GENERAL PAIN RELIEF

Ouch! In this article I am only going to talk about reducing pain and I make that distinction because if you don't fix the cause the problem will likely continue to surface. But here I'm gonna break the rules and talk about just treating the symptoms and in particular the symptom of pain. There's a reason for this, look it's fine to develop a lengthy program to correct the underlying cause however in the meantime if the pain is too high no one's going to follow that program. Also, if the human body is experiencing pain for too long it develops negative neurological pathways they will reinforce the painful sensation and overtime the body will grow new receptors that will feed the pain and create a chronic pain disorder that will be almost impossible to fix. So we need to get the pain down almost immediately, while we're working on the underlying condition.

Ok, luckily there are only a few products you need in the toolbox (medicine cabinet) to defeat pain. Each product works fro a specific type of person so you may not have results with them all and you will need to find the one that is most compatible to your constitution. The first on my list is a old, tried and true stand by, Saligesic (Mediherb). This is a high potency Willow bark extract that knocks out pain while also reducing inflammation. This is a safe alternative to NSAIDs for joint, muscle and nerve pain. This unique extract of Willow bark, standardized for the vital compound, salicin. Willow bark is a traditional herbal remedy that has been used for thousands of years. As early as 200 BC, Hippocrates (the father of modern medicine) used the leaves and barked from the Willow tree to help many aliments. Native Americans also used Willow bark by boiling one ounce (28 grams) in a pint of water and then consuming the liquid over the period of a day. This dosage is identical to the 32 grams of Willow bark that I recommend. Age-old wisdom has once again been validated by modern science. Clinical trials in Germany and Israel found that standardized extract of Willow bark supported musculoskeletal health, particularly the knees, hips and lower back. Those taking part in the study saw their normal mobility and flexibility improved. The daily dosage contained 120 to 240 mg of salicin, the amount in 2 to 4 of these tablets. I will dose up to 2-3 tablets three times a day in severe pain cases. This is not for maintenance use, Saligesic is for short term use only, a few weeks at most. Many people smirk and say that this is just asprin, but they are wrong, we are using the entire herb here which makes a big difference in how your body accepts the active substance. Where high doses of asprin can injure your body, studies on Saligesic have shown relatively safe usage at even high dosages. This is my personal go to pain reliever which works exceptionally well for sciatica pain.

Now if you can’t get the pain to ease up by getting into different positions or if you cannot sleep at night because of the pain I will prescribe California Poppy 1:2 Liquid Extract (Mediherb). This is a member of the poppy family and has mild opiate activity, which is very useful for relief of intense and systemic pain. I have had a lot of success with this over the years, and patients report immediate effects. It comes in a 200 ml bottle, as do all our liquid herbs and I usually recommend a 5 ml dose, up to a maximum weekly dose of about 40 ml. This is a systemic product good for overall pain syndromes like fibromyalgia or when the patient is compromised with other illnesses in addition to the current injury. When combined with Valerian Complex (Mediherb), 2-3 tablets, 1 hour before bed it will put, even the most alert person to sleep. Valerian Complex contains Valerian, Passion Flower, and Ziziphus. The Ziziphus is used in traditional Chinese medicine for insomnia and dream disturbed sleep. This is a great anti-anxiety supplement, and most people in pain suffer from difficulty falling asleep and nervous tension. We will discuss this in a later article.  

Another fantastic product that really helps reduce pain of all causes is Chlorophyll Complex (Standard Process). Made from alfalfa, buckwheat, pea vines, tillandsia, sesame seeds and soybeans, this a miracle product. The chlorophyll molecule is very similar to the human hemoglobin molecule. Magnesium is the primary molecule in chlorophyll whereas iron is the central molecule in hemoglobin. Chlorophyll has a robust neutralizing effect on guanidine, which is a toxic byproduct of constipation and arthritis. If you have arthritis, I guarantee you have a guanidine problem and a liver problem. Taking 3-9 of these on an empty stomach will take care of it. These are handled very well by the body, and I find myself taking them frequently whenever I feel I need a little healing boost. This product is essential for any person suffering from ulcers or colitis. We go through more Chlorophyll Complex than any other product. If nothing else make sure you pick up a few bottles, it also serves as an excellent whole food multivitamin. You will see me constantly recommending this product throughout all my articles, it is my favorite supplement because it helps with so many things and is so gentle on the body. I personally like chewing them but have been told that is not recommended because they will stain your teeth over time. Are my teeth green? Let me know if we ever meet. Since we are speaking about pain want to take a few minutes and mention the value of a moist heating pad. There is much debate about whether you should use ice or heat when you are injured. Ice reduces swelling and numbs the painful nerves so it would seem like the right choice, but it is not. The only time you want to use ice is if you have a recent traumatic injury such as a fracture or tear and you are needing to reduce blood flow to the area. Applying ice on injuries will decrease the rate of healing and also smartly the nervous system which in turn causes vasoconstriction and maintains the system in a state of shock. Yes, it can reduce pain, but moist heat is much better. Most heat penetrates into the body and relaxes the nervous system, it increases blood circulation and speeds up the lymphatic drainage. Use moist heat for 20 minutes every 2 hours as needed. The best heating pads in the world are currently made by Battle Creek Medical Equipment, they are expensive, but they get really hot and create a steam like effect which promotes the ideal healing environment. We have them at our office, and they are our number one product that we sell. People are quick to discount the value of heat but it remains one of the most potent and effect means of stimulating healing and reducing pain in the human body. I personally use moist heat everyday, after exercise or even at night while I meditate 20 minutes before bed to relax my whole body. I have given these heating pads to my friends as gifts and they last forever.
You can buy directly from Battle Creek Medical Equipment or off amazon, my favorite model is the, Thermophore Classic Heat Pack (Model 055) 14" X 27" Tan. 

You can purchase any of these products by setting up a patient direct account (HERE).

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