» pain and Inflammation

Sarcoidosis: Pain and Death from Inflammation and Fibrosis

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 00:29:49 +0000

In 1995, actress Karen Duffy – better known as MTV’s VJ “Duff” – returned home to New York after the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles in excruciating pain.

She later described the initial pain in her head like “a burning, sharp pain that felt like I was being electrocuted.” As bad as the pain felt, it soon grew even worse.

Before long, Karen’s monster headache had transformed into a full-body experience. Most of her body was wracked with pain so severe she would curl into a fetal position and try not to cry – even her tears felt like sulfuric acid sliding down her cheeks. The only parts of her body that didn’t hurt were areas mainly on her left side
left numb and paralyzed from whatever disease she had become afflicted with.

Six months of endless MRIs, spinal taps, and other tests later, her doctors through a process of elimination finally diagnosed her condition: a systemic inflammatory disease called sarcoidosis. In Karen’s case, the disease attacked her central nervous system, leaving her partially paralyzed to this day.

While sarcoidosis may affect virtually any area of the body, it most commonly attacks the lungs and lymph nodes where small nodules of immune cells called granulomas are formed. Sometimes these nodules disappear on their own. Other times they leave behind areas of fibrosis, or internal scar tissue.

In the lungs this scarring can permanently impair breathing through pulmonary fibrosis. Actor Bernie Mac, known for his comedic roles in
numerous television shows and movies, was another high profile individual known to have suffered from sarcoidosis. After being hospitalized in 2008 with pneumonia, his publicist announced his sarcoidosis had been in remission for three years and Bernie was expected to make a full recovery. Sadly, Bernie passed away several days later.

Christmas night 2004, yet another legend passed away. Hall of fame defensive end Reggie White, better known to fans as “The Minister of
Defense,” died in his sleep of a cardiac arrhythmia. Sarcoidosis affecting his heart and lungs was ruled the primary cause of death.

While sarcoidosis is a fairly rare autoimmune disorder, inflammation and fibrosis affects every one of us. Half of all heart attacks are caused by inflammation. Considering the widespread problem, no wonder heart disease remains the number one killer in the United States. But that’s not all. Inflammation is also strongly linked to strokes, arthritis, chronic fatigue, and even Alzheimer’s and
other dementing diseases.

Fortunately, the mechanisms behind controlling systemic inflammation are fairly well understood. It boils down to the level of proteolytic
enzymes which counter the body’s inflammatory response to injury, sickness, or tissue irritation.

When we’re young, our bodies heal quickly. Around our mid-20s, a precipitous drop in bodily production of proteolytic enzymes lead to
extended recovery periods from injuries. The older we get, the longer it takes to heal.

Proteolytic enzymes do more than fight inflammation. They also clean your blood, help fight off viral and bacterial infections, and break down excess scar-creating fibrin. Taking supplemental systemic enzymes not only helps your body keep inflammation in check, it keeps you
healthier by boosting cardiovascular, respiratory and immune system functions throughout your body.

The inflammation fighting and scar erasing properties of proteolytic enzymes haven’t been clinically studied yet (to my knowledge) for the specific treatment of sarcoidosis, but anecdotal evidence from members of sarcoidosis support groups who have tried them indicates it has helped alleviate even symptoms of this harsh disease.

It’s certainly worth further study for sarcoidosis patients – and worth taking to maintain good health in everyone else over age 25. A
30-day supply of systemic enzymes and other natural anti-inflammatory ingredients is currently being offered free at The Healthy Back Institute’s website for those who would like to try them.

