Nutritional Support for Body Aches and Pains

It seems that every where we turn, people are suffering from a variety of physical aches and pains. From sore backs, to sore feet, to muscle aches and nerve pain. People all around us are hurting physically. When we feel uncomfortable or hurt It is very tempting to grab over the counter pain medications to ease the discomfort or reduce the pain. Although medications can be helpful in an acute situation for short periods of time, they do little more than control the symptoms and do not address the underlying cause of the problem.

From a natural standpoint we look to evaluate our diet and lifestyle for triggers that may be causing the body to complain. a diet lacking in fruits and vegetables will cause the body to become acidic, leading to the accumulation of acids and toxins in the muscles and joints. Lack of nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, zinc and silica can cause structural tissues to weaken and become injured easily. Even high stress can effect us by inhibiting good digestion and causing the liver to become congested, both of which can effect the health of our structural system. A lack of exercise causes muscles to breakdown and become weak or tight, bones lose their density and ligaments injure easily.

In addition to realizing and making lifestyle changes nutritional support can be used to help build and repair damaged tissues. Some herbs not only contain the nutrients needed to build and repair tissues but they also have natural anti-inflammatory or anti-spasmodic properties. This combination can help reduce or eliminate the need or over the counter pain and inflammation remedies.

To help you learn about these wonderful herbs and nutrients I have created a guide for nutritional support to body aches and pains.

• Adults
• Children
• Structural Support
• Muscle Soreness, Muscle cramps, Tight Muscles
• Arthritis, achy joints, joint stiffness, Gout, Inflammation
• Sciatic pain, lower back pain due to over exertion
• Tendonitis, Plantar Fascitis
• Fibromyalgia
• Nervous System
• Improve Sleep, relax sore muscles at night
• Topical Help for Tight Muscles

Adults:

Super trio (#20-5) convenient single serve package provides:

2 super Supplemental multiple, 2 omega 3 fish oil and 2 Super orac antioxidant daily.

Super Supplemental vitamin and mineral without iron (#1809-0) 120 ct.

Super supplemental vitamin and mineral with iron (#1792-7) 120 ct.

Note: for people with good diets they can take 2 tablets of the multiple daily. For people with poor diets we recommend 2 tablets twice daily.

Note: Each 4 tablets of super supplemental vitamin and mineral provides 400 mg. of calcium and 400 milligrams of magnesium.

Calcium plus vitamin D (#1675-0) 200 tablets

*each tablet contains 250 calcium, 125 magnesium, 110 phosphorus and 120 vitamin D.

Vitamin D3 (1155-1) 60 ct. each tablet contains 2000 iu of D3. Recommend 1-2 daily

Super Omega 3 fish oils (#1515-7) Take 1-2 daily to supplement diet

Elderberry Defense (#879-2) herbal support to help prevent colds and flu

Ultimate GreenZone capsules (#1104-4) Provides green foods, whole grains and lots of antioxidants for people who do not eat a lot of fruits or vegetables.

Children:

Herb Trio Pack w/ carrying case (#3350-3) Each package contain one bottle each of:

Multiple vitamin and minerals, Whole food antioxidant and omega 3 with DHA

Sunshine Heroes Probiotic Power (#3346-7) recommended for children with weak immune systems or who have been on repeated rounds of antibiotics.

Sunshine Heroes chewable Calcium plus D3 (#3343-1) each tablet provides:

300mg. of calcium, 125 mg of phosphorus and 300 iu of vitamin D3

Elderberry Immune soft chews (#3347-8) Herbal support to help prevent colds and flu

Structural Support

Degenerative dics, cartilage repair, building synovial fluid:

Everflex System: Structural (#948-4)

This combination combines the benefits of glucosamine, MSM, chondrotin, and the herb Devil’s Claw to support the repair of joints, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage. The formula supports strength and flexibility of joint tissues, and contains natural substances that are anti-inflammatory, and help reduce pain.

Recommended Dose: 2 Tablets twice daily for 2-3 months. Dose may be reduced over time to 2 tablets once daily once condition has improved.

Each person is different on how quickly they heal and how much inflammation they have, so reduce dose slowly, increase if symptoms re-appear.

Considerations for use: Use when there is breakdown of cartilage or synovial fluid in the joints. Degenerative discs. This formula will help to rebuild cartilage and fluid between joints as well as reduce pain and inflammation.

Warnings: Due not use during pregnancy, People who suffer from active duodenal or gastric ulcers should avoid this formula due to the presence of Devil’s claw, which promotes the secretion of stomach Acid. Take with a meal

Additional Products: Considering combining this product with Skeletal Strength to provide a base product to rebuild the structural and muscular system.

