According to the CDC, longstanding or frequent pain affects over 70 million Americans! 

Out of that total, 50 million reported having “chronic pain” defined as pain that has lasted at least three months, and the other 20 million suffer from “high-impact chronic pain” which frequently limits their life or work activities. 

With all that pain going on, people are naturally desperate for relief…so they typically turn to their local pharmacy. 

The most popular types of pain-relieving drugs include NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), acetaminophen (Tylenol) and opioid painkillers. 

While all three can reduce your pain, that pain relief comes with a very dear price…which in the end can cause you MORE pain and suffering or even cost you your life! 

Here’s what I mean. 

The dangers of painkillers 

One of the most popular painkillers—NSAIDs—can cause gastrointestinal bleeding, cardiovascular problems, heart failure, hearing loss, liver damage, allergic reactions and even miscarriage!  In the US, about 100,000 people who take NSAIDs are hospitalized every year, and 15,000 die. 

Note that liver damage is especially sneaky since most people don’t incur any symptoms until their liver is severely impacted. 

Common NSAIDs include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), Naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn) and Celecoxib (Celebrex). 

Acetaminophen has also been strongly linked to liver and kidney damage, and it has even been shown to blunt your ability to feel emotions!   

Other acetaminophen risks include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and reduced lung function, brain damage, increased blood pressure and hearing loss. 

And get this—women who take acetaminophen during pregnancy increase their unborn child’s risk of developing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism.   

Acetaminophen is tricky because it extends way beyond that bottle of Tylenol in your medicine cabinet.  It’s also a common ingredient in over 600 other medications including: 

• DayQuil 
• NyQuil 
• Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold and Sinus 
• Robitussin Cold, Cough and Flu 
• Sudafed PE Cold and Cough 
• Triaminic Cold and Fever 
• Pamprin 
• Premesyn PMS 
• Midol PMS 
• Excedrin PM 
• Anacin  
   

Let’s also not forget that we’re in the midst of an opioid crisis!  Opioids are VERY addictive and are a bridge to heroin use (with its risks of overdose and death).  They can also cause sedation and respiratory depression. 

Safe, natural answers to ease your pain 

The good news is there are many safe, natural ways to get lasting relief from your chronic pain! 

Here are 8 of the best natural pain remedies to consider: 

Turmeric:   

Turmeric is a potent anti-inflammatory spice that has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. It has been shown to help ease the pain associated with inflammatory conditions like arthritis.   

In fact, some studies have shown it to be MORE effective at reducing joint swelling and tenderness than diclofenac sodium—a common arthritis medication! 

Although turmeric is a spice used in Indian cooking, the amount you would potentially get from your diet would not be nearly enough to bring about relief—so supplementation is the way to go.   

And when it comes to turmeric supplements, nothing beats our very own Optimal Turmeric Blend! 

Optimal Turmeric Blend provides a S-O-O-T-H-I-N-G 750 mg of pure organic turmeric, plus black pepper extract to aid in absorbability. 

Omega-3 essential fatty acids:  

Omega-3 EFAs are Nature’s primary anti-inflammatory and being low in them can have devastatingly painful consequences.   

You can help ensure your body has what it needs with an outstanding fish oil formula like VitalMega-3. Every 2-capsule dose of our pure, pharmaceutical-grade VitalMega-3 provides a soothing 1,000 mg of Omega-3 fats, plus Vitamin E. 

Water:   

Dehydration can cause muscle weakness, and when the muscles surrounding and supporting your bones and joints are involved, that can lead to chronic pain.   

Strive to drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of filtered water a day and see what a difference it can make in your level of pain. 

Acupuncture:  

Results from mountains of studies show that acupuncture can ease chronic pain such as low back pain, neck pain, and osteoarthritis/knee pain. It can also help reduce the frequency of tension headaches and prevent migraine headaches.  

I personally credit acupuncture for my ability to still do full-contact martial arts (including sparring) and running long distances at age 61!  Sometimes my lower back flares up, but acupuncture takes care of that in a flash. 

Physical therapy:  

PT exercises aimed at core stabilization and postural muscle strengthening can help tremendously with back and neck pain, plus heat, ice and TENS can provide soothing pain relief.   

Getting adequate sleep:   

According to research from Great Britain, poor or insufficient sleep is a very strong predictor for pain in adults over 50.  Your circadian rhythm (your sleep-wake cycle) influences the biological activity of your cells…so if your sleep habits are poor, restless or interrupted, that can affect the health of your cells and lead to chronic pain.   

So it’s crucial to ensure you’re getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night.   

If you have trouble drifting off or staying asleep, the melatonin in our Soothing Zzzz’s Blend can help support sound, restful sleep. 

Vitamin B12: 

Vitamin B12 supports healthy nerve function and helps to maintain the myelin sheath which surrounds and protects your nerve cells.  Since pain (especially back pain) is frequently the result of nerve inflammation, B12 with its "nerve-soothing" properties can actually help reduce pain.    

Unfortunately, B12 is an extremely common deficiency…and this is certainly adding to our levels of pain!    

The best way to ensure you’ve got enough of this crucial nutrient is by supplementation with Hydroxaden 2.5 Vitamin B oral spray. 

An oral spray like Hydroxaden 2.5 can be more efficient than tablet or capsule supplements (which can have varying absorbency rates depending on your level of stomach acid) and is a lot less costly and more convenient than B12 shots! 

Yoga: 

Yoga can pave the way to help manage pain naturally.  Easing certain types of pain, especially back pain, often requires stretching which is naturally a part of yoga. 

Yoga also incorporates breathing exercises, self-care, and relaxation methods, so it may also relieve pain related to stress or anxiety. 

Now you are on the road to safe, effective relief from your pain! 

To your health, 

Sherry Brescia