You are as young as your spine

Backache is one of the most common symptoms of ill health. Up to 75% of adults suffers from backache or back pain at some time, and countless workdays are lost due to bad backs. It is often said "you are as young as your spine".

Causes of backache include muscle strain, damage to ligaments, or one of the small vertebral joints or discs. It can be aggravated by obesity and pregnancy and stress can also cause the back muscles to tense, causing aching, pain and interference with sleep.

In the spinal column, the individual vertebrae are stacked one on top of the other, separated only by the cushioning intervertebral disc. In the middle of each disc there is cartilage that keeps the vertebrae apart. This separation is crucial because many nerves exit from the spinal cord, and they do so through the spaces between the vertebrae. With injuries to these discs, the gelatinous cartilage becomes softer. As a result, the vertebrae move closer together and crush the nerves between them.

Glucosamine helps restore the thick gelatinous nature of the fluids and tissues in and around the joints, and in between the vertebrae. Normally we form enough Glucosamine ourselves, but poor posture, stress, sports, ageing, and free radical reactions rapidly deplete the body's natural supply of glucosamine.

Glucosamine can give good results in a short period of time for the following indications:

degeneration, swelling and inflammation of the synovial fluids
osteo-arthritis during recovery of injuries, after operations and during recuperation
damage to and inflammation of the attachment muscles
slipped disc and sciatica
dystrophy of joints associated with ageing
injury and loss of elasticity of intervertebral disc
use preventatively in case of overburdening of joints, for example intensive sport, poor work posture, heavy lifting, generally in ageing and so on.

Other supplements to help with back pain include

Calcium/Magnesium, essential to build and maintain bone density.
Target Endurance to help strengthen muscle fibres.
Eight - a combination of eight herbs especially formulated for their anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties. It also relieves stress, headaches and tension but should not be taken in cases of Gastric Ulcers.
Tei Fu Massage Lotion for topical application to ease the pain of strained muscles.