Managing Pain - Part 5
Supplements
Generalized Pain/Inflammation –
Turmeric –
This is a potent anti-inflammatory that helps the whole body. This is why it’s popped up in both the food and supplement list. Food is best, but supplements are fine if you’re struggling to cook with it every day.
Aim for: ½ tsp – 1 tsp of the spice, or 500 – 1000mg of turmeric in a supplement
High EPA fish oil –
High EPA (with very low DHA) fish oil is a magically little concoction. It helps to reduce inflammation and helps with serotonin (for both mood and pain). DHA competes with EPA, so it’s important to stop any other fish oil products when taking one of these bad boys.
Aim for: 1000mg – 2000mg of EPA, very little DHA
White Willow Bark -
This is the herb that aspirin is derived from, so it has many of the same benefits but because it’s a whole food form, it tends to have fewer side effects. Avoid if you’re sensitive to aspirin.
Follow the directions on the label
CBD oil –
I’m far from an expert on CBD oil, although I’m happy that I can finally talk about it legally. I’ve witnessed CBD oil helping with many different kinds of pain, from muscle/joint pain, to nerve pain and whole-body pain. It’s something to try if nothing has worked for you.
Look for a dispensary with VERY knowledgeable staff. CBD needs some THC to work properly…but too much can make you feel high (which isn’t great if you’re trying to work). The higher your pain the more THC you’ll need but the right dose will just help the CBD to work, it won’t make you high. The right ratio is important, and that’s where a knowledgeable person is important (but that’s not me…I’m still learning)
Joint Pain
NEM (natural eggshell membrane) -
This is the hottest new joint product on the market and for good reason. It works like MSM & Glucosamine…but much faster. Research has found that people feel a difference in 7 – 10 days instead of 6 months.
Aim for 500mg of NEM, some are mixed with turmeric or white willow bark, which can reduce pain faster
MSM/Glucosamine sulphate –
These are sulphurs that can help rebuild cartilage…but you need to be patient, it can take up to 6 months to feel a difference. If choosing glucosamine, be sure to get it in the “sulphate” form, NOT hydrochloride. Research has found that the sulphate form is effective, and hydrochloride isn’t
Follow the directions on the label
Nerve Pain –
Nerve pain can be difficult to treat and very difficult to have. This one hits home for me, I spent a year with nerve pain down both of my arms and it comes back anytime my neck gets tight.
Physio –
If your nerve pain is due to a pinched nerve, a good physiotherapist might be your best friend. This is what finally relieved my nerve pain.
St. John’s Wort (supplement and oil) –
This is one of the few supplements that can help with nerve pain. SJW supplements can help a lot, as well as using a topical oil. The oil is also helpful for the nerve pain caused by an outbreak of Shingles.
Follow the directions on the label
To manage side effects from NSAIDs (aspirin, Tylenol, Advil, etc)
Pain relievers can help you get through your day and they’re pretty much a given when it comes to body pain. But…they do come with some side effects. Happily, there are ways to prevent/reduce them :)
Side-effect: stomach lining damage, intestinal wall damage
Remedy: Reishi mushroom
Reishi mushroom is a pretty amazing medicinal mushroom. It helps to balance the immune system (reducing inflammation and autoimmune conditions), helps the heart, and it even helps with NSAID side effects. It’s called “the mushroom of immortality” in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Reishi helps to heal and seal any damaged/leaky spots in the stomach and intestinal wall after NSAIDs. This is good to take if you’re taking them regularly now or have in the past. Aim for 750mg – 1500mg per day.
Side-effect: Sweating, especially night sweats
Remedy: Sage
NSAIDs are famous for causing lots of heat and sweating in both men and women. Night sweats are especially common and especially frustrating. Sage (herb, tea, or concentrated supplement) can be very effective for all kinds of heat and sweating, including from NSAIDs. Using sage in your cooking or drinking sage tea will provide mild effects and go with a stronger supplement if you’ve been plagued with lots of sweating.
A. Vogel – Menopause: This is a very strong sage product (men – ignore the name, it’s only sage and won’t affect your hormones. It’s a badly named product).
If you have any questions or would like me to cover a certain type of pain or supplement, jump to our private Facebook Group or the Ask Lisa page :)