A study published in The Lancet dealt a hefty blow to one of the popular go-to medications for pain relief.

Acetaminophen (also known by the brand name Tylenol®).

Apparently, the study, which included information from 74 trials published between 1980 and 2015 involving over 58,000 osteoarthritis patients, found that acetaminophen was only slightly better than a placebo.

Plus it was stated to play no role in treating osteoarthritis, regardless of dose, because osteoarthritis is an inflammatory condition and acetaminophen is not an anti-inflammatory.

Just the icing on the cake

The fact that acetaminophen is only a smidgen more effective than a sugar pill for inflammatory pain is just the icing on the cake.  Here’s more:

Liver damage

Acetaminophen use can lead to serious liver damage and is one of the leading causes of liver transplants. The FDA issued a safety warning about doses exceeding 325 mg, but considering that just one gel tablet of Extra Strength Tylenol contains 500 mg of acetaminophen, it’s easy to blow past that danger zone. 

Plus it’s hiding in other “combination drugs” including opioids such as oxycodone (Percocet), hydrocodone (Vicodin) and codeine (Tylenol with Codeine).

And it’s also a common ingredient in many cold, flu and allergy drugs including NyQuil, DayQuil, Theraflu, Sudafed, Dristan, Robitussin, Triaminic, Dimetapp, Vicks Formula 44, Sinutab, Actifed, and Liquiprin.

That means many people are taking in far more acetaminophen than they think.

Kidney failure

Researchers estimate that eight to ten percent of all kidney failure cases are directly attributed to acetaminophen use.  The risk increases with the number of acetaminophen pills you take, with a sharp increase after 1,000 pills per year. 

Do the math here—that’s fewer than three pills a day, which is very easy to achieve if you’re in chronic pain.

Blunted emotions

A study out of Ohio State University has shown that acetaminophen use can even blunt your ability to feel emotions.

If that doesn’t scare you, I don’t know what will. 

NSAIDs—the “better” choice?

The lead researcher in the acetaminophen study above stated that the popular prescription NSAID diclofenac (Voltaren®) is “the most effective drug among painkillers in terms of improving pain and function.”

That may be so, but NSAIDs don’t come without their own collection of dangers either.

One of the most common side effects of NSAIDs is gastrointestinal bleeding.  NSAID users are four times more likely to become hospitalized with bleeding, ulcers or GI hemorrhage than nonusers.

Over and above the obvious complications of ulcers, GI bleeding can also lead to anemia, dehydration, chest pain, shock and, if severe enough, death.

In addition, studies indicate that patients using NSAIDs daily have elevated liver enzymes that are twice the normal range.  The biggest elevations were seen with the highly praised diclofenac!

And if that’s not enough, NSAIDS have also been shown to cause psychosis, cognitive impairment, and even hallucinations!  The most affected group, in this case, is the elderly.

Safe, natural answers

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

Here are 7 ways you can help curb YOUR pain and reduce inflammation:

1- Super Core multi-vitamin and mineral formula with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support
Super Core contains an impressive array of pain-fighting nutrients and anti-inflammatories:

• Turmeric: A potent anti-inflammatory spice that has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries.
• Vitamin C: Vitamin C has been shown to reduce pain and help athletes recover from injuries.
• Vitamin E: Vitamin E can help relieve symptoms of arthritis and other inflammatory diseases.
• Vitamin D: Lacking Vitamin D has been linked to chronic pain.
• Magnesium: Magnesium has been shown to control NMDA, which is a neurochemical associated with pain.

2- Omega-3 essential fatty acids

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

You can help ensure your body has what it needs with an outstanding quality fish oil formula like VitalMega-3.

3- Get regular exercise

The stronger the muscles are around your joints, the more pressure they take off your joints, which in turn can ease your pain.

As a matter of fact, in a Tufts University study, osteoarthritis patients who did strength-training exercise reported a 43 percent decrease in pain!

4- Vitamin B12

Studies have shown that vitamin B12 has anti-inflammatory properties that help in correcting degenerative disorders of the lumbar spine.  

Hydroxaden 2.5 oral spray is a convenient, effective way to get the B12 your body so desperately needs.

5- Glucosamine

Glucosamine supplements been shown to be very helpful with joint pain.  Some products also contain chondroitin which is fine, but glucosamine is the star of the show.

6- 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 (never tap water) a day.

7- Flavonoids

Found in abundance in foods like citrus fruits, apples, onions, red grapes and berries, flavonoids can reduce inflammation and boost immune function.

Put the power of nutrition and exercise to work against your pain, and I’m sure you’ll see a difference in how you feel very soon!

To your health,

Sherry Brescia