Related references
Carney, K. Former MTV VJ tells of battle with chronic illness. CNN Headline News. 2003, Sep 19.
Duffy, K. Model Patient: My Life As an Incurable Wise-Ass. Harper Paperbacks. 2001.
Mignot, S. Actor And Comedian Bernie Mac Dies At Age 50. CBS 2 Chicago. 2008, Aug 9.
Sun-Times Media Wire. Bernie Mac Expected To Recover, Publicist Says. Chicago Sun-Times. 2008, Aug 3.
FastStats – Heart Disease. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2010, Apr 15.
Mecklenburg County Office of the Medical Examiner. Report of Autopsy Examination for Reginald Howard White. 2005, Apr 25.

Spinal Stenosis and Fusion Surgery

admin — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 05:32:02 +0000

If you’re suffering from chronic lower back pain and past your college years you may want your doctor to check for spinal stenosis. But if your doctor suggests spinal fusion surgery you may want to think twice.

So first of all, what is spinal stenosis? Basically it’s a narrowing of the spinal canal which can put pressure on the spinal cord and other spinal nerves. This happens most commonly in the cervical (neck) and lumbar (lower back) areas of the spine. Muscle weakness, numbness and lower back pain from lumbar spinal stenosis typically result.

Not everyone with spinal stenosis experiences back pain. That’s a very good thing since 1 in 5 adults have it by their 40^th birthday. And nearly half of those who reach age 60 will have a narrowed spinal column. Yet that doesn’t stop doctors from making surgery an alarmingly common outcome of a spinal stenosis diagnosis.

For decades, the fastest growth in lumbar surgery has been among older patients with spinal stenosis. Now a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has acknowledged that the number patients with spinal stenosis receiving the most complex spinal fusion surgeries has skyrocketed in recent years. When it comes to spinal stenosis surgery, the study found there were three basic categories of back surgery used (in order from least to most invasive):

Decompression surgery – bone is cut away from where it is pressing on nerves in the spinal
canal
Simple fusion surgery – two vertebrae are permanently fused together using a bone graft and
possibly plates and screws
Complex fusion surgery – three or more vertebrae are fused together and/or the vertebrae are fused on both the front and back of the spine

Guess which type of surgery was used 15 TIMES more frequently in 2007 than it was in 2002? The same one with the highest average cost at over $80,000 per procedure – complex fusion surgery.

One might hope that the more complex surgery is used because it has better results. No dice. 13% of patients are back in the hospital within 30 days. One in five need lower back surgery again within 10 years. Worse yet, risk of major complications like stroke and risk of death within 30 days of surgery are both double that of decompression
surgery.

And in spite of all the talk about improved surgical techniques and new surgical implant devices approved since the mid-90s, the number of successful outcomes has declined. A study at the University of Washington found fusion surgery patients between 1997-2000 were 40% more likely to undergo a reoperation within the first year than they
were in the 1990-1993 period. Not exactly progress.

Here’s the bottom line. Spinal surgery – any spinal surgery – is extremely risky business and should be considered only as an absolute last resort. Fortunately it’s rarely your only option for ending pain caused by spinal stenosis.

Most cases of spinal stenosis are simply a result of growing older, with a number of conditions contributing to its development including a herniated disc, osteoporosis, calcification over growth, and scar tissue build up.

That means natural treatments for these are often successful at
relieving lower back pain and other spinal stenosis symptoms.

One of the first places to start with spinal stenosis is nutrition. Most people actually get enough calcium, but to be used properly, you also need to ensure you’re getting enough Vitamin D and magnesium which helps your body keep a proper balance of absorbed minerals. This will help with calcification overgrowth.

Scar tissue buildup is typically the result of chronic inflammation and excess fibrin. Your body eliminates both with proteolytic systemic enzymes. But since your body dramatically slows down the production of those
by your mid-20s you should consider taking a supplement with them.

Herniated discs are usually caused by unequal stress. Correcting muscle imbalances will help your body return to a neutral state to relieve pressure on the disc. And how about painless decompression without surgery?

You’ll love how you feel after using either an inversion table or the Nubax which offer the real benefits of decompression without going under the knife.

