Something I just read

Hi everyone.
Here is something I just picked up from todays Daily Telegraph. Have a read.

"Q: I am a 58-year-old man and have suffered from lower back pain on and off for years. Sometimes it just is just a nagging ache, but sometimes it is so bad that I can’t go to work. I have never had any treatment for it – I believe time is a great healer. Also, I worry that the so-called 'natural’ alternative therapies I read about don’t seem very natural, and that it is easy to become too reliant upon them. What is your point of view?

Name and address withheld

A: This is a pertinent question because of the growing range of alternative and complementary therapies on offer for back pain, in particular osteopathy, chiropracty, acupuncture and homeopathy.

While I agree that our bodies have a fantastic ability to heal themselves of any number of illnesses and injuries, we must realise that the way we live today is not 'natural’ either. In my view, our bodies have not yet adapted to the stresses and strains we now place upon them. Often we go straight from work, having done nothing but sit for hours on end, to our homes, where we collapse on the sofa for the rest of the evening, too tired to exert ourselves. Of course this is a generalisation – many people do exercise regularly – but slothful patterns of behaviour can easily become habitual.

Our bodies are designed to keep moving, with periods of rest in between. But these days, physical demands are equalled by, and occasionally surpassed by the emotional and psychological stresses. And as I’ve noted in previous weeks, the effects of stress on the system may express themselves through the body. Poor diet, a stressful working environment and lack of exercise can all compromise our body’s ability to heal itself naturally. Drugs may alleviate the pain but natural therapies can help identify the source of the problem and its consequences.

An untreated disc injury in the lower back, for example, may result in the supporting muscle tissues around it also being compromised. This could culminate in the type of long-term problem you are experiencing. Osteopathic and chiropractic practitioners will examine the musculo-skeletal system to find the cause of the pain; an acupuncturist may investigate blockages in your 'chi’ (flow of energy), while a homeopath considers the source of your problem from both a physical and psychological perspective and treats it through appropriate herbal tinctures (such as arnica to reduce swelling).

Whatever method you use, the aim should always be to identify the cause of your pain. If you can address that, then you will become more conscious of your body’s needs. And if that is the end result, then such therapies certainly have their place. Different people respond to different treatments, so take time in choosing your practitioner. And make sure you choose a reputable one: you can seek advice from the General Osteopathy Council (www.osteopathy.org.uk ); the General Chiropractic Council (www.gcc-uk.org ); the British Acupuncture Council (www.acupuncture.org.uk ) or the British Homeopathic Association (www.trusthomeopathy.org ). "
Hope you find this useful