Natural Pain Relief

There are many side effects to regular use of over-the-counter pain medications that many people just don’t know about. These side effects include indigestion, stomach ulcers, stomach bleeding, dysbiosis (unbalanced gut microbiome), increased gut permeability or ‘leaky gut’ (which leads to food sensitivity and autoimmune disorders), liver and kidney damage, and even stroke.

There can be a time and place for these medications, however, they should not be your go to all of the time. There are many options for your natural medicine cabinet that can help you avoid pharmaceutical medications and still support pain relief and reduce inflammation while building up the body through nutrition.

Here are a few of my favorites:

CBD

CBD is an amazing adaptogen that helps the body to deal with stress and brings it back to homeostasis, back to center. I love it as a natural pain reliever, anti-inflammatory, and mood support. It is derived from the hemp plant containing phytocannabinoids.

Phytocannabinoids are plant-derived and health-promoting compounds that directly interact with the cannabinoid receptors in the body. The cannabinoid receptors are part of a unique communication system in the body, known as the endocannabinoid system.

The endocannabinoid system is present throughout the entire central nervous system and is distributed among peripheral tissues including the immune and reproductive systems, gastrointestinal tract, brain cells, endocrine glands, arteries, lungs, and heart.

Since CBD helps the central nervous system respond appropriately to stimuli, it has many health-promoting benefits including:

• Supporting the body’s pain response and reducing inflammation

• Balancing the immune system

• Relaxing muscles

• Supporting healthy and stabilized mood

• Supporting memory and cognitive function

• Supporting those with neurological disorders or those genetically predisposed and preventing the neurodegeneration associated with these disorders (Epilepsy, MS, Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease)

• Reducing oxidative stress and therefore supporting healthy blood pressure and heart

• Supporting the movement of food through the digestive system as well as maintaining a healthy appetite

• Supporting proper brain stimulation and cellular growth and activity

• Supporting the healing of common skin conditions like acne

• Even helping with weight management

SPM Supreme

SPM Supreme is a combination of three highly potent “specialized pro-resolving mediators” designed to help support the body’s natural ability to respond to physical challenges and “resolve” the initial steps in the body’s natural inflammatory processes. The “resolution” of a healthy inflammatory response is an active process controlled by these unique metabolites.

Specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) are derived from naturally-occurring omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids found in foods such as fatty fish, nuts, and seeds. They do not block the initial phase in the inflammatory pathway, which is a vital response to initial trauma or injury, but rather aid in the process of “resolving” it. In essence, SPMs signal the immune system, encouraging it to return to a state of balance or homeostasis.

I like SPM Supreme for more acute pain which can be titrated down or used on an as-needed basis as well. SPMs support proper pain management, aid in tissue repair and wound healing, and calm immune system activity without suppressing a healthy immune response.

Specific conditions where SPM Supreme can be helpful include:

• Post-surgery

• IBD

• Leaky gut

• Obesity

• Tissue regeneration and wound healing

• Asthma and allergies

• Stroke

• Dementia

• Atherosclerosis

• Periodontal disease and oral surgery

• Arthritis

• MS

• Parkinson’s Disease

• Eczema and other skin conditions

• Cystic fibrosis

• Supports natural stress response

• Bone loss

• Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS)

Curcumin/Turmeric

I love turmeric and its biologically active form curcumin in general for pain and inflammation, but I recommend Curcum-Evail by Designs for Health due to its highly bioavailable curcuminoid formulation (though regular turmeric is best for overall gut inflammation). It contains a unique combination of three bioactive, health-promoting curcuminoids: curcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin, and dimethoxy curcumin, along with turmeric oil. The three curcuminoids are the strongest, most protective, and best-researched constituents of the turmeric root with a high absorption rate.

We know that inflammation is a common risk factor for disease occurrence and progression. Inflammation can lead to joint tissue destruction, cancer, cardiovascular events, insulin resistance/diabetes, and brain/liver/kidney degenerative diseases.

Curcumin helps support a healthy inflammatory response. It has been shown to reduce both acute and chronic inflammation caused by physical injury, joint wear, and tear, chronic infections, or inadequate antioxidant protection.