Finally, you should recognize that just because you may have spinal stenosis doesn’t mean the pain is actually originating from your spine. 75% of all pain is actually referred from miniature trigger points deep in your muscle tissue, sometimes far from the site of pain. If the above natural approaches don’t end your pain try using a trigger point self treatment system.

Chances are, you’ll find pain relief without needing any type of surgery.
Related references:
Deyo RA, et al. Trends, major medical complications, and charges associated with surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis in older adults. JAMA. 2010 Apr 7;303(13):1259-65.

Atlas SJ, et al. Long-term outcomes of surgical and nonsurgical management of lumbar spinal stenosis: 8 to 10 year results from the maine lumbar spine study. Spine. 2005 Apr 15;30(8):936-43.

Martin BI, et al. Are lumbar spine reoperation rates falling with greater use of fusion surgery and new surgical technology? Spine. 2007 Sep 1;32(19):2119-26.

Deyo RA, et al. United States trends in lumbar fusion surgery for degenerative conditions. Spine. 2005 Jun 15;30(12):1441-5; discussion 1446-7.

Martin BI, et al. Reoperation rates following lumbar spine surgery and the influence of spinal fusion procedures. Spine. 2007 Feb 1;32(3):382-7.

Kalichman L, et al. Spinal stenosis prevalence and association with symptoms: the Framingham Study. Spine J. 2009 Jul;9(7):545-50.

S. Samuel Bederman, et al. The who, what and when of surgery for the degenerative lumbar spine: a population-based study of surgeon factors, surgical procedures, recent trends and reoperation rates. Canadian Journal of Surgery.
2009 August; 52(4): 283-290.

Pain Relief in the Produce Aisle

admin — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 04:38:49 +0000

If you’re looking for pain relief you might find it at your local grocery store. Not in the pharmacy or over-the-counter medicine aisle, but discreetly tucked into the produce section.

The people of Guadeloupe introduced Christopher Columbus to this tasty tropical healer in 1493, but native South and Central American tribes had discovered its amazing attributes long before he sailed in. Today we call it the pineapple.

What makes the pineapple special are enzymes found throughout the plant called bromelain. Bromelain is a protease, or proteolytic enzyme, which means it breaks down protein. That’s why you’ll find it commonly used as a meat tenderizer.

You may be thinking tenderizing your already sore muscles is the last thing you want. But there’s another type of protein bromelain eats up too. It’s a protein called Circulating Immune Complex (CIC). Let me explain.

Our cells talk to each other through receptors. When we’re injured they tell our immune system to produce CIC proteins. The CICs are rushed to the scene of injury or irritation. Pain signals are generated to alert your body to trouble while inflammatory substances are called to build a protective wall around the injured area. These continue until our body sends proteolytic enzymes to counteract the CIC-induced inflammation.

The problem is our body may not produce enough proteolytic enzymes to tell the CICs to stop producing pain and inflammation when they should. That’s because by our mid-20s production of proteolytic enzymes drops off dramatically leaving us vulnerable to runaway inflammation. Left unchecked, inflammation increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, arthritis and dementia related disorders like Alzheimer’s. It causes hidden damage to tissues and organs throughout your body. And it just plain makes it harder for our bodies to heal and stop hurting.

Fortunately there’s a simple answer. Since the cause of runaway inflammation is a lack of proteolytic enzymes, the natural response is to get more of those into our system. That’s why pineapple with its natural proteolytic enzymes in the form of bromelain is such a great find. Eating pineapple increases the supply of proteolytic enzymes present in your body. You do have to eat the pineapple raw though. Cooking or heating destroys the enzymes’ effectiveness. This means canned pineapple won’t work either.

The highest concentration of bromelain is found in the stem of the plant. I’ll admit you would have to really love pigging out on tough raw pineapple stems every day to get the most benefit. Or you can just take a proteolytic enzyme supplement with bromelain harvested from pineapple by peeling and crushing the stem then purified and dried into a powder form to be taken orally without getting the sore mouth.

