Solving the Pain Puzzle
Solving the Pain Puzzle
By Stan Gardner, M.D., CNS
What Is Pain?
Pain is the body’s interpretation of tissue damage. Usually the interpretation is real, but it may be imagined. There are many ways the cells or tissues of the body become damaged. These can include crushing (as with trauma or a fracture), pricking with a sharp object, burning, freezing, traction, or tearing tissue.
An infection causes pain, as does exposure to toxic substances. Even a lack of nutrients causes pain, such as an oxygen deficiency in the heart causing angina (chest pain), or mineral deficiencies like calcium or magnesium causing painful muscle cramps.
How Pain Happens
When a cell is injured or under stress, it responds by forming oxidants. These oxidants serve as messengers who request the surrounding healthy tissue and immune system to come help. This communication system triggers additional inflammatory molecules. These also attract the immune system to come and defend, repair, or destroy the injured cell, so a new healthy cell can take its place.
The body sends a message from the area of injury to the brain through the nerves. Neurotransmitters are part of the message system to tell the brain about the pain. One neurotransmitter, substance P, is one of many inflammatory triggers released by the body to attract immune system cells. Notice the references to substance P later in this article.
Treatment for Pain
No one wants to be in pain. The suggestions below may help treat or eliminate pain.
Avoid or remove the cause, if at all possible. It may be easier said than done, but all of the treatments mentioned in this article are only temporary solutions. These treatments address the symptom instead of the problem, which will likely continue if the root cause of pain is not fixed.
Eat wisely. Avoid the 4 common foods that trigger and make worse all inflammation: sugar, trans fatty acids, aspartame, and caffeine. Basically, for the sake of your health and comfort, avoid eating all processed food.
Try a breakthrough product. A revolutionary product, ASEA is now available in the U.S. ASEA is a patented, carefully formulated solution that can be ingested or sprayed on the skin. It improves the effectiveness of antioxidants by 5 to 8 times, improves the communication between cells and the immune system for better efficiency and accuracy, and even improves the killing power of the immune system against infection. Many athletes who use ASEA report that it improves their performance by at least 12%.
Consider electricity. Frequency generators release healing frequencies to specific organs. The Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM) has been shown to reduce inflammatory molecules by 75% in local tissue. When I treat patients with the FSM machine, I place leads (similar to EKG leads) around the area of the body that needs healing. The machine gives off specific frequencies, based on the condition of the patient, some specific for the organ, and others specific for the condition being treated.
Use safe anti-inflammatory supplements. Many of the supplements discussed below are available in health food stores or from integrative medical doctors. All of these are safe, have minimal or no side effects, and are supported by research.
Basic antioxidants. Vitamins C, E, and beta-carotene are found in potent multivitamins.
MSM (methylsulfonylmethane). MSM and its parent compound DMSO are inexpensive anti-inflammatories.
Curcumin. A derivative of turmeric, curcumin is as effective at reducing inflammation as Alleve and other NSAIDs. It also is an antioxidant, and it reduces the amount of substance P at the nerve.
Quercetin. Quercetin reduces the release of histamine, one of the molecules that causes inflammation.
Boswelia. This antioxidant interferes with substance P on the nerve.
Glucosamine and chondroitin. These naturally occurring sugars reduce inflammation in joints and assist in joint repair. They are the building blocks for cartilage and connective tissue.
Avoid drugs, if possible. The major side effect of the traditional anti-inflammatory drugs is stomach upset. This may lead to bleeding from the stomach. This particular cause of bleeding is one of the top causes of death in the United States. Traditional anti-inflammatory drugs include Aleve, aspirin, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as Anaprox, Celebrex, Naprosyn, Mobic. NSAIDs also interfere with joint repair.
Use your mind. Thoughts are powerful. They can contribute to pain or reduce or eliminate it. When we focus our thoughts on pain, we increase its effects and intensity. When we focus instead on feeling gratitude or joy, the subsequent effects of those emotions helps minimize or eliminate pain.
Other helpful advice and products for treating and eliminating pain, (such as Primivia Relief , which contains curcumin, quercetin, boswelia, and bromelain, an anti- inflammatory are available on my website, www.stangardnermd.com and in my office, the Keys to Healing Medical Center, in Riverton, Utah. Call (801) 302-5397 for directions or an appointment.