Supplement Recommendations for Chronic Pain
From David Edelberg, M.D. at WholeHealth Chicago: The problem with the most commonly used pain relievers--NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as aspirin or ibuprofen--is that they have side effects that may include gastrointestinal bleeding (which can be serious enough to lead to hospitalization).
The natural remedies for pain offer alternatives without these side effects. They can be used singly or together, for all types of chronic pain, and most of them can be taken along with conventional drugs.

How to Take the Supplements
Pain caused by inflammation (from arthritis or sports injuries, for example) is a good candidate for relief with bromelain, an anti-inflammatory protein derived from pineapples.

You can combine the bromelain with the herb white willow bark to reduce both pain and inflammation. Because white willow bark mimics aspirin, it should not be taken with that drug because combining them could increase any aspirin-related side effects. Ginger and boswellia are two other herbs that can help relieve the inflammation of muscle aches and joint pain.

Cayenne cream (or capsaicin cream) is a topical preparation that repeatedly has been shown to ease arthritis pain when it's applied around an affected joint. Cayenne cream suppresses pain impulses and also acts as a counter-irritant, creating a small--and effectively distracting--discomfort. Applied topically, peppermint oil also acts to inhibit pain signals.

The remaining supplements on our list can help with the emotional distress that is often associated with chronic pain. For symptoms of depression accompanying pain, try St. John's wort, but allow it a full month to show full therapeutic effect. SAMe has similar benefits and acts more quickly than St. John's wort, but it's also more expensive.

For the tension and anxiety accompanying pain, take kava, which will actually start to work within an hour or so. Use melatonin before bedtime if pain is interfering with your sleep; it's a natural sedative.

Important:
We at WholeHealth Chicago strongly recommend that everyone take a high-potency multivitamin/mineral and well-balanced antioxidant complex every day. It may be necessary to adjust the dosages outlined below to account for your own daily vitamin regimen. All of our supplement recommendations also assume you are eating a healthful diet.

Be aware that certain cautions are associated with taking individual supplements, especially if you have other medical conditions and/or you're taking medications. Key cautions are given in the listing below, but you need to see the WholeHealth Chicago Reference Library for a comprehensive discussion of each supplement's cautions and drug/nutrient interactions.

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