By the way, pineapple isn’t the only source of proteolytic enzymes. You can also find them in papaya (papain), figs (ficin) and kiwi fruit (actinidin). Good supplements will usually combine various forms of the enzymes for maximum effect. Restoring your body’s proteolytic enzyme levels will go a long ways towards reducing inflammation and ending chronic pain.

Related references:
Murachi, T and Neurtil, H.; Dept. of Biochemistry, University of Washington; Fractionation and Specificity on Stem Bromelain
Blumenthal, M., Goldberg, A., Brinkman, J.; ed. Herbal Medicine, Expanded Commission E monographs; Boston, Mass: Integrative Medicine Communications; 2000:33-35
Kapes, B.; Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine; Bromelain, April 6, 2001
Vukovic, L.; Better Nutrition: Pineapple Power; July 2007

Fibromyalgia Syndrome and Chronic Pain

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:08:29 +0000

Few widespread health maladies have the ability to camouflage their root cause as well as fibromyalgia. It’s known to mimic symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, osteoarthritis, post-traumatic stress disorder, lupus and a host of other disorders. Somewhere, hidden among all the symptoms, is a root cause and an elusive cure.

First recorded in 1904, fibromyalgia has grown into a modern era scourge affecting as many as 6 million Americans. Women are nearly nine times more likely to become afflicted than men, but no one is immune.

So what is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is named after the pain commonly reported in sufferers’ muscles, ligaments and tendons (Fibro = fibrous tissue, myo = muscle, and algos = pain). Research shows fibromyalgia is a syndrome which launches an all out attack on the central nervous and musculoskeletal systems.

Intense muscle pain caused by systemic inflammation is a very common description. One patient gave an account of her pain like “having arthritis in your muscles or charlie horses all day”. More than half of all fibromyalgia sufferers complain of chronic or migraine headaches. Extreme fatigue, sleep disorders, sensitivity to medicine, irritable bowel syndrome, memory loss, difficulty exercising, dizziness, non-cardiac chest pains, stiff joints, numbness and tingling sensations in extremities are also frequently reported.

Diagnosing fibromyalgia

Diagnosing fibromyalgia can be a supremely frustrating experience for patient and doctor alike. Since so many symptoms mimic those of other common disorders, making a diagnosis often comes down to a process of elimination.

Fortunately the American College of Rheumatology published standards to assist physicians with fibromyalgia diagnosis in 1990. The doctor simply applies pressure to 18 different trigger points found along the base of the patient’s neck, backbone, in front of the hip and elbow, and at the rear of the knee and shoulder. If the patient indicates at least 11 of the 18 sites are tender to the touch in addition to widespread pain a diagnosis of fibromyalgia may be warranted.

What causes fibromyalgia?

Some studies suggest individuals with fibromyalgia were genetically predisposed. Others indicate fibromyalgia is a dormant disorder that is triggered by a viral or bacterial infection or a traumatic injury. For example, one woman said she lived a normal life until she was struck from behind while driving. The severe whiplash sustained in the accident was the beginning of a new period in her life dominated by fibromyalgia pain.

That’s the long answer. The short answer is, we don’t know yet – exactly. However, enough evidence has accumulated to show fibromyalgia is typically preceded by a pattern of imbalances. These imbalances may be excessive stress levels, hormone imbalances, inadequate nutrition, poor sleeping patterns, and the list goes on. Discover what imbalances triggered your bout of fibromyalgia and you have the key to recovery in your hand.

How to treat fibromyalgia

There are no set guidelines for treating fibromyalgia since the underlying imbalances vary from one person to the next. What works for one person may not work for someone else, although heat seems to offer nearly universal short-term pain relief.

Drug treatments for fibromyalgia range from analgesics and anti-depressants to hormone replacements. Cortisone treatments may give some temporary relief at $400 per shot too. But long time readers already know my thoughts on these trouble-laden conventional medicine approaches.

