Silica has many applications. These include being used a dietary supplement for nutritional purposes. Recent studies have found silica supplements help repair torn ligaments and muscles in the body, aid in the mineralisation of bones and promote the growth of collagen, the cartilage that holds our bones together and cushions our joints. Taking a natural silica supplement daily helps maintain joint health, and, in the case of those who suffer from bulging, or herniated, discs, strengthens the cartilage of the backbone, improving its ability to successfully keep discs in place.

  • Silica has many applications.
  • Taking a natural silica supplement daily helps maintain joint health, and, in the case of those who suffer from bulging, or herniated, discs, strengthens the cartilage of the backbone, improving its ability to successfully keep discs in place.

Talk with a doctor or chiropractor about your bulging, or herniated, lumbar disc. Expect to have a thorough physical exam, including X-rays. Typical symptoms include pain that radiates from your lower back down your buttocks, legs and your feet. This is caused by a prolapsed disc in the lower back bulging out of its natural position inside your vertebrae through a weak spot in the cartilage covering it. The bulging disc puts pressure on nerves in the spinal cord's surrounding tissues. As it presses on these nerves, it causes pain. If it presses on the sciatic nerve, it produces the condition known as sciatica. If the bulging disc is in your upper spinal column, it can cause neck pain, tingling and numbness in your arms, hands and fingers. Ask your doctor to approve you taking a silica supplement for your condition.

Lower back pain can be an indication of a bulging disc.

Purchase a natural silica supplement at a store that carries them. Silica supplements can be found in health food stores, the vitamin sections of large retail stores and online. Follow the doctor's instructions about how much silica to take for your bulging disc. There is no known minimum daily requirement for silica, but a dosage of 5 to 20mg is common.

  • Purchase a natural silica supplement at a store that carries them.
  • Follow the doctor's instructions about how much silica to take for your bulging disc.

Take your silica supplement as directed. Silica supplements stimulate collagen production, which makes your bones and joints flexible and, in the case of a bulging disc, improves the ability of the tough covering on the disc, the annulis fibrosa, to hold the disc in place and cushion the spinal cord.

Follow your doctor's instructions for caring for your prolapsed disc. A typical course of treatment for a bulging disc is weight control through dieting, regular exercise to strengthen the back and wearing a back brace when you are required to lift heavy objects.

Track the occurrence of your disc problems. Bulging discs can, in time, heal. But if your doctor's instructions and the use of silica does not help your disc problems, you may have to consider having them corrected surgically.

WARNING

Silica in high doses has not been found to be toxic. However, in industrial conditions, inhaling large amounts of silica can produce a condition called silicosis, which is thought to be a precursor to lung cancer.