Even though I am going to advise on natural substances that will help reduce pain, I would still stress you need to change your diet to a healthier one, to help reduce the inflammation your body is producing in the first place. However, when pain becomes chronic any natural help and relief is welcomed.
Research has demonstrated that some nutrients are very affective in reducing pain. Lets take vitamin C for instance – a deficiency causes scurvy, bleeding gums, tender joints and pain plus a considerable amount of other things.
Research had revealed that vitamin C taken with bioflavonoids and something like bromelain or a digestive enzyme for proteins worked better than a NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) in reducing inflammation and pain!
Burns victims in some hospitals are bathed in a vitamin C solution and given vitamin C to take orally experienced pain relief and faster healing, an convention treatment.
When cancer patients were given 10 mgs a day their pain and suffering was dramatically reduced.
Significant differences were found in sufferers of osteoporosis – between those taking vitamin C and those who were short of vitamin C – there was increased activity of the crucial cartilage enzymes of the joint – encouraging repair.
Vitamin C is well known as an affective natural anti-histamine.
If you take Aspirin than protect yourself with vitamin C.
We all know vitamin C rich foods are vegetables and fruits – to enhance the anti-inflammatory and healing process also take vitamin C supplements as well.
Vitamin E This vitamin also has an anti-inflammatory affect helping to reduce pain. Vitamin E is also renowned for encouraging the circulation and anything that improves the circulation will bring extra nutrients and oxygen to the joints and also allowing for a more efficient removal of debris out of the joints.
Vitamins B1, B6, B12 – shown in research to reduce inflammation and combined have an analgesic effect. The easiest way and most effective way is to take a B complex supplement as the B vitamins work synergistically.
B1 can help suppress pain transmission.
B6 works with tryptophan metabolism. A B6 deficiency seems to be associated with low levels of serotonin. It would seem that B6 helps relieve pain and swelling of arthritis.
B12 is also helpful at reducing pain and inflammation but seemed even more effective when taken with other B vitamins.
Magnesium play a vital role in synthesising myelin, the insulation a round the nerves, without it they become sensitive to pain. magnesium also has a calming effect on the central nervous system.
Zinc taken by patients with rheumatoid arthritis seemed to have less joint swelling. Zinc has anti-inflammatory and anti-histamine properties.
Essential fatty acids like borage oil, evening primrose oil and fish oils all help to metabolize anti-inflammatory prostaglandins, especially helpful for arthritis suffers.