Willow Bark,Vitamin D&Accupuncture for Back Pain

November 16, 2009

__

Q: I can't stand this back pain any longer. But I'm not sure I want to go

to a doctor about it. All they seem to do is prescribe pills that knock you

out, or try to get you on the operating table. And I've never witnessed

anyone who's had back surgery come out feeling all that much better. Do you

have any suggestions?

Dr. Wright: There are many natural options you can try to relieve your

pain before submitting to narcotics or surgery.

First, you might want to try willow bark, the natural anti-inflammatory

that actually served as the basis for aspirin. Many researchers have

maintained that willow bark has even more to offer than our synthetic

pharmaceuticals when it comes to relieving back pain.

Another possibility to explore is vitamin D deficiency. In fact, the Mayo

Clinic did a study several years ago in an inner city clinic that

discovered 93 percent of the 150 people with complaints of chronic, non-specific

low

back pain had vitamin D deficiency. And these weren't just older

folks...they ranged in age from 10 to 65 years old.

Also, just a few weeks ago, more news emerged regarding the benefits of

acupuncture for treating low back pain. Acupuncture involves inserting very

thin, flexible needles just under the skin along specific points on the body

that relate to organs, areas of the body, or body systems. The needles

work to correct the flow of energy (or chi) through the body, alleviating any

imbalances or blockages that might be causing pain.

To locate an acupuncturist near you, contact the National Certification

Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine by calling (703)548-9004 or

visiting their website, _www.nccaom.org_

While you could check these out on your own, it's always a good idea to

work with a doctor who is open to looking at nutritional and natural

solutions for your pain. To locate one in your area, contact the American

College

for Advancement in Medicine at (800)532-3688 or _www.acam.org_

Recommended Posts