Primary Care Physicians Push Drugs for Chronic Pain While Ignoring Natural Treatments

Over 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain annually, many of them due to an inflammatory condition in the body. Our bodies become inflamed as a natural response to injury; it is a means to heal. Characteristics of an inflammation response include pain, redness, swelling and often loss of mobility. It doesn’t just affect arthritis sufferers, although they certainly qualify as people dealing with chronic pain caused by excessive inflammation. Other inflammation-induced diseases even include several types of cancer. More people suffer from inflammation than heart disease, diabetes and cancer combined.

Recent research reported in The Journal of Pain shows that primary care physicians are predominantly prescribing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, called NSAIDS, as part of the industry’s normal practice. This journal is a peer-reviewed publication of findings published in relationship to the American Pain Society.

The findings were supported secondarily through researchers form the University of Kansas City School of Pharmacy, Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City and University Health Systems in San Antonio by looking at over 650,000 patients who attended primary care physicians with common non-malignant chronic pain. In only .12% of the cases was a pain specialist involved, and in more than 45% of the visits, NSAIDS were prescribed. Common NSAIDS are:

• Ibuprofen (e.g. brand names Advil, Motrin, Nuprin)
• Naproxen (e.g. brand names Aleve, Naprosyn)
• COX-2 inhibitors (e.g. brand name Celebrex)

Even the FDA has asked for an alternative to Celebrex due to its side effects. Pfizer and Merck & Co. are the makers of this common pharmaceutical drug. It is a huge industry that makes millions annually on people’s pain.

But as you may suspect, inflammation can be reduced drastically with some very inexpensive, natural remedies.

5 Natural Solutions for Inflammatory-Related Pain

• 1. Diets with a low glycemic index (one of few refined sugars and simple carbohydrates) were proven to reduce inflammation significantly in a study from Harvard Medical School.
• 2. Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is anti-inflammatory, and has even been shown to be equally effective as drugs for osteoarthritis. It can be used as a spice in curries and other foods, or taken in supplement form as a pill. The best part? The spice costs significantly less than drugs like Celebrex.
• 3. Another effective anti-inflammatory food, just 50-1000 milligram daily of ginger can make a world of difference. You can juice ginger with carrots and green vegetables for an even bigger anti-inflammatory boost.
• 4. Indian Frankincense, also known as Boswellia serrata, is an age-old Ayurvedic remedy for inflammation.
• 5. The trio of supercritical fluid CO2 extract of Chrysanthemum indicum, Patchouli Oil, and Zedoary Turmeric Oil have been very promising for reducing inflammation and the diseases which accompanies it.

For more information, check out these 6 foods for inflammatory pain.

Additional Sources:

Indonesian Journal of Internal Medicine