A number of alternative medicine pain treatments have found growing acceptance from fibromyalgia patients seeking pain relief without the expense and dangerous side effect risk found with many conventional medicine treatments. Fibromyalgia patients have found practices as diverse as acupuncture, acupressure, Qigong therapy, chiropractic care, and massage therapy to be helpful. A good diet and sticking to a sleep routine is important too. Magnesium has been proven to help muscles relax and 400mg-600mg taken before bed refreshes muscles as you sleep.

The answer to fibromyalgia I found

I’ve studied pain, particularly back pain, for many years. Yet fibromyalgia is one of those chronic pain ailments that left me scratching my own head for quite awhile – until I was introduced to a guy named Greg Fors.

Actually, it’s Dr. Greg Fors, a board-certified neurologist. But I won’t hold that against him because he’s a truly brilliant old school physician. Why brilliant? Because he’s one of the rare breed of doctors who understands that solving a problem requires finding and fixing the underlying cause. Not just covering up the symptoms with drugs or fleecing your patients with unnecessary surgery.

Anyhow, Dr. Fors released a 398-page healing resource awhile back called Why We Hurt: Your Total Self-Care Guide for Backaches, Headaches, Shoulder Pain, Arthritis and Fibromyalgia. It truly gets to the bottom of why we acquire chronic pain ailments, including fibromyalgia. And as a chronic pain survivor himself, Dr. Fors also tells you in his book what he found for himself: how to fix the problem.

After I read his book I was so impressed I decided to give it away free on our company’s main website because the information inside is simply too important for fibromyalgia sufferers. If you’re suffering from fibromyalgia or any other kind of chronic pain, this book can help.

I don’t know how many free copies are left, so I suggest requesting your own free copy right away. If we’re out, try calling my office to see when we’ll have more available.

Related References:
Questions and answers about acupuncture. National Cancer Institute.

Good Living with Fibromyalgia. Atlanta, Ga.: Arthritis Foundation; 2006.

Wolfe F, Smythe HA, Yunus MB et al. (February 1990). “The American College of Rheumatology 1990 Criteria for the Classification of Fibromyalgia. Report of the Multicenter Criteria Committee”. Arthritis Rheum. 33 (2): 160–72

Schweinhardt P, Sauro KM, Bushnell MC. (October 2008). “Fibromyalgia: a disorder of the brain?”. Neuroscientist. 14 (5): 415–21.

Menthol for Pain Relief

admin — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:37:50 +0000

Menthol, one of nature’s most effective natural pain relievers, can already be found in products throughout your medicine cabinet, purse, and even your pocket.

Fully 3,000 tons of menthol are manufactured every year for products like mouthwash, toothpaste, breath-mints, gum, lip balms and on the list goes. Yet menthol really shines when used in pain relief creams.

What is menthol?

Menthol is the powerful organic compound found in the plant family ‘genus Mentha’, more commonly known as the mint and peppermint plants. While mint and peppermint are found world-wide, menthol is extracted in crystallized form from the oils of the wild mint or corn mint plant native to India, western and central Asia, the Himalaya, Siberia and North America.

How does menthol help relieve pain?

You may know from experience rubbing on a pain relief cream with menthol instantly brings cool, soothing pain relief to aching muscles. What you may not know is how menthol actually tackles pain in three different ways all at once.

Menthol has a natural analgesic (pain reliever) attribute when used in lotion, gel, or cream form. As the lotion is applied, molecules called ligands attach themselves to receptors in your cell triggering a change. The menthol ligand attaches to the kappa Opioid receptor, which produces a numbing effect.

Another reason menthol works so well when you rub it on those aching muscles is because it triggers a process called vasodilation. Blood vessels in the area widen, increasing blood flow to the area and reducing the skin barrier function. As a result, other medicinal ingredients typically found in that lotion along with the menthol get to work faster while the increased blood flow itself bring nutrients necessary for cellular repair and carry away waste.

