Wellness expert Suzy Cohen doesn’t have a problem with pain relief. She has a problem with what we use to get it.  Both ibuprofen and acetaminophen are dangerous to the average system. Let’s talk about ibuprofen:

Susie recommends a 200 mg tablet of ibuprofen only be taken occasionally. Ibuprofen can ease the pain of joint pain and arthritis, or other kinds of swelling, but mustn’t be confused with acetaminophen, which can damage your liver severely.

Cohen quotes what what Medline Plus says about this “medicine:”

“NSAIDs such as ibuprofen may cause ulcers, bleeding, or holes in the stomach or intestine. These problems may develop at any time during treatment, may happen without warning symptoms, and may cause death. The risk may be higher for people who take NSAIDs for a long time, are older in age, have poor health, or who drink three or more alcoholic drinks per day while taking ibuprofen. If you experience any of the following symptoms, stop taking ibuprofen and call your doctor: stomach pain, heartburn, vomit that is bloody or looks like coffee grounds, blood in the stool, or black and tarry stools.”

Chronic pain is clearly best addressed by natural inflammation fighters over NSAIDs, or in combination with them, so that you can lower the amount of usage.

Here are three options you might try instead:

  1. Boswellia-  also known as frankincense, reduces leukotrienes which are linked to inflammation, asthma and allergies. A compound in boswellia called “incensole acetate” behaves like an antianxiety and antidepressant pill as well.
  2. Ginger- beyond assistance with nausea and vomiting, ginger is a strong anti-inflammatory herb. Its compounds kill H. pylori, the ulcer-causing gut bug and contributor to rheumatoid arthritis. If you are sensitive to ginger, look into turmeric from the same family, as it may also ease diabetes, dementia and cancer issues.
  3. Hyaluronic acid- This can help can lubricate your joints and plump your cartilage.  Hyaluronic acid also has an  strong positive impact on eye health.  Read the full article here: How to Relieve Joint Pain Without Ibuprofen