Maintenance Care for Chronic Low Back Pain

A landmark study which was accepted in January, 2011 to be published in Spine looked at maintenance spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) for chronic, non specific low back pain (LBP) and whether there was a reduction of pain and disability levels over an extended period of time.  About 85 % of LBP patients who seek treatment are of a non specific variety, where there is a lack of underlying pathology (bone or nerve).  LBP is considered chronic when it has been present for over 12 weeks. 

The study was divided into three groups:  control (sham manipulation), SMT for one month, SMT for 10 months.  Treatment was given three times a week for the first month of the study, with patients in both the SMT groups reporting significantly lower pain and disability than the control group.  Following the second phase of treatment (10 months), patients who received bi weekly maintenance SMT had significantly lower pain and disability scores than those patients who did not have maintenance SMT.  Although the outcome measures for both the SMT groups were similar after one month, the non maintenance SMT group gradually returned to pre treatment levels (similar to the control group) by the end of 10 months. 

Not only did the maintenance SMT group who received care over 10 months have better results regarding their pain and disability levels than those patients who stopped care after one month, they also had improved lumbar mobility and better perceptions of general health.  This study supports what chiropractors have been saying to their patients for years.  Once the initial phase of treatment has been completed to stabilize your back condition, it is beneficial to consider monthly maintenance care to keep your spine functional and hopefully avoid acute episodes of back pain.

Lowering Cholesterol and Triglycerides with Supplements

 Elevated cholesterol and/or triglyceride problems are very common in modern society, and are known to increase risk for heart attack and stroke.  Dietary changes which reduce high fat animal products and consuming food high in fiber are beneficial, but many people are prescribed statins to further reduce their levels of cholesterol and triglycerides.  Unfortunately, these medications have side effects such as muscular pain and liver damage. 

There are two natural agents that have proven cholesterol and triglyceride lowering effects that can be used to complement dietary changes and can be taken safely in conjunction with statin drugs.  Gum Guggul is a resin from a tree native to India that has received prescription status in India in 1986 due to its high level of efficacy in human clinical trials in lowering cholesterol and triglycerides.  Human studies have demonstrated that guggulsterone, the active ingredient in gum guggal, can produce a cholesterol reduction of 14-27 % in 4-12 weeks, and a drop of 22-30 % of triglyceride levels.  A striking feature is its lack of toxicity and side effects, unlike cholesterol lowering drugs. 

Artichoke Leaf Extract is known to increase bile secretion by the liver, which clears more LDL cholesterol from the blood stream as cholesterol is the building block of bile acids.  In a double blind, placebo controlled study of 143 people with high cholesterol, artichoke leaf extract reduced cholesterol by 18.5% as compared to 8.6% in the placebo group, and LDL cholesterol dropped by 23% as compared to 6% to the placebo group; and LDL to HDL ratios declined by 20% vs. 7%. 

To be effective, Gum guggul must be standardized to 50-75 mg of guggulsterone per day, and artichoke leaf extract a minimum of 400 mg taken two to three times daily.  As with all supplements, results may vary, but there is a concrete way to determine if this is supplement is effective.  Have your cholesterol tested and then do a three month trial of Adeeva’s CholesterolEx or similar product and have a follow up cholesterol test.