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Heading Off Pain

Heading Off Pain

by Daniel Breeman | December 3, 2014

According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), chronic pain affects about 100 million Americans annually and costs the nation upwards of $635 billion each year in medical treatment and lost productivity. That’s more than the total number of adults affected each year by heart disease, cancer and diabetes combined.

And whether it’s chronic or acute pain, finding relief to an assortment of ailments, including joint pain and arthritis, can be a challenge for consumers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Health Interview Survey (NHIS),1 based on data from 2010-2012, estimated that 52.5 million adults have self-reported doctordiagnosed arthritics and 22.7 million of all adults have arthritis-attributed activity limitation. Further, 2003 NHIS data projected that 67 million adults aged 18 years or older will have doctor-diagnosed arthritis by the year 2030 and an estimated 37 percent of those with arthritis will report arthritis-attributable activity limitations by the year 2030.2 

“Pain is the way our body says something is wrong,” said Cathy Margolin, Lac, Dipl OM, founder of California-based Pacific Herbs. “It’s the way the body says ‘pay attention to me, my elbow, knee, back or some part needs some rest and attention. It’s always important to listen to the pain messages our body sends. Don’t ignore them.” 

The obvious conclusion to be drawn here is that the prevalence of pain becomes even greater as we as a society age, especially with the Baby Boomer population hitting their senior years. Of course, pain and the remedies associated with pain relief, are not exclusively for the elderly. Pain takes many forms and affects the young as well, with many seeking relief from simple muscle aches and pains to more chronic conditions.

“When an individual beings feeling worsening chronic pain and stiffness, he or she should work with a physician to investigate the cause,” said Dean Mosca, president, New Jerseybased Proprietary Nutritionals Inc. “Pain is often the result of something gone awry. It is the signal for attention to be paid. Here we recommend that individuals work with a naturopath and to investigate non-invasive therapies such as acupuncture and yoga. Diet and lifestyle modifications are also key in controlling pain and preserving mobility.” 

But treating pain is not always easy. For a variety of reasons, many who suffer are cautious or reluctant about exploring the remedies and treatments available to them. In late 2010, the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) released results of a poll as part of its campaign to influence people living with chronic pain to seek solutions. Nearly 70 percent of Americans, according to the poll, said that they or someone they care for experienced pain in the previous 30 days, and more than 76 million Americans live with pain every day. Other results of the survey showed that 48 percent of respondents don’t believe that proper treatment can ease chronic pain; 41 percent believe pain is a normal part of aging and 10 percent simply ignore the pain; 36 percent would refuse doctor-recommended or doctor-prescribed pain medication for fear of becoming addicted; 34 percent believe pain medications that cause side effects are worse than pain itself; 31 percent would not speak to a doctor about their pain for fear they could not afford treatment; and only 18 percent would speak to a specialist if they were suffering chronic pain.

Pain Medications 

Among the common pain medications on the market, both in prescription form and over-the-counter (OTC), are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are used every day by more than 30 million Americans to help gain relief from headaches, common muscles aches and pains, arthritis symptoms and to reduce swelling, according to the American Gastroenterological Association.

But lately NSAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.) have come under fire from health experts for a host of health-related issues, including elevating the risk of heart problems in some users. Other side effects include elevated blood pressure and gastrointestinal problems. These concerns, among others, have left many consumers seeking alternate options to help relieve their pain and has opened the door to natural remedies (supplements) and therapies.

“Pain is not an outside enemy, rather it is like the oil light on our body’s dashboard telling us that something needs attention,” said Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, a recognized authority on chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. “Pain medications poison systems in the body, and ibuprofen family arthritis medications (NSAIDs) unnecessarily kill more than 30,000 Americans each year. This includes 16,500 bleeding ulcer deaths and a 40- to 200-percent increased heart attack and stroke risk. There are another 15,000 overdose deaths a year from prescribed narcotics. With natural remedies being more effective than NSAIDs in head-on studies, this means 30,000 to 45,000 deaths a year in the U.S. can be prevented.” 

Among the natural remedies that have been touted to help ease inflammation and pain are capsaicin, turmeric, ginger, 5-HTP, boswellia, SAM-e, magnesium, glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin, and omega-3 fatty acids. Turmeric, a spice that has been used to help relieve arthritis pain and heartburn, has been in the spotlight recently for its effectiveness in fighting inflammation. Turmeric contains curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory properties.

