| What do you use for pain relief? Most of us reach | | | | they would continue to take the fish oil. |
| for a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) | | | | Zyflamend. This preparation contains a synergistic |
| like aspirin and Advil or acetaminophen (Tylenol) | | | | blend of 10 specially processed herbs including |
| when in pain. | | | | ginger, rosemary, turmeric, holy basil, green tea, |
| With over 13 million regular NSAID users in the US | | | | Hu Zhang, Chinese goldthread, barberry, oregano, |
| and at least 30 billion over-the-counter tablets sold | | | | and skullcap. Laboratory cell studies found it inhibits |
| each year, you might say we're "sold" on NSAIDs | | | | the COX-2 enzyme that triggers inflammation. |
| and acetaminophen for pain relief. | | | | If you're already taking NSAIDs for your pain, |
| Yet, these drugs aren't as friendly as their | | | | "Take Zyflamend at half the recommended dose |
| advertisements suggest. They help relieve pain, | | | | along with your prescribed medication; after 1 |
| but their side effects can kill! | | | | month, cut your NSAID dose in half and increase |
| The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports | | | | Zyflamend to full dosage; a month later, drop |
| that NSAID-induced disease causes at least | | | | your NSAID and see if your symptoms are |
| 103,000 hospitalizations per year and every year | | | | controlled. If your pain returns, you may need to |
| 16,500 arthritis patients die from NSAID-related | | | | resume taking your NSAID again," recommends |
| gastrointestinal damage. | | | | natural health expert, Andrew Weil, MD in |
| These drugs increase the chance of a heart | | | | Prevention magazine. |
| attack and stroke. They cause ulcers and bleeding | | | | Proteolytic Enzymes. These enzymes including |
| in the stomach and intestines. Worse yet, these | | | | papain, chymopapaine, bromelain, and pancreatic |
| side effects can happen suddenly without warning | | | | preparations can "fast forward" the healing |
| symptoms and may cause sudden death. | | | | process, support the removal of damaged tissue, |
| Acetaminophen, another potential killer, likely lurks | | | | and reduce swelling, report natural health experts |
| in your medicine cabinet too. This common | | | | Ross A. Hauser MD and Payson Flattery, NP, DC, |
| over-the-counter (OTC) drug found in Tylenol, | | | | in The Cure for Chronic Pain: End the Pain of |
| cold medicines, and prescription drugs like Vicodin | | | | Arthritis, Sports Injury and Other Joint Problems. |
| and Percocet is widely used for pain relief and | | | | Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). |
| fever. | | | | An analysis of the 2002 National Health Interview |
| Though generally considered safe when used | | | | published in the Journal of the American Board of |
| according to the directions on its labeling, | | | | Family Medicine found that a majority (60 |
| acetaminophen can cause liver damage and even | | | | percent) of survey respondents who used CAM |
| death according to a FDA 2009 consumer update. | | | | therapies for back pain perceived "a great deal" of |
| Unfortunately, overdosing is easy as many drugs | | | | benefit and they reported improved health status. |
| use acetaminophen in combination with other | | | | Here are the most commonly used therapies with |
| drugs in their formulas. | | | | their percentage of usage: |
| Fortunately, you can avoid these risks by using | | | | - Chiropractic (66 percent) |
| simple and effective natural pain relief methods | | | | - Massage (56 percent) |
| like these: | | | | - Yoga/Tai Chi/Qi Gong (56 percent) |
| Ice. Ice is a well-know pain reliever especially in | | | | - Acupuncture (42 percent) |
| the early phase of injury. "Try to ice the area as | | | | - Herbal Therapies (32 percent) |
| soon as possible after the injury and continue to | | | | - Relaxation Techniques (28 percent) |
| ice it for 10 to 15 minutes four times a day for | | | | These CAM therapies count as side effects |
| 48 hours. If you use ice, be careful not to use it | | | | potential improvement in all aspects of your life: |
| too long, as this could cause tissue damage," | | | | body, mind, and spirit. |
| reports Mayo Clinic staff on their website. After | | | | This is only a partial list; there are many other |
| 48 hours, try heat. | | | | natural pain relief methods like physical therapy, |
| Heat. Heat promotes pain relief and it increases | | | | meditation, and more. Ask your health provider |
| blood flow to the area bringing nutrients and | | | | about natural pain relief. |
| specialized cells to speed healing. | | | | Before you decide to take drugs like NSAIDs and |
| Fish Oil. An April 2006 study in Surgical Neurology | | | | acetaminophen, try natural pain relief methods. |
| found that after seventy-five days on fish oil, | | | | You can use them in place of these drugs or |
| 59% of patients who were taking NSAIDs for | | | | along with them, in order to decrease the amount |
| chronic spinal pain and who had degenerative spine | | | | you need to take. |
| disease were able to discontinue their prescription | | | | Natural pain relief methods can work and without |
| NSAIDs. Eighty percent stated they were | | | | the nasty side effects of drugs! |
| satisfied with their improvement, and 88% stated | | | | |