Is Natural Back Pain Relief a No-Brainer?

Natural back pain relief without the side effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or analgesics is proving a popular and healthier alternative. This begs the question: is mounting evidence from clinical studies and millions of satisfied consumers signaling a change in traditional back relief treatment?

Americans love the pill.

They love the idea of popping a pill to get rid of the aches and pains of daily living. The pharmaceutical industry has become a willing partner in this national obsession. Back pain sufferers are willing to exchange possible drug side effects for temporary relief from painkiller pills even as they worry about health consequences.

While there are many natural self-care options available to help relieve natural back pain, such as stretching, weight loss and exercise, most Americans resort to the convenience of popping pharmaceutical pills. It’s simpler.

If you want a pill for pain, why not take a safer natural supplement?

Is there a better way while still using pills? The answer is a resounding yes. If you’re going to take pills/tablets/capsules, why not take those that fight pain and benefit your health at the same time?

Simply switch to natural dietary supplements, such as those containing glucosamine, cat’s claw, boswellia, safflower and fish oil. They’re effective, like drugs, only safer, because they don’t harm other parts of your body while blocking pain. Instead, they also improve overall health.

Your body recognizes as nutrients the substance properties from the natural plant world. They are assimilated and reach the cellular level, to provide natural back pain relief. In contrast, NSAIDs and analgesics simply mask pain temporarily, like a bandage, while causing adverse side effects, like stomach pain and gastrointestinal disorders.

Adverse Drug Events (ADEs) reported to FDA are increasing

Just how serious are the side effects from painkilling drugs? You be the judge.

One barometer is the number of drug therapy related deaths and injuries reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which nearly tripled between 1998 and 2005, the latest year from which statistics are available.

Such occurrences are called Adverse Drug Events (ADE), defined as resulting in death, a birth defect, disability, hospitalization or requiring intervention to prevent harm. Five out of the top six drugs on this list were painkillers, including acetaminophen.

In a separate report in March, 2007, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), the nations oldest voluntary drug safety reporting program, identified the 10 drugs most commonly implicated in adverse events requiring treatment in a hospital emergency department.

The list included four commonly-known painkilling drugs, including aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen and hydocodone/acetaminophen.

Natural back pain relief supplements eliminate fear of side effects

In the past twenty years, millions of Americans have replaced some, if not all, of their pharmaceutical pills in favor of natural dietary supplements for a wide range of health issues, including natural back pain relief.

The dietary supplement industry is not regulated as strictly as the pharmaceutical industry. This means there can be variances in quality between competing brands. However, the oldest and largest companies are the most reliable.

I personally use a nutritional supplement company that’s been in business since 1956 and is an undisputed industry leader in science-backed products. It has never had a single product recalled by the FDA for ingredient safety concerns or any other reason.

In 2003, this company introduced a synergistically designed pain relief system of three natural products, which have proved remarkably safe and effective for my neck arthritis and my husband’s knee arthritis and have provided natural back pain relief for my lumbar flare-ups.

Report says 79% of doctors recommend dietary supplements

Doctors and nurses are more likely to reinforce their patient’s interest in dietary supplements, according to CRN’s Sept. 16, 2008 Healthcare Professionals Impact Study which found that “more than three quarters of U.S. physicians (79%) and nurses (82%) recommended dietary supplements to their patients.”

The top five health reasons physicians recommend supplements to their patients, according to the CRN study, are:

  1. Bone health (33%)
  2. Overall health and wellness (32%)
  3. Joint health (29%)
  4. Heart health (26%)
  5. Maintain healthy cholesterol (22%)

There’s no dietary supplement industry regulation for product efficacy

The dietary supplement industry is not regulated for pre-market testing for product efficacy. Unlike drugs, there is no requirement whatsoever that a dietary supplement undergo clinical tests or trials prior to marketing to prove that they actually work as advertised.

Given the fact that natural supplements are used by patients to treat identical health conditions that doctors treat with pharmaceutical drugs (back pain relief, for example), it’s strange that the FDA legislates each method differently.

Not to worry, however. By doing your homework you can choose superior natural back pain relief products, and I’ll help you with that below.

You can find product efficacy in a dietary supplement company

If you want to try natural back pain relief products, your doctor will not likely help you with brand name suggestions. I was faced with this same problem—how to find natural products that I can trust for safety and efficacy.

It caused me to develop a list of 30 questions to determine what standards of excellence you should expect when choosing a natural or herbal supplement company. If the company you’re using (or thinking about using) doesn’t measure up with “yes” answers to all 30 questions, you haven’t found the best supplement manufacturer and probably not the best natural products.

The answers led me to a 50+ year-old company with science behind each of their products. They’ve invested more than $250 million in clinical testing, research and development and have over 90 published studies in peer-reviewed scientific journals—more than any other nutritional company!

When a product’s efficacy is proven, the science behind its formulation is the reason. Therefore, dietary supplement manufacturers that build products from a strong science base will likely build the most efficacious products.

I believe that if you find the best dietary supplement company you’ll also find they manufacture the best supplements on the market.

Featured nutritional supplements for overall health and back pain

By now, you know there’s a drug pill for every health condition. Likewise, there’s a dietary supplement for every health condition.