Finally, one of the biggest culprits behind muscle aches and pains is inflammation. The Latin word for inflammation is inflammare which means “to set on fire.” Menthol brings a wonderful cooling sensation by stimulating thermoreceptors in the skin cells which help your body recognize temperature changes. Your skin doesn’t actually change temperature. Instead, menthol causes a signal to be sent which your brain interprets as cold, relieving the uncomfortable heat of inflammation. That’s why many first aid products use menthol for cooling in place of ice.

Clearly the mint plant gives us much more than good flavoring. It provides one of nature’s most effective natural pain relievers which even speeds up healing.

Related references:
Leffingwell, J.C. & R.E. Shackelford, Laevo-Menthol – Syntheses and organoleptic properties, Cosmetics and Perfumery, 89(6), 69-89, 1974

Ting, Lillian. Publication on neurons, cellular reaction, medicinal qualities of menthol. Science Creative Quarterly

Galeottia, N., Mannellia, L.D.C., Mazzantib, G., Bartolinia, A., Ghelardini, C. (2002). “Menthol: a natural analgesic compound”. Neuroscience Letters 322 (3): 145–148. doi:10.1016/S0304-3940(01)02527-7.

Braina, K.R., Greena, D.M., Dykesb, P.J., Marksb, R., Bola, T.S., The Role of Menthol in Skin Penetration from Topical Formulations of Ibuprofen 5% in vivo, Skin Pharmacol Physiol, 2006;19:17-21 [1]

PDR for Herbal Medicines, 4th Edition, Thomson Healthcare, page 640. ISBN 978-1563636783

Congress Threatens Your Access to Supplements… Again

admin — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:31:18 +0000

Three months ago I sounded the alarm about dangerous calls in the media to repeal the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA). I explained then how the DSHEA actually protects our rights as consumers and why supplements should not be regulated in the same fashion as prescription drugs.

Now, Senator McCain (R-AZ) and Senator Dorgan (D-ND) have introduced a bill called the Dietary Supplement Safety Act (DSSA) which dismantles key provisions of the DSHEA.

If passed, the FDA would be granted broad new powers to curtail the sale of vitamins, minerals, herbs, fish oils and other supplements along with the potency of those sold. In fact, many supplements already available would suddenly become illegal to purchase.

How’s that? The new legislation mandates all dietary supplements must undergo a new process of governmental review just to stay on the market. Just imagine having your glucosamine and chondroitin supplement suddenly pulled off the shelves simply because the FDA wishes to run it through the same multi-million or even billion dollar review process prescription drugs undergo.

Would it be fair to place supplements under the same testing restrictions as drugs? Not at all. Prescription drug companies can afford this costly process as their products are patent protected. Supplements, derived from food and other natural sources, don’t enjoy that luxury. This cost prohibitive requirement would cause supplements you rely upon to keep you healthy to either disappear or become much more costly.

The existing law already provides for supplement safety. Most supplement ingredients have already stood the test of time — in many cases, centuries of use. Supplements with any new ingredient must be reported to the FDA with scientific proofs before product release. The current DSHEA law strikes the right balance between product safety and the consumer’s right to choose the supplements that can improve their health.

Don’t confuse the mislabeled Dietary Supplement Safety Act with real safety. If passed, the new DSSA bill would interfere with your right to safe and affordable health supplements and should be vigorously opposed. Your health just may depend on it.

Antibiotics Cure Lower Back Pain?

admin — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 02:22:41 +0000

A group of researchers in Denmark recently discovered a 90-day course of antibiotics led to a 75% success rate in reducing or eliminating lower back pain for 29 patients who completed the study.

All participants had been diagnosed with a herniated disc and modic changes (MRI indicated swelling of vertebral bone tissue) in an earlier study. The working theory, now being tested in a larger study, is anaerobic bacterial infection in the patients’ herniated disc tissue led to inflammation and lower back pain.

