Treating Pain Naturally By Christie A. Morelli, ND


disability. The National Center for Health Statistics estimates approximately 76.2 million Americans have suffered from pain that lasts longer than 24 hours and millions more suffer from acute pain. According to the CDC, as many as 1 in 5 people suffering from non-cancer pain receive a prescription opioid. These alarming facts paired with our country’s ongoing opioid crisis stress the need for the implementation of natural pain treatments into today’s healthcare system. The natural treatments for pain include, but are not limited to, herbal medicine, nutraceuticals, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, manipulation and lifestyle modifi cations.


P Herbal Medicine Herbs commonly used to treat pain are


cayenne pepper, Boswellia, hemp, Jamai- can dogwood, turmeric and willow bark. Cayenne pepper contains capsaicin, which is a substance that has been shown to re- duce the amount of substance P. Substance P is a chemical in the body which carries pain messages to the brain. With decreased levels of substance P come decreased levels of pain due to fewer pain messages reaching the brain.


ain is cited as the most common reason Americans access the health care system and is a leading cause of


Resin extracts of Boswellia have been used for centuries to treat chronic infl am- matory diseases. The anti-infl ammatory properties of Boswellia are due to the inhibition of the pro-infl ammatory enzyme 5-lipoxygenase.


Hemp contains a cannabinoid called cannabidiol (CBD), which has recently gained popularity in the media. CBD indirectly acts on cannabinoid receptors in the endocannabinoid system resulting in decreased infl ammation and pain.


Jamaican dogwood is one of the stron-


gest non-narcotic herbal analgesics. The chemical constituents in Jamaican dog- wood are credited with muscle-relaxing ef- fects that would contribute to its traditional use for pain and muscle spasms.


Turmeric contains curcumin, which is


very anti-infl ammatory. Curcumin affects infl ammation by the down-regulation of in- fl ammatory transcription factors, cytokines, redox status, protein kinases, and enzymes.


Willow bark has been used to treat


pain and infl ammation for thousands of years due to salicin content. When willow bark is ingested and absorbed, the salicin is metabolized to saligenin, which the liver metabolizes to salicylic acid, a precursor to aspirin. White willow bark acts as a non- selective inhibitor of the pro-infl ammatory enzyme cyclooxygenase.


24 ELM® Maine - September/October 2019


Nutraceuticals Nutraceuticals, or pharmaceutical alter-


natives that propose physiological benefi ts, commonly used to treat pain are bromelain and magnesium. Bromelain is an enzyme derived from pineapple stems, which has both analgesic and anti-infl ammatory properties. Bromelain inhibits the synthesis of pro-infl ammatory prostaglandins and directly decreases the level of various pain mediators, including bradykinin.


Magnesium, a mineral, is very impor-


tant for many bodily functions. In regards to pain magnesium inhibits calcium ions from entering cells by blocking NMDA receptors, which inhibits the perception and sensation of pain. Numerous stud- ies have found magnesium benefi cial for patients suffering from neuropathic pain, dysmenorrhea, tension headache and acute migraine attack.


Acupuncture


Acupuncture is a subsection of Tradi- tional Chinese Medicine that involves the insertion of thin needles into the skin to stimulate nerves, muscles, and connective tissues throughout the body. It is believed to stimulate the body's energy-carrying channels in an attempt to correct imbal- ances and to restore health. Acupuncture enhances endogenous opiates and releases corticosteroids, relieving pain and enhanc- ing the healing process.


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