“There are many natural ingredients that fight pain and stop the wear and tear on the joints and lower back,” said Cheryl Myers, head of education and scientific affairs at Wisconsin-based EuroPharma, Inc., maker of CuraMed with BCM-95 curcumin. “Some focus on rebuilding and preserving cartilage, others on joints, and still others on pain relief, but I think that the best share a few things in common, including curcumin and boswellia. Either one, or both, can serve as a foundation for specialized formulas. But it’s important for customers to seek out effective extracts of these herbs. For example,” Myers continued, “even though turmeric has become all the rage in the past few years, it’s really curcumin—a primary compound in turmeric—that people are after.

“Supplementation can and should be a major part of pain relief,” said Myers. “When you consider the liver and stomach damage due to over-thecounter NSAIDs and prescription medications, it makes much more sense to start with a natural therapy that doesn’t have side effects.” 

Homeopathic medicine is another option for pain relief. It works through the body’s bioenergetics nervous system, which can transmit signals at speeds up to 200 miles per hour. “The relief may feel almost instant in some cases,” according to Frank King, ND, DC, president of King Bio, maker of Dr. King’s Pain Relief Bundle, which features four homeopathic products, including two oral sprays and two topical creams. “Certain formulas should be in everyone’s medicine cabinet,” he said. “If I had a painful blunt trauma, I would use contemporary homeopathy first. If can reduce swelling and bring relief very quickly.” 

Inflammation and Pain 

Much of the pain experienced by arthritis sufferers and those with various chronic pain conditions can be caused by an unhealthy inflammatory response. The body’s ability to produce inflammation through the inflammatory response is essential for life, notes Lou paradise, president and chief of research, Topical BioMedics, Inc., maker of Topricin pain relief cream, adding that normal levels of inflammation are needed every second to act as the body’s primary protective mechanism.

“It’s one of our body’s most important natural defenses that protect the body from damage and disease by releasing cells and mediators that combat foreign substances to help prevent infection,” Paradise said. “The problem with inflammation is when it is switched on and engaged for too long, which is known as chronic inflammation. Using NSAIDs for pain causes more inflammation and damage to vital organs, compromising digestion and setting the stage for leaky gut syndrome, which is linked directly to autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and fibromyalgia. This is why it’s important to understand the reducing inflammation and its causes by choosing more effective, safer natural options.”

“I think one of the things to remember about inflammation is that it doesn’t just cause pain—it damages joints and muscles, and is one of the primary causes of all disease,” said Myers. “What’s important about a natural approach is that you’re getting to the heart of the problem. You can relieve pain and help heal and strengthen joints without inflicting potentially dangerous side effects.” 

Diet, Exercise, Lifestyle 

Working hand-in-hand with proper supplementation in helping to find ways to relieve pain, especially joint pain and arthritic pain, is a balanced diet, a customized exercise program, and additional lifestyle modifications. While any one of these may not relieve individually, maintaining proper weight, which in turn allows a person to stay active, has been shown to help relieve chronic pain in many instances. With lifestyle changes in place, supplementation can often fill the piece of the pain puzzle.

“An individual carrying any significant extra weight must understand that it’s a contributing factor to pain symptoms,” said Margolin. “Often times, managing weight and pain is a catch-22 situation. Many can’t exercise due to pain and gain weight as a result.” 

The Western diet is also seen as a contributing factor to weight gain and the elevated obesity rate in the United States, and as a result, a key component in inflammation and chronic pain conditions. The loss of key nutrients and high calorie content of our meals should be the target of change.

“The American diet is highly inflammation provoking, from the high sugar content, white flour and animal fats and loss of omega-3s,” said Teitelbaum. “And the insane advice to avoid sunshine is also contributing to vitamin D deficiency and increased autoimmune illness.” 

“If a person’s diet is deficient in highquality nutrients and antioxidants, fiber and water, they shouldn’t think they can turn to a magic pill when things go wrong,” said King Bio’s Dr. King. “However, amazingly, sometimes the natural solutions will still bring relief, even in such difficult circumstances. A natural diet and healthy lifestyle are essential for keeping inflammation and pain at a minimum.” 

