Pain Management with Naturopathic Medicine
There is a reason our nation has been dealing with an opioid crisis; people are in pain! Many people, young and old, are compromised by some type of pain struggle. From a shoulder or knee joint issue to a muscle or post-surgical condition there are so many people afflicted with daily pain. Before you go down the path of pharmaceuticals and injections, pain management with naturopathic medicine could be an optimal choice. It can also help rebalance your body by utilizing its deep healing capability rather than force heal it with conventional pharmacology.
Working with a naturopathic doctor trained in acupuncture and Classical Chinese Medicine (CCM – the original healing practice) a very manageable, natural pain reduction protocol can be applied. In some cases, the root cause can be addressed and pain reduction could turn into pain elimination.
Consider pain management with naturopathic medicine for a holistic approach that helps get your body back running on all cylinders without worrying about medicinal side-effects or lifelong pharmaceutical reliance.
Tuning In, Tuning Up
At this point acupuncture is practically ubiquitous in most urban and many suburban American communities. Even doctors are recommending it as a natural alternative to medication and some hospitals now have an acupuncture department. When committed to a six week protocol to address an acute issue and at least a once a month ‘tune up,’ acupuncture has shown good healing progress.
In the study, ‘Acupuncture for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials with Meta-Analyses and Trial Sequential Analyses’ published in BioMed Research International, it was stated,
“In our study, we consider acupuncture as an effective treatment in relieving pain and improving function for people who are troubled by KOA, especially those refusing conventional drug therapy because of unbearable side effects.”
This is one example of the many pain management applications acupuncture can address.
Boswellia: Botanical Medicine at Its Best
Boswellia is an ancient Ayurvedic herb sometimes called Indian Frankincense extracted from the Boswellia serrata tree. It has been used for centuries to address all kinds of human issues and has currently received some good science regarding pain management for:
- Osteoarthritis (OA)
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
- Asthma
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Some cancers including leukemia and breast cancer
There are four specific acids found in Boswellia including two that are highly potent in reducing leukotrienes, which are molecules that play a large role in creating inflammation. These acids , according to a report on Boswellia by Healthline, are,
“inhibit 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO), an enzyme that produces leukotriene. Acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid (AKBA)”
Even though these acids are pointed out the other two are just as important for inflammation reduction.
Published in Molecular Biology Report, Indian researchers showed beneficial findings of inflammation reduction in lab applications including possible inflammatory gene suppression concluding that,
“Overall, our findings suggest that B. serrata [boswellia] can act as a potent redox scavenger against LPS-induced inflammation in zebrafish larvae and an inhibitor of specific inflammatory genes.”
Contraindications of boswellia include not taking it while on medication, particularly anti-inflammatory pharmaceuticals.
Working with a naturopathic doctor trained in botanical medicine ensures a proper dosage protocol, adjunct therapy, and individualized monitoring. Adjunct therapy may include other herbal applications such as turmeric and ginger, as well as homeopathy, clinical nutrition and nutraceutical supplementation.
Don’t Eat Your Inflammation
There are ongoing studies that link internal inflammation to certain food choices. These foods stress the body with excessive sugar, salt, and a whole barrage of chemically laden processing that many people are literally eating their inflammation.
Inflammation comes with a host of health compromises including pain. By following a clinical nutrition program recommended by a naturopathic doctor trained in CCM, you could maintain a pain management program simply by what you eat. This is known as the anti-inflammatory diet which, according to Medical News Today, consists of foods such as:
- Turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, garlic, pepper, and rosemary
- Pineapple, papaya, mango, berries, and acerola cherry
- Carrots, pumpkin, green leafy vegetables, and
- Pinto beans, chickpeas, lentils, and black-eyed peas
- Oily fish and other omega-3 sources, including sardines, salmon, mackerel, herring, fish oil
- Whole grains, such as organic corn, cornmeal, and whole grain pasta, bread, and brown rice
Overall, reducing chronic systemic inflammation basically means eating whole, non-processed foods. A study of the anti-inflammatory diet published in Nutritional Review found that,
“Chronic inflammation, characterized by prolonged elevated inflammation markers, is linked to several chronic conditions. Diet can influence the levels of inflammation markers in the body.”
Naturopathic medicine embraces clinical nutrition as a significant pain management application. Choosing foods that do not affect inflammation or actually prevent it is a path that a naturopathic doctor can help put you on. Results can include less joint pain, rapid muscle repair, and higher stamina, to name a few.
At Integrative Med Solutions, we will design a pain management program that works for you. In many cases, insurance covers portions of the treatment. Allow us to support you to achieve optimal health. To make an appointment or find out more about how acupuncture and naturopathic medicine can benefit you, please call our office at 914-337-2980 or Click Here to schedule an online appointment.
*Please Click Here to see a current list of insurance companies that commonly carry acupuncture benefits for its members. For more info, please call 914-337-2980 or securely email us at info@intmedsolutions.com.
Best in health from Integrative Med Solutions.
Sources:
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2022/6561633/
https://www.healthline.com/health/boswellia#how-it-works
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35716287/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/do-anti-inflammatory-diets-really-work