This is promising news for chronic lower back pain sufferers. But like many conventional medicines there’s a downside. Antibiotics, including Amoxicillin-clavulanate used in this study, often come with side effects. Three of the participants (out of 32 who started the treatment) dropped out due to severe diarrhea. No word on how many had the trouble but put up with it in an attempt to end their back pain. Other undesirable side effects of amoxicillin can include fever, nausea, headache, thrush, hives and even seizures.

Antibiotics are also associated with a potentially more dangerous weakening of the immune system. Think of your immune system like a muscle. As it is used it grows stronger. Allowing your body’s natural defense mechanisms to fight off bacterial invaders builds immunity. Using antibiotics to fight your body’s battles essentially atrophies your body’s immune response leading to a harder fight the next time the same bacteria come back.

So yes, antibiotics kill bad bacteria. But they also kill off good flora in the intestines. This breakdown of the normal intestinal balance between good bacteria, bad bacteria and yeast in the intestines increases risk of malabsorption syndromes, food allergies, and parasitic infection.

Perhaps most frightening, antibiotic use is also linked to cancer. A recent Finnish study published in the International Journal of Cancer tracked over 3 million individuals with no history of cancer. It found increased use of antibiotics directly increased risk of cancer — by as much as 37% over the following six years.

Fortunately there is another option for helping your body naturally fight off bacterial infections with less risk of side effects than even “milder” antibiotics. Unlike antibiotics it even helps fight off viral infections, which can also lead to painful vertebral inflammation and lower back pain. This alternative is called systemic enzyme therapy.

Also called proteases, systemic proteolytic enzymes taken on an empty stomach enter the circulation system through the stomach or intestinal lining. There they break down excess fibrin which causes internal scar tissue to form, breaks down virus carrying proteins, and fights inflammation from bacterial origin as well.

Antibiotics can be an important tool for fighting off life threatening bacterial infections. Too often they are used when unnecessary to the detriment of the patient. While systemic enzyme therapy isn’t for everyone — including those taking antibiotics — it is a useful natural alternative to antibiotics worth exploring when looking for relief from lower back pain and other inflammation related ailments.

Related Clinical Studies:

Albert, HB; Manniche, C; Sorensen, JS; Deleuran, BW. Antibiotic treatment in patients with low-back pain associated with Modic changes Type 1 (bone oedema): a pilot study. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2008 Dec;42(12):969-73.
Albert, HB et al.: Modic changes; possible causes and relation to low back pain. Medical Hypotheses. 2008;70(2):361-8.
Kilkkinen, A et al.: Antibiotic use predicts an increased risk of cancer. International journal of cancer. 2008 Nov 1;123(9):2152-5.
Netti, C; Bandi, G. L.; Pecile, A.: Anti-inflammatory action of proteolytic enzymes of animal, vegetable or bacterial origin administered orally compared with that of known antiphlogistic compounds. II Farmaco Ed. Pr. 27: 453 (1972).
Inderst, R.: Systemic enzyme therapy. Journal of Pharmacy 52 (1992).

Do You Really Want to Get Rid of Your Pain?

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:58:29 +0000

Most people say they want to get rid of their pain, but they really don’t.

For some reason, they just really aren’t ready… otherwise they would have done it already or at least be actively working on it… relentless in their determination to get their life back.

Many of these people claim that if they only knew “how to” solve the problem they would. Yet there is more than enough of the how to… it’s everywhere…in books, videos, audios, doctors, etc… our entire website is full of some of the best how to there is when it comes to back pain… yet most people still don’t get relief… but not because the how to didn’t work, they don’t get relief because they are lacking the “want to”… a real desire to do what it takes to eliminate the problem.

I urge you to listen to this audio from Steve Chandler about the difference between the “How to” and the “Want to”… it’s this that can keep you stuck in pain or can set you free.

