Four Pain Solutions Big Pharma Won’t Give You

Pain care is definitely one area where conventional medicine is failing the American public.

Think about it. If you head to any conventional medical facility after an injury, you’ll probably be told to follow the RICE protocol (rest, ice, compression, elevation). This advice is great. However, you’re also likely to receive instructions to take prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), COX-2 inhibitors, or stronger painkillers.

But be wary. While sporadic use of these drugs is acceptable, using them long-term can be disastrous. NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen, are notorious for causing stomach upset, ulcers, and serious bleeding that result in more than 16,000 deaths each year—plus they can damage your joints.

COX-2 inhibitors have problems of their own. In addition to gastrointestinal distress, these drugs increase the risk of strokes and heart attacks. In fact, one of these medications, Vioxx, was removed from the market after being linked to more than 50,000 fatalities. And don’t get me started on prescription painkillers. They are highly addictive and carry huge potential for abuse.

Fortunately, there are several effective, natural therapies you can use:

1. Fish oil. It’s one of nature’s most potent anti-inflammatories and, as such, is very useful for treating all kinds of injuries. Try taking 2–8 g of high quality fish oil daily in place of ibuprofen to dampen inflammation and relieve pain.
2. Univestin. This herbal blend works in a manner similar to COX-2 inhibitors but is infinitely safer. Aim for a total of 500 mg of Univestin per day, taken in divided doses.
3. Curcumin, derived from the bright yellow spice turmeric, is a powerful natural way to fight inflammation. You can take it daily or as needed when your pain flares up. Its only downside is that it’s a notoriously difficult nutrient for your body to absorb. But recently scientists created a new curcumin phytosome complex called Meriva that is much more bioavailable. The suggested dose of Meriva is 500-1,000 mg a day.
4. DMSO. For muscle and joint pain, try rubbing a little DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) onto the affected area two or three times a day. This sulfur-rich compound rapidly passes through the skin to tissues below, where it squelches pain and inflammation, mops up free radicals, and speeds healing.

Now it’s your turn: Which of these natural pain-relieving solutions have you tried?

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