Curcumin can be used for:

• Its antioxidant properties

• Postoperative healing

• Arthritis

• Allergies and asthma

• Autoimmune activity reduction

• MS

• GI protection and healing

• Balancing cholesterol

• Promoting brain protection

• Toxic metal binding

• Liver and gallbladder support

• Reducing leaky gut syndrome

• Even as an anti-microbial

Inflammatone

Inflammatone is a powerful formula designed to help support a proper inflammatory response by affecting multiple pathways in your body while facilitating healthy blood flow without the undesirable side-effects of pharmaceutical drugs. It is a combination of herbs, nutrients, and proteolytic enzymes that provide natural support for a healthy inflammatory response and help protect against oxidative stress.

Ingredients include proteolytic enzymes which, when taken on an empty stomach, move systemically throughout the body, breaking down damaged tissue. Turmeric, Boswellia extract, and ginger extract help modulate the production of inflammatory compounds. Quercetin, Rutin, rosemary extract, and resveratrol are all antioxidant compounds that help protect the body at a cellular level by limiting oxidative stress, which contributes to an activated inflammatory response. Any of these ingredients on their own are fabulous as well.

This supplement has been used for:

• Asthma

• Brain injury recovery

• Post-surgery

• Overall eye health

• Gout

• Pain and inflammation (including headaches)

• Periodontal disease

• Fibromyalgia

• Even Lyme disease

• PMS and optimal fertility (especially for women with endometriosis, cysts, and fibroids)

Boswellia

Boswellia alone is also very supportive for pain relief and overall physical dysfunction caused by chronic diseases like osteoarthritis or inflammatory bowel disease. It can also help prevent cartilage loss and inhibit the autoimmune process.

Bromelain

Bromelain is a powerful enzyme found in pineapple that gives the fruit its astringency. It also has potent anti-inflammatory properties – in fact, about the same as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with less side effects. It is a great option for postoperative support.

Baxaprin

Baxaprin is a revolutionary approach for the complications of physical and stress-induced muscle tension and back pain. It's designed to optimize core musculoskeletal physiology to limit stresses on the spine and associated tissues that may lead to back pain and injury. Baxaprin helps deal with the underlying foundational causes at the tissue level that may lead to injuries and the resultant pain and inflammation.

The ingredients help regulate the natural contraction and relaxation of muscles that influence the spine. They also support the neurological actions of the motor neurons that control muscle function. If an individual is deficient in the nutrients required for physiological function of individual muscle cells, adjunct therapies such as physical therapy will likely not be maximally effective - you need the support of nutrition.

Ingredients include:

• Nutrients calcium, magnesium, and potassium which are essential for nerve transmission and proper contraction/relaxation of muscle fibers

• Vitamin D which has been shown to alleviate chronic aches in muscles, bones, and joints

• Nervine botanicals Valerian, Passion Flower and Lemon Balm which are recognized for their relaxant properties

Baxaprin has been used for:

• Occasional pain/tension

• Loss of flexibility

• Myofascial pain syndrome (trigger points) and muscle spasms

• Neck tension

• Sciatica pain

• Sports injuries

• Stress headaches

• Stress induced muscle tension

ArthroSoothe Supreme

ArthroSoothe Supreme offers comprehensive support for joints, providing the proper nutrition they need for healthy function, repair, and adequate lubrication, helping to reduce excess fluid that results in swelling and suboptimal joint health.

Joints, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and synovial fluid (joint lubrication) undergo a continuous but slow turnover and remodeling process. This is affected by many physiological factors such as diet, supplements, activity, stress, gut health, allergies, immune status, infections, aging, hormones, toxic load and/or various medications.

The continuous repair of joints and tissue is dependent on suitable and supportive nutrients (found in ArthroSoothe Supreme). Movement and proper exercise are also key though, as it improves blood and lymph circulation, which enables nutrients to reach their target tissues more effectively.

This would be a preferred choice for situations where more serious cartilage deterioration and/or injuries have occurred.

ArthroSoothe benefits include:

• Provides nutritional support for joints and cartilage

• Supports joint range of motion, flexibility and physical function

• Offers antioxidant benefits; protects against free radicals

Magnesium