I have lived with chronic lower back issues since I was in my early 20s. I landed in the emergency room barely able to support my own body due to severe muscle spasms. I was given a cocktail of pain medication and ultimately was administered Dilaudid after 3 other failed attempts of relieving my pain. I was later diagnosed with degenerative disk disease and had 4 bulging disks along with diffuse swelling throughout my lower back. I went through physical and occupational therapy and learned how to at least manage my condition.

Over the course of several years, I suffered more muscle spasm episodes and every day pains and eventually, a herniated disk. Pain management was always pain killers, muscle relaxers when needed and up to 3200 mg of ibuprofen per day. While my condition improved, I moved on from the heavy duty drugs but seemed to be dependent on ibuprofen, so I continued taking it on a near daily basis. For decades.

It wasn’t until I came across an article by Dr. Stephen R. Gundry that warned of the effects of NSAIDS (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs). After adopting a lectin free lifestyle, I was on a mission to search for an alternative pain reliever to have on hand when needed, and Boswellia came up in my search.

Boswellia is derived from a plant native to India and found to support joint motility, pain relief and may provide gastrointestinal benefits. That same plant produces frankincense, also known to treat join discomfort from arthritis.

I can say that Boswellia has met my needs through all the ups and downs of my lower back and everyday living along with exercise and chiropractic care, and I happily have never looked back. No more pain killers. No more muscle relaxers. And no more NSAIDS.

-Cristina