The King Of Darkness, Ozzy Osbourne has postponed his forthcoming European Tour so he can undergo treatment for his nervous tremor. Avid viewers of The Osbournes would have clearly noticed the rock star shaking like mad in various episodes of the hit TV series. Ozzy's condition has rapidly deteriorated over the past couple of years making the star becoming uncomfortable with social company around him. The illness grew worse since the Black Sabbath rocker was pushed into the limelight again for the MTV series.

"I was at the point where it felt as if this problem was practically destroying my life along with my self-esteem," shaked Ozzy, "I was no longer comfortable being around people, which, as you can imagine, is not the best trait for a performer." The sign of a server nervous twitch can be the warning of Parkinson's Disease, although Dr Allan Ropper (Ozzy's Doc) has confirmed that Ozzy has not contracted the crippling illness.

The medication for Ozzy's condition will greatly screw up his voice for a good month, forcing the star to postpone his tour which was due to kick off in Dublin on October 22nd. The diagnosis also forced him to pull out of this years' Fashion Rocks event.

A description of a nervous tremor is a alternating rhythmic movement anywhere in the body which can't be helped - unlike the ones which can be helped with teenage boys late at night! It's not unusual to tremor, nearly everyone shakes now and again because of excitement or fear, but to shake for no obvious reason is down to the nervous tissue being destroyed by disorders such as Parkinson's Disease making about four to five muscles to shake at the same time. This is called an intention tremor.

Another form is an essential tremor. This is where the sufferer only has a tremor, this could be Ozzy's condition. If so he's not alone as nearly four million Yanks have this illness which carries a 50% that their offspring may pick up the illness - so look out Kelly and Jack! Unlike Parky Disease where the hands will shake when trying to be rested an essential tremor's hands will shake more violently when the hands are in use. The condition normally starts around the age of 45 (Ozzy is 55) although tremors which start at a later age are called senile tremors.

Drugs which can help the condition are not the ones Ozzy are normally used to, amphetamines, antidepressant drugs, antipsychotic drugs, caffeine, and lithium all are types of medication which can ease the illness. The correct form of treatment can be determined at diagnosis which is done by computed tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging.

Hopefully Ozzy will make a full recovery and fans should see him back on the road in the New Year when it will be their turn to 'shake' on down to his music. Or whatever they do at his gigs!