Skeletal Strength (key product for structural system) (#1806-7)

A complete mineral supplement for the bones, joints, and muscles. Containing calcium and magnesium balanced with other key minerals and vitamins to ensure absorption. These minerals are chelated and include enzymes so they are at least 40% more absorbable than other forms. This formula benefits the bones, joints, and muscles. As well as help calming nerves, and promoting restful sleep. This formula contains enzymes which help in absorption, making it an excellent choice for clients over 50 years of age, or those with weak digestion.

Recommended Dose: Take 2 tablets 2-3 times daily.

Note: this product would be used in a place of their daily calcium/magnesium supplement

Water, Water, Water…. Discuss water consumption with clients. This is very important in order to get good results with products and eliminate unwanted side effects.

Lack of water intake when using herbs may trigger headaches or nausea due to natural cleansing reactions.

Muscle Soreness, Muscle cramps, Tight Muscles

Magnesium Complex: System: Muscular, Nervous (#1859-8)

Magnesium deficiency is common is about 80% of the population. A lack of magnesium causes

Muscle cramps, nervous irritability, menstrual cramps, tension headaches, constipation, muscle tightness, and feeling uncomfortable around big crowds of people. Any muscle in the body can spasm due to low magnesium including the heart (Arrhythmia), Lungs (asthmatic spasms), colon (constipation), bladder (urinary frequency, bed wetting). Magnesium is typically low in people with insulin resistance or diabetes. Can be taken at bedtime to help sleep.

Dosage: 2 capsules 2–3 X daily.

Warnings: too much magnesium can cause loose stools, decrease dose (this form of magnesium rarely causes this to happen)

Arthritis, achy joints, joint stiffness, Gout, Inflammation

Yucca System: Structural (#770-3)

This is a fantastic herb for sore inflamed joints, arthritis, or for joints that are just stiff and a little achy and tend to snap, crack, and pop a lot. In over 90% of the cases, yucca will reduce the pain level in arthritis to 50% or better than before using the herb. Yucca contains natural steroid saponins to control inflammation. It also contains properties to clean the joints of calcium deposits or bone spurs.

Considerations for Use: Arthritis, sore joints, heal spurs, gout (combine with alfalfa at 6 per day for gout)

Recommended Dose: 3 capsules 2-3 times daily, Reduce dose slowly- as condition improves

Recommended support product:

Alfalfa: System: Nutritional tonic (#30-2, 100 ct.) or bulk (#32-7, 270 ct.)

Alfalfa is a dark green plant that is rich in minerals and trace minerals. It has a long history of use in helping joint conditions. Alfalfa builds the blood, enhances energy and alkalizes the body. Over acid blood is associated with joint conditions. Alfalfa is an excellent source of potassium and will help flush excess water retention. This supplement is important for people who do not consume a lot of vegetables daily. Combine alfalfa w/ yucca to improve results

Dose: 4-6 daily (expect more volume with urination, improved bowel elimination)

Sciatic pain, lower back pain due to over exertion

Sciatica (#8820-6)

A natural homeopathic medicine for the relief of lower back pain due to sciatica or overexertion. Take 10–15 drops under the tongue every 10–15 minutes, or as needed. As symptoms improve, decrease to every one or two hours, then to four times daily until symptoms are relieved. Not recommended for children under 12.

Additional products: consider combining this with a formula with Yucca to reduce inflammation or Magnesium Complex to relax tight muscles

Tendonitis, Plantar Fascitis

MSM: System: Structural, Connective tissue (#4059-4)

MSM provides sulfur, a vital building block of joints, cartilage, skin, hair and nails. Sulfur helps maintain the structure of connective tissue by forming cross-linkages through disulfide bonds, i.e., sulfur strengthens the tissues that make up the joint. MSM is prized by professional and amateur athletes for effective nutritional support of athletic performance and recovery from soft tissue and joint injuries. MSM promotes healthy flexible cells which is very important for healthy tendons. It has natural anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties and improves circulation to the injury site.

Recommended Dose: 2 Tablets 3 times daily for 2 weeks, then 2 tablets 2 twice daily for another 4 weeks, decrease as the condition improves. Maintenance dose is 1-2 daily.

Considerations for Use: Tendonitis, bursitis, improving flexibility, soft tissue injury, reducing pain and inflammation. MSM is also very good for balancing stomach acid production for clients who suffer from acid indigestion or heartburn. MSM also is great for healing chronic lung conditions. Warnings: None

Supporting product: combine the MSM with Skeletal Strength 3-4 tablets daily for more complete support to the structural system. Skeletal strength is a key product for the structural system. It contains vitamins, minerals and herbs needed by the body to maintain healthy joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons.

Fibromyalgia

Fibralgia System: Muscular (#4061-6)

For those of you who suffer from tight, sore muscles such as those associated with Fibromyalgia this formula can help. This combination of Malic Acid and Magnesium has been shown to increase oxygen supply to the muscles, helping to prevent them from becoming so easily fatigued. The magnesium also helps to relax those tight muscles that can lead to pain.

Recommended Dose: 2 capsules three times daily through the first bottle then 2 capsules twice daily, reduce slowly as your condition improves.

Note: People with fibromyalgia have weak adrenal glands and have been under high stress for a long time. . I recommend their program include Nutri-Calm (1 tablet 3 times daily) to combat stress and Adrenal Support (1 capsule 3 times daily) to build and strengthen the adrenal glands.

Nervous System

Nutri-Calm (#4803-3, 60 ct. / #1617-3, 100 ct.) **Key Product for Nervous system

This formula is a key product designed to support the nervous system especially under times of stress. The formula combines a high potency B-Complex in a base of calming herbs, along with Vitamin C to support the adrenal glands. Healthy adrenal glands are important for your ability to handle long term stresses.

Recommended Dose: 1-2 Tablet 3 times daily with meals.

Considerations for use: use for high stress individuals that can’t relax, have tight shoulder muscles, talk fast, on the go all the time, suffer from anxiety or excess worry.

Additional products: for tight muscles add Magnesium Complex 2 twice daily.

Adrenal Support (#1507-0) For recover from long term stress or long term pain

This product is recommended for those who have been under stress for a long time and feel “burned out “or suffer chronic fatigue. The formula contains vitamins, minerals, and raw glandulars needed to rebuild and strengthen the function of the adrenal gland.

Recommended Dose: 2-3 capsules daily for 2-6 months

Neuralgia pain and healing

(Combine lecithin, Nutri-calm and magnesium complex)

Lecithin (#1660-5) Lecithin is an important phospholipid (fatty substance) needed by all living cells. It is important to the formation of a healthy myelin sheath. Choline and inositol are two components of lecithin that are especially important for nerve function. These ingredients are needed to make a chemical that carries nerve messages across the nerve synapses. Lecithin along with the B-vitamins help keep this coating healthy. Lack of lecithin can create thin frazzled nerves that are over sensitive to pain.

Recommended Dose: 3 caplets twice daily for 1-2 months then 4 daily for several months.

Magnesium complex: nerves can become hypersensitive to pain without enough magnesium

Improve Sleep, relax sore muscles at night

Herbal Sleep System: Nervous, Muscular (#940-8)

This herbal blend of hops, valerian, and passion flower supports the nervous system with the many elements it needs to function. The formula promotes restful sleep when taken at night, or during the day it helps calm the body. Traditionally used for insomnia, muscle spasms, and nervous headaches.

Recommended Dose: 2-4 capsules at bedtime, doses vary according to body weight.

Warnings: This formula would be contraindicated if the client is already on some type of sleeping medication at bedtime. For clients wishing to replace medication, Use Herbal sleep on alternating nights with their medication, for a period of 7 days, then increase Herbal Sleep to 2 nights on and one night off for another week.

Melatonin (#2830-4) for adults over 40 years of age, or people who have to work shift work. Melatonin helps to reset the clock to help the body fall asleep and rest through the night.

1 capsule 30 minutes before bed

Chinese Nervous Fatigue (#1884-7)

This is a good herbal formula to help people recover from long term stressed who have become “burned out” emotionally and mentally. It is particularly helpful for those who have restless sleep, night sweats, and restless dreams, feel overwhelmed and have muddled thoughts.

Recommended Dose: 4 capsules at bedtime, or can be taken during the day with a dose of 3 capsules 2-3 times daily. Also available in the TCM concentrate form (#1017-1) 1-2 capsules at bedtime

Topical Help for Tight Muscles

Lobelia Essence (#1765-8) this herb is a good choice to apply topically to help reduce muscle tension and inflammation. It has strong antispasmodic properties and works very quickly when applied to the skin. I have used it many times to help stop leg cramps or intestinal spasms in the night. Apply a small amount to the palm of your hand and rub over the area that is tight and sore. Repeat again in 15 minutes if needed. Lobelia is also very good for the lungs and is helpful to stop a spastic cough when applied over the lung area.

The Essential oils of Bergamot, Roman chamomile, eucylptus, lavender and peppermint also help with spasms and sore muscles. Any of these oils can be combined in a small amount of a carrier oil or aloe vera gel and applied topically. Lobelia essence may be combined with them as well.

Please note: this list is not inclusive of all the wonderful products we have for the structural, muscular and nervous systems in the Nature’s Sunshine line, but they are a collection of some of my favorites that I tend to use on a regular basis.