Consuming a diet high in nutrients and antioxidants while avoiding sugars and saturated fats that can lead to inflammation can be part of the equation to help relieve chronic pain, according to many experts.

“Good eats include cold water fish high in DHA and EPS, substances that have been shown to reduce and or suppress the inflammatory cascade,” said Mosca. “Whole grains and any natural food high in fiber have been shown to curtail levels of C-reactive protein, which is a marker of inflammation. As many more whole grain foods are launched, retailers should look for those that contain high amounts of extra sugar—and avoid stocking these.” 

Alternative Therapies 

According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), pain is one of the most common conditions for which adults use complementary and alternative therapies,3 including acupuncture, ayurvedic medicine, homeopathy, meditation, Tai chi, yoga and physical therapy. Frustrations with current traditional medical approaches toward pain appear to play a role in acceptance of CAM and perceived benefit, according to the Center.

“My first choice for natural pain remedies are Chinese herbs and acupuncture,” said Margolin, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) trained health care provider and licensed acupuncturist. “Chinese medicine is one of the longest practiced forms of medicine. Corydalis is one Chinese herb used for many types of pain. Historically, Chinese herbs are combined for effectiveness. Adding Chinese herbs and acupuncture treatments together is optimally the best choice for pain relief, although it is not always affordable or available.” Pacific Herbs offers its Corydalis Natural Pain Relief Herb Pack, which includes 50 percent pure corydalis concentrated extract granules along with seven additional herbs such as turmeric for improving circulation and decreasing inflammation.

“Lifestyle issues of modern times that rob people from getting enough sleep, exercise, fresh air and joyful living are all contributors to acute and chronic ailments,” added Paradise. “Another beneficial approach would include exploring healing arts such as acupuncture, yoga, deep breathing and meditation to reduce stress.” 

Retailers and Education 

All this, of course, points to opportunity for retailers not only to guide their customers to appropriate natural products for pain relief, but also offers a chance to educate them on the remedies that would best work for their specific condition. A 2010 IOM study, Relieving Pain in America: A Blueprint for Transforming Prevention, Care, Education, and Research, advocated the redesign of education programs for health care professionals with an aim to improve patient and public understanding of pain.

Retailers can take the lead in answering any questions or concerns their customers might have about pain and related products. Inquiries here are likely to center on product effectiveness and possible side effects. But remember, customers may also be reluctant to address the problem for a number of reasons, including being unfamiliar with many of the products on your store shelves. This presents an opportunity to educate them about natural pain relief.

“What this means for retailers is that many customers may be suffering from any degree of chronic pain and many just ‘live with it’,” said Mosca. “By hanging proper signage declaring, ‘Address pain naturally’ and through educational events that feature discounts on natural pain support supplements and topics, retailers will be helping their community members to better enjoy their quality of life.” 

References: 

1 Barbour KE, Helmick CG, Theis KA, Murphy LB, Hootman JM, Brady TJ, Cheng YJ. Prevalence of doctordiagnosed arthritis and arthritis-attributable activity limitation- United States, 2010-2012. MMWR 2013;62 (44) :869-873.

2 Hootman JM, Helmick CG. Projections of U.S. prevalence of arthritis and associated activity limitations. Arthritis Rheum 2006;54(1):266–229.

Pain Pardoners

Here are some additional pain products that you may want to recommend to your customers: 

• Pain T4 from Redd Remedies (Bradley, IL) is formulated to address and target four types and sources of pain—joint, central nervous system, circulation and stress. Curcumin C3 Complex is a key ingredient used in the proprietary blend.

• CobraZol from Nature’s Innovation is made from venom of three different snakes and five other know natural pain relievers and is a homeopathic roll-on topical gel that provides temporary natural analgesic, anti-inflammatory and pain relief that’s non-addictive.

• Infla-Active+ soft gels caps with Buchu and salmon oil from Buchulife are specifically formulated to help support joint and connective tissue health and to stimulate a healthy inflammatory response in sore muscles and joints.

• Earth’s Care contains natural Camphor and brings natural relief from the minor pains of bruises, muscle aches, strains and sprains.

• Muscle Therapy Gel with Amica from Hyland’s is an all-natural homeopathic solution that targets the aches, pains, soreness and swelling that go hand-in-hand with strenuous activity and muscle overexertion.

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