Natural Pain Relief

[Guest guest]

, " Alobar "

<alobar@b...> wrote:

> Why should Niacin be of the non-flushing variety for relief

> of menstrual cramps? Why not the plain niacin?

 

Alobar,

One of niacin's most striking effects is its ability to lower

dangerous blood fats, which affect the course of many other serious

conditions.

Niacin (not niacinamide) is one of the most effective broad-spectrum

hypolipidemic (fat-lowering) agents!

 

It lowers cholesterol, triglycerides, and the most dangerous Low-

density lipoproteins (LDL). However, watch out for the `flush'. If

you've ever experienced this you know what I mean! Niacin flush is

caused by arteries opening up and bringing blood rapidly to the

head, neck and upper part of the body, making it very warm and in

some cases extremely `hot'.

 

There are some products that consist of inositol hexaniacinate, a

special form of niacin composed of six nicotinic acid molecules

bound to, and surrounding one molecule of inositol (a B-vitamin).

 

Although inositol hexaniacinate yields slightly better results than

standard niacin, the big advantage is that it is safer and much

better tolerated!

 

Several types of niacin supplements are now on the market. They

include immediate release (IM) niacin; sustained release (SR)

niacin; and inositol hexaniacinate (IHN), which contains niacin plus

inositol. When using higher levels of IM niacin, individuals

generally experience a `flushing sensation', which often limits its

use.

Although SR niacin was designed to eliminate this sensation, it

still produces flushing and gastrointestinal upset in some

individuals. SR niacin is generally better tolerated, but at levels

above 1,500 mgs a day, elevated liver enzymes and liver toxicity

have been reported.

 

On the other hand, IHN or flush-free, niacin appears to be

completely safe and without any flushing effect. Human studies using

as much as 4,000 mgs daily have shown IHN niacin to be free of side

effects and adverse reactions. IHN has been shown to be beneficial

for circulatory disorders, including Reynard's disease and

intermittent claudication.

 

B3 plays a role in the synthesis of sex hormones which is why it is

normally used for female problems.

 

B3 requirements may be higher in people who have cancer, women who

are taking *contraceptives* and people who have protein deficiencies.

 

Inositol and choline are normally used for menstrual problems.

 

Numerous hormones are made from our existing stores of cholesterol.

Progesterone is fat-soluble. Niacin is important for metabolizing

fats and cholesterol.

 

The B complex vitamins play an important role in alleviating stress

levels and progesterone works with the thyroid hormone.

Premenstrual syndrome is a condition where there is enough

progesterone present but apparently there is also a prevalence of

cortisol which actually causes a blockade of progesterone.

 

Diet: Highly processed " exhausted " food does not give the body the

complex nutrients it needs to function optimally

Stress: Cortisol alters the message the brain sends to the ovaries

Xenoestrogens are " foreign " estrogens that are found in pesticides,

herbicides, plastics, and salad dressings. They damage the

developing follicles of the fetus and tend to cause estrogen

dominance.

 

Other interesting facts:

 

Niacin deficiency is quite common in people who eat corn-based

diets, because the niacin contained in corn is unabsorbable! B3

requirements may be higher in people who have cancer, people who are

taking oral contraceptives and people who have protein deficiencies!

 

High doses niacin therapy needs to be closely monitored by a

physician, since it can cause elevations in liver function tests.

Also consult with a professional if you have a history of ulcers, as

high doses may also exacerbate a pre-existing gastric or duodenal

ulcer.

 

By taking niacin after a meal, you can lessen or prevent the flush

without losing the beneficial effects. Caution must be exercised

when using time or sustained release (SR) niacin, since taking

higher doses of sustained release niacin, even under professional

guidance, yielded reports of liver toxicity.

The newer `flush-free' form, inositol hexaniacinate (IHN) appears to

be much safer.

 

" Aging without Growing Old " , Judy Lindberg McFarland

" The Real Vitamin & Mineral Book " Shari Lieberman, PhD

 

Best Regards,

JoAnn

[Guest guest]

Comments?

Misty L. Trepke

http://www..com

 

Natural Pain Relief

JoAnn Guest Jun 15, 2003

 

 

Pain is your body's way of telling you something is wrong. That

said, nobody wants to put up with chronic pain for weeks on end - so

if you are in pain, use a natural pain-relief remedy to tackle the

symptom.

 

If the pain persists, go to your doctor or natural health

practitioner to find out more about the underlying cause.

 

The word drug comes from the German word droge meaning `to dry', as

in drying herbs. It is estimated that up to half of all prescription

drugs come either directly from plants or are a chemical imitation

of the active medicinal ingredient found naturally in plants.

 

This means