Click here to download

If you listen, please share your thoughts by commenting below.

If you don’t listen, it’s obvious that you don’t really want to get rid of the pain.

Excess Fibrin, Blood Clots and Heart Attacks

admin — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:27:06 +0000

Oxygen allows our bodies to grow and repair themselves. Along with food, it’s the fuel energy our bodies need to function. It even helps white blood cells fight infection in the body. That’s why good circulation is critical to good health, recovery from injury, preventing heart attacks and decreased pain.

Red blood cells are the transport carriers for oxygen throughout the body. A single drop of blood contains millions of these cells. But another healing tool of the body, fibrin, can interfere with delivery of life sustaining oxygen.

How fibrin helps our bodies

Fibrin is a form of internal scar tissue the body uses to clot the blood and strengthen muscles and other tissue after injury. It is stronger than elastin and collagen tissues, giving additional strength to the weakened area.

Surgery or tissue injury results in a localized increase of fibrin to repair the area. But even regular exercise, sports, or even massage can create microtears in muscle tissue. When the body doesn’t get enough recovery time before repeating the activity your body uses fibrin to strengthen the overstressed areas. This fibrin builds scar tissue in the area of injury resulting in limited mobility.

But that’s not all. Excess fibrin also acts like a web which red blood cells get stuck in, preventing oxygen from reaching tissues and waste from being removed. The body has to work harder to pump blood resulting in higher blood pressure. Excess fibrin has been linked to chronic systemic inflammation (a major source of pain), heart attack and stroke risk.

Most people have excess fibrin throughout their body. Symptoms of excess fibrin include chronic fatigue, slowed healing, and elevated blood pressure. Elevated levels aren’t always physically noticeable but you can ask your healthcare provider to run a medical test for blood monomers to measure your current fibrin level.

How to remove excess fibrin

The most effective way to help your body break down excess fibrin is by supplementing with systemic proteolytic enzymes, or proteases. Not to be confused with digestive enzymes which help break down food, systemic proteolytic enzymes enter the circulatory system then begin to break down excess fibrin throughout the body.

The activity of systemic enzymes is quite different from pain killers like NSAIDs. While drugs like ibuprofen may help reduce inflammation, systemic enzymes support the body’s ability to heal itself instead of merely attacking symptoms with a short-term solution.

While effective, systemic proteolytic enzymes aren’t for everyone. Since fibrin is central to blood clotting, those on prescription blood thinners or expecting to undergo surgery in the near future should not take them. They can also interfere with the action of antibiotics. Therefore anyone considering taking them should consult with their healthcare provider first, particularly if taking any kind of medication or being treated for any condition.

Here’s a short video discussing the benefits of systemic enzymes and the differences between digestive enzymes and systemic enzymes:

Bad Genes to Blame for Back Pain?

admin — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 08:38:12 +0000

A recently published study out of Denmark was widely reported by news agencies around the globe last month to prove a link between genetics and back pain. But how much can you really blame your back pain on your genes?

After reviewing the similarities and differences of 7,664 pairs of twins – about 56% fraternal and 44% identical – researchers claim they were able to establish a similarity in back pain risk and pain. By studying patterns in both types of twins, the genetic and environmental risk factors can be better understood.
The attributed level of genetic risk for back pain varied by what area of the back was affected. Neck pain was most commonly associated at 39%, followed closely by lower back pain at 38% then thoracic, or mid-back pain at 32%.

What is important to remember though is while genes may place one at increased risk, back pain itself always has an underlying cause. Preventing back pain, or eliminating it once it occurs, remains possible in the vast majority of cases through corrective back pain exercises, inversion therapy, trigger point therapy, better nutrition, reducing inflammation naturally and other lifestyle changes.

Also, this research contradicts other research that has proven that the environment has the greatest effect on our cells and how they develop and change. Watch this video to learn more about how our genes actually work: