Dying for Pain Relief

01/11/07

Did you know that Tylenol, the popular over-the-counter pain reliever, is highly toxic to the liver? Probably not. Neither did the thousands of people now pushing up daisies because of this "harmless" pain reliever. And Tylenol is just the tip of the iceberg. Many "harmless" OTC drugs are quite dangerous. After thousands of deaths from "proven safe and effective, FDA-approved" drugs, we now have this decision from the "It's about time" file...

Strengthened Safety Labeling Proposed for OTC Pain Relievers

The FDA is proposing label changes for a variety of over-the-counter pain relievers that include safety information on the potential for stomach bleeding and liver damage, as well as when to contact a doctor. Some manufacturers have already voluntarily added the safety information to their products.

"It's about time..." that the FDA requires stronger warnings on these dangerous drugs. For too long the Big Pharmaceutical Companies have been allowed to promote the use of these potent chemical concoctions as if they were candy. Got a little ache or pain, pop a few Aspirin, or Advil, or Tylenol. Got a little tummy upset? Pop a few "antacids" or even "The Little Purple Pill." Got a headache? You guessed it: pop some more of those liver-toxic Tylenols... Got joint pain? Well! Try a few of our Vioxx pills! Oops, sorry, I guess you can't get those any more - they killed too many people...

These are not minor or inconsequential drugs, though the Drug Companies like to walk a fine line between promoting them as being "Strong Pain Relief" and being safe and appropriate for frequent, liberal (even indiscriminate!) use - as in " Don't feel quite right? Pop a couple of these and you'll surely feel better..."

Here's a better idea: stop using these toxic offerings and try a safe, natural alternative.

Three Proven Natural Pain Relief Strategies

There is no "one size fits all" when it comes to pain relief --- not with drugs, not with natural substances. That's because pain has many different causes. Pain due to inflammation will respond better to an anti-inflammatory herb or drug, whereas pain caused by muscle spasm will respond best to an antispasmodic. And though it should be inherently obvious, pain that keeps recurring, like a chronic headache, needs to be medically evaluated. After all, headaches are not caused by an aspirin or Tylenol or even a willow
bark deficiency!

Although many natural substances may be useful for pain relief, here are some of the most potent and well-proven natural remedies for various types of pain:

1.) Bromelain, an extract from the pineapple plant, tops my list for a safe, effective anti-inflammatory. It reduces swelling, inflammation, bruising and the pain caused from these. If taken with meals it will aid digestion, helping to make those antacids and purple pills unnecessary. Taken between meals, bromelain exerts its anti-inflammatory effects.

Bromelain has been heavily studied since the 1950's, so why is it not better known and used? Because the Big Drug Companies haven't figured out how to patent this natural substance and make huge, obscene profits from it! (How would one go about "patenting" a pineapple?!?).

Be aware when you use bromelain for pain that potencies vary greatly among different products. Look for the "MDU's" (milk digesting units) of the formula, not just the number of milligrams per cap. A formula with 400mg of a 2400MDU is 3 times more potent that 600mg of a 600MDU product. Can you get enough of the enzyme from eating pineapple? Probably not. The strongest concentration of bromelain is found in the stem, not the fruit. Learn more about bromelain here >>>

Other proven natural anti-inflammatory herbs include: turmeric (curcumin), ginger, boswellia, Phellodendron amurense bark, Devil's claw, and protease enzymes. Many of our patients swear by a formula called COX-2-Support which combines a number of these anti-inflammatory herbs in a single formula. None of these herbs are associated with increased risk of stroke like the drug Vioxx or liver toxicity like Tylenol. In fact, the natural anti-inflammatory herbs have anti-stroke properties because they improve blood viscosity.
Learn more about COX-2-Support here >>>

2.) Kava Kava. Kava is an antispasmodic and muscle relaxant. It has anesthetic effects on the urinary tubules and bladder. With its analgesic properties, Kava is a good remedy for chronic pain. Kava is also effective for intestinal colic (pain) caused by IBS. Kava Kava (Piper methysticum) is approved in Europe as a treatment for nervous anxiety, depression, insomnia, and restlessness. Clinical studies have found Kava Kava as effective as benzodiazepine drugs but without the undesirable side effects (impaired mental acuity
and addiction).

Kava is much more effective when taken as a tea, which is the way it is traditionally used. Open 4-6 capsules in a cup of hot water and sweeten to taste. Larger folks may need 6-8 caps to achieve desired relief. NOTE: kava has a bitter taste that must be "acquired." Sweetening may help. If you know how much anti-anxiety or muscle tension relief it is going to give you, kava's taste seems a small price to pay.

You may have heard or read about safety questions concerning kava. As it turns out, only the stem, leaf and peeled root bark cause problems; the whole lateral root does not. This kava product I use contains whole lateral root only, and this is what you should look for when using kava for pain or anxiety. Learn more about Kava kava here >>>

3.) Fish Oil: The omega-3 fatty acids not only to protect against heart disease but also to reduce inflammation and pain in general. Part of the effectiveness of omega-3 fatty acids appears related to their ability to inhibit proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha and IL-6.

Excess inflammatory fats in the diet contribute to generalized pain and inflammation (and heart disease, cancer and a host of other illnesses). Most commonly used dietary oils, including corn, peanut, safflower, sunflower and cottonseed oils (Crisco) are the Omega-6, inflammatory variety. Flax oil and fish oils are the Omega-3 anti-inflammatory oils. (Olive oil, an Omega-9 oil, is neutral). Since the Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) favors FAR more Omega-6 oils, supplemental fish oil can help tip the balance back in favor of anti-inflammation. Flax seed and oil is a "second best" choice for Omega-3's, because it requires a conversion in the body which some people do not make.

Eating fish, especially Pacific wild salmon, 2-3 times per week is another way to include more Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acid in the diet. Many people find a fish oil supplement the easiest way to balance intake. Six capsules of fish oil or 1 TBS. of cod liver oil are the recommended daily dose for most adults. Most studies show that three months of continuous intake is necessary to see results. Learn more about fish oil here >>>

The Mandated Warning Label for this Article

Warning: Consuming the information provided above may carry a risk of reduced side-effects, increased knowledge, improved health and well-being, and the potential for enhanced common-sense. Use at your own risk. These statements have not been evaluated by or blessed by the FDA, The Big Drug Companies, or Big Medicine and are
not intended to treat or cure any disease or condition. These statements could result in a loss of profits to the FDA, Big Pharma, and Big Medicine and should be used cautiously with this in mind. These statements contain no appreciable amounts of calories, carbohydrates, sodium or cholesterol and are certified to be free of all trans-fats.


In Health and Humor,

Dr. Dana Myatt
with Facetious editorial input from Nurse Mark