The following list of featured vitamins and herbal supplements may be helpful in attaining better health and natural back pain relief (click on the bold links for product/price information; the end-of-paragraph link for complete information on the natural substance):

  • Alfalfa. Alfalfa is extremely helpful for inflammation. Try taking tablets orally, or taking as a tea. The best alfalfa supplements are made from organically grown, sun and air-dried alfalfa leaves from mature (5-7 years old) plant, rather than young (under 1 year plants). Known as the “king of plants”, alfalfa roots grow very deep into the earth creating an extremely nutrient-rich food. Click on Alfalfa for complete information.

  • B-Complex. Includes all 8 B-vitamins of which B-12 has been shown to alleviate some forms of back pain. B-vitamins can help with nerve function from injuries or back pain and are beneficial when dealing with virtually any emotional or physical ailments. Click on B-complex vitamins for complete information.

  • Boswellia The ancient herb boswellia has natural benefits similar to arthritis pain relief medicines but without harmful side effects. A controlled clinical trial found that a daily dosage of 1,000 mg of boswellia extract taken in divided doses significantly improved joint discomfort, knee flexion, and walking distance. In a clinical study, an extract containing boswellic acids was shown to promote comfortable joint movement. For more, click on Boswellia.

  • Fish Oil . Omega-3 fatty acids containing EPA, DHA, and ALA. Fish oil is involved in the production of hormone-like substances called series 3 prostaglandins which have anti-inflammatory properties and support joint function related to maintaining a healthy back by “lubricating” joints. For additional information, click Fish Oil (Omega-3 fatty acids)

  • GLA (gamma-linolenic acid). The body uses GLA to form prostaglandins—potent, hormone-like substances that help regulate inflammation and many other body functions helpful in reducing back pain. Click GLA from borage oil for more.

  • Cat’s Claw Cat's claw can help put the spring back in your step. The specific extract of cat's claw herb from the uncaria guianensis has been clinically demonstrated to lessen joint discomfort. It’s a natural treatment that reduces pain and inflammation. For more info, please click on Cat's Claw herb.

  • Glucosamine Scientific evidence demonstrates that glucosamine helps maintain cartilage and is a key building block for proteoglycans — an important component of joint cartilage construction. In long-term clinical trials, people taking glucosamine experienced better mobility. Glucosamine hydrochloride is a more concentrated source of glucosamine and is bioavailable and sodium free. For more,click on glucosamine

  • Calcium-Magnesium. Calcium is required for healthy bones, muscle function and strength, nerve function and nerve impulse transmission and many other benefits. It helps with back pain and issues of cramps, spasms, and backaches..is a mineral found in. Magnesium is important for strong bones and healthy back muscles. Click on Calcium.

  • Probiotic Capsule. One capsule delivers 250 live Bifidus and 250 million Acidophilus to the intestinal tract. It is crucial to our health to have microflora bacteria in our small and large instestines—a healthy ratio is 80% “good” bacteria (lactobacillus, Bifidus, etc) and 20% yeast or other organisms. Helpful for back pain relief of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Click on Probiotics for background information.

  • Vitamin D at 800 IU. Also called Chorecalciferol,. Vitamin D is also produced from exposure to the sun. Vitamin D is crucial in maintaining strong bones. A deficiency of vitamin D is one of the contributing causes of osteoporosis. It is contained in a higher amount of 1000 IU in a specially formulated multivitamin for adults 50 and over. Click on Vitamin D in multi-vitamin for more information.

  • Vitamin C . A vital antioxidant, fights free radical damage; promotes strong bones and cartilage, slows inflammatory responses. Aids in healing injuries, bruises, and helpful for virtually any health challenge including arthritis and back pain. Vitamin C

Featured natural back pain relief products

Here’s a thumbnail on each of the three natural back pain relief products that have made a remarkable difference in the treatment of my husband and my osteoarthritis, as well as my recurrent back pain (click the blue links for product information):

Pain cream for muscles and joints—Consists of natural plant extracts with pain-relieving cooling menthol, this topical analgesic provides deep temporary relief for minor pain associated with backache, arthritis, bruises, sprains, and more. This product contains a proprietary blend of natural ingredients including sweet almonds, aloe vera and menthol. Its effectiveness is unique compared to other creams on the market. It’s the best we’ve ever tried and is an excellent natural back pain relief product. Its liposome delivery system penetrates up to 4 inches and relieves pain up to four hours.

Joint cushioning product—Consists of a combination of 1500 mg of glucosamine hydrochloride and 100 mg of cat’s claw extract, plus zinc, copper, manganese and boron, this natural dietary supplement helps build cartilage to promote flexibility, comfortable movement, enhanced mobility and range of motion.

Relief of pain product—Consists of a combination of 1000 mg of clinically proven boswellia extract (resin) standardized to 4% total boswellic acid and a patent-pending 150 mg of safflower extract, it provides pain relief for overworked joints, promotes flexibility and overall comfortable movement and is gentle on the stomach. This high quality dietary supplement contains no aspirin.

For natural back pain relief I highly recommend the above natural pain trio.


Natural Back Pain Relief Disclaimer: Health statements on this natural back pain relief page have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.








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