Post by Joanna on Jul 24, 2014 0:09:21 GMT -5
Natural Pain Reliever for Arthritis, Other Pains
You're in pain, and for one reason or another, you cannot take aspirin and acetaminophen is toxic. Fortunately, you have alternatives for natural pain relief. From herbs that attack inflammation to techniques that leverage the brain's remarkable healing powers, nature offers many treatments for conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia and even muscle strain. Here are some natural remedies that may enhance or replace conventional methods and leave you happier, healthier and pain free.
Capsaicin reduces pain from arthritis, shingles or neuropathy. An active component of chile pepper, capsaicin temporarily desensitizes pain-prone skin nerve receptors called C-fibers; soreness is diminished for 3 to 5 weeks while they regain sensation. Nearly 40% of arthritis patients reduced their pain by half after using a topical capsaicin cream for a month, and 60% of neuropathy patients achieved the same after 2 months, according to a University of Oxford study. Patients at the New England Center for Headache decreased their migraine and cluster headache intensity after applying capsaicin cream inside their nostrils.
Trying it: Capsaicin ointments and creams are sold in pharmacies and health food stores. For arthritis or neuropathy, try 0.025% or 0.075% capsaicin cream one to four times daily; best results can take up to two weeks, says Philip Gregory, PharmD, a professor at Creighton University and editor of the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. However, research on capsaicin and headaches remains limited – and don't expect stronger versions anytime soon: "Current formulations are better suited for more acute problems, like a sore muscle or an arthritis flare-up, than everyday pain and stiffness," Gregory says.
InflaThera or Zyflamend helps ease arthritis pain. Both supplement brands contain ginger, turmeric and holy basil, all of which have anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric (a curry ingredient) may be the best: A component, curcumin, eases inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, according to the Methodist Research Institute in Indianapolis. Researchers are now testing Zyflamend in RA patients, but some experts are already sold: "Each herb has its own scientific database of evidence," says James Dillard, MD, author of The Chronic Pain Solution.
Trying it: InflaThera can be ordered online and the suggested dosage is twice daily with food. An alternative to ease arthritis pain is to take curcumin 500 mg four times daily along with fish oil and a diet low in animal fat.
Arnica to alleviate acute injury or post surgery swelling. This herb comes from a European flower; although its healing mechanism is still unknown, it does have natural anti-inflammatory properties. Taking oral homeopathic arnica after a tonsillectomy decreases pain, say British researchers, and German doctors found that it reduces surgery-related knee swelling.
Trying it: Use homeopathic arnica as an adjunct to ice, herbs, or conventional pain medications, suggests Guiltinan. Rub arnica ointment on bruises or strained muscles, or take it in the form of three lactose pellets under the tongue up to six times per day. Boiron (boironusa.com) is among the most reputable arnica manufacturers.
Aquamin for relief of osteoarthritis inflammation and pain. This red seaweed supplement is rich in calcium and magnesium. A preliminary clinical study showed that the ingredients may reduce joint inflammation or even help build bone, says David O'Leary of Marigot, Aquamin's Irish manufacturer. In a study of 70 volunteers published in Nutrition Journal, Aquamin users reduced arthritis pain by 20% in a month and had less stiffness than patients taking a placebo.
Trying it: Marigot recommends 2,400 mg a day (two capsules) of Aquamin in tablet form, sold domestically in products such as Aquamin Sea Minerals and Cal-Sea-Um. A 60-pill jar of Swanson Vegetarian Aquamin Sea Minerals costs about $6 at swansonvitamins.com.
SAM-e (S adenosylmethionine) reduces osteoarthritis aches. SAM-e is made from a naturally occurring amino acid and sold as capsules. Doctors aren't entirely sure why it reduces pain, but it reduces inflammation and may increase the feel-good brain chemicals serotonin and dopamine. Studies by the University of Maryland School of Nursing and the University of California, Irvine, showed that SAM-e was as effective as some NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) in easing osteoarthritis aches; the California researchers found that SAM-e quashed pain by 50% after 2 months, though it took a few weeks to kick in. SAM-e produced no cardiovascular risks and fewer stomach problems than the conventional meds.
Trying it: Costco and CVS both carry it; a month's supply costs $30 to $60. Guiltinan prescribes 400 to 1,600 mg daily, often with turmeric or fish oil. SAM-e can interact with other meds, especially MAO-inhibitor antidepressants, so if you’re taking these drugs, check with your doctor before taking SAM-e and do not try it if you have bipolar disorder. Also, inspect the packaging before buying, advises Gregory: Make sure the product carries a USP or GMP quality seal, contains a stabilizing salt, has a distant expiration date and comes in foil blister packs – SAM-e can degrade rapidly in direct light.
Fish oil relieves joint pain from arthritis or autoimmune disorders. Digested fish oil breaks down into hormonelike chemicals called prostaglandins, which reduce inflammation. In one study, about 40% of rheumatoid arthritis patients who took cod-liver oil every day were able to cut their NSAID use by more than a third, Scottish scientists recently reported. People with neck and back pain have fared even better: After about 10 weeks, nearly two-thirds were able to stop taking NSAIDs altogether in a University of Pittsburgh study.
Trying it: Taking 1,000 mg is proven to help your heart, but you should up the dosage for pain. For osteoarthritis, try 2,000 to 4,000 mg daily; for rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune diseases associated with joint pain (such as lupus), consider a much higher dosage of upwards of 8,000 mg daily – but ask your doctor about taking such a large amount, says Tanya Edwards, M.D., of the Cleveland Clinic's Center for Integrative Medicine. (The same rule applies if you take anti-hypertensive or heart meds because as omega-3s can thin the blood.) Read the nutrition label carefully: The dosage refers to the amount of omega-3s in a capsule, not other ingredients. Nordic Naturals (nordicnaturals.com) and Carlson (carlsonlabs.com) are both reputable brands; for something stronger, GNC's Triple-Strength Fish Oil (gnc.com) has 900 mg of omega-3s per capsule.
Methylsulfonyl-methane (MSM) improves osteoarthritis. MSM is derived from sulfur and may prevent joint and cartilage degeneration say University of California, San Diego, scientists. People with osteoarthritis of the knee who took MSM had 25% less pain and 30% better physical function at the end of a 3-month trial at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences. Indian researchers also found that MSM worked better when combined with glucosamine.
Trying it: Start with 1.5 to 3 g once daily and increase to 3 g twice daily for more severe pain, suggests Leslie Axelrod, professor of clinical sciences at Southwest. Patients in the Indian trial improved on dosages as low as 500 mg three times daily. Vendors of OptiMSM, the brand tested in Axelrod's trial, can be found at optimsm.com.
Source: Prevention.