an infection, malformation of the back, or tumor,
your pain can probably be alleviated by some
type of physical treatment. All physical treatments are more
effective when done in combination with other treatments. It
is best if you can get a referral from your doctor for physical
treatment, and many insurance companies require you to do so
before they will pay for treatment. The effectiveness of the
various physical treatments varies, and it’s really up to you
as to which you are most comfortable with. The effectiveness
of physical treatments is increased when they are combined
with exercise.
Chiropractic Therapy
One of the most
common physical treatments for back pain is chiropractic
therapy, which is the manipulation of the spine.
The purpose is to realign the spine, increase the range of
motion in the muscles of the back, increase the flexibility
of spinal soft tissue, break down scar tissue, and reduce pressure
that occurs from restricted and misaligned spinal joints, all
of which help to relieve pain. Chiropractic therapists, which
include not only chiropractors, but also osteopaths and some
physical therapists, diagnose and treat only problems with
the muscles, nerves, and skeletal system and do not use drugs
or surgery. Going to a chiropractor is much like going to a
regular doctor: you will be asked for a case history involving
your symptoms, have a physical exam, and possibly have x-rays
taken.
Chiropractors
undergo intense medical training. They must have two years
of undergraduate work, and when they
enter chiropractic
college, they study the same topics doctors do, including
anatomy, physiology, x-ray, psychology, and orthopedics.
After getting
the basics down, chiropractors then study diagnosis and adjustment
techniques that most other doctors do not. Besides their
coursework, chiropractors also have intern and externships,
where they
observe and assist licensed chiropractors. All in all, chiropractors
spend about 900 hours studying and working in their field.
After graduation, chiropractors must either take a test to
be licensed in the state in which they want to practice or
the National Board of Chiropractic Examination.
Osteopaths
are medical doctors and can prescribe medications. They
must have an undergraduate degree and take the Medical
College Admissions Test before being admitted to osteopathic
medical school. Like other doctors, osteopaths take four
years of coursework and spend time observing in medical
settings. They do internships and sometimes residencies,
and must take
exams in order to be licensed.
Studies have shown
that chiropractic manipulation is effective in treating lower
back pain. However, it has not been shown
to be any more effective than any other method of treatment,
but has been shown to be better than no treatment at
all.
Chiropractic treatment is most effective when applied
within two months
of the onset of lower back pain, but probably will not
help people who have disc prolapsed, previous back surgery,
or
back pain due to disease. If you decide to consult a
chiropractor, make sure you tell him about any serious back
injuries
you have had, and any sharp pain or lower back pain with
leg
pain
or numbness. These could be the signs of serious conditions
that could be worsened by spinal manipulations.
If you
are interested in chiropractic treatment, meet with the
chiropractor in person to get a feel for the
kind of
treatment he offers, and look for someone who diagnoses
with a physical
exam. While x-rays are occasionally taken, they should
not be the only diagnostic tool used. Ask about what
kind of
manipulations the doctor or therapist generally does
and look for someone
who uses primarily slow, gentle motions rather than
sharp and sudden jolts. Avoid anyone who wants to crack your
neck, as
this can be very dangerous.
When you go for
treatment, you will lie on your side or stomach while the
therapist
does various manipulations.
He may put
one hand on your shoulder and one on your hip and
gently twist your body, or he may put pressure on the spinal
joints.
When
this is done, you may or may not hear a crack. Chiropractors
may also use ultrasound, therapeutic massage, stretching,
and muscle stimulation to help relieve back pain.
You
may have
some soreness for a day or two after treatment.
Studies
have shown that you should feel relief from pain in four
to eight sessions. While some chiropractors
may
suggest a longer course of treatment, there is
no evidence that it
will be more effective. If you don’t feel better
in four to
eight sessions, chiropractic treatment probably
won’t help you.
There are few
risks involved with gentle manipulations, but there are some
serious ones that can occur
in certain situations.
People with osteoarthritis should avoid twisting
manipulations as this can cause bone spurs to
damage the spinal cord
and nerves. Although it is rare, there have been
cases where
forceful neck manipulations have resulted in
neurological damage and
death. It’s best to avoid spinal manipulations
if you have osteoporosis or nerve damage. Check
with
your
doctor if
you’ve had spinal surgery, or back pain along
with fever, chills,
sweats, or unintentional weight loss. Chiropractic
therapy won’t help you if you have back pain
due to infection
or tumor. And finally, rapid neck manipulations
can lead to
strokes.
You can avoid risks by giving your therapist
a thorough account of all injuries and illness you’ve
had.
A good chiropractor
is one who is willing to work with your other medial professionals.
She
should
also give
you self-care
information and exercises to do at home. Avoid
anyone who wants you to continue sessions to
prevent future
back pain;
studies
do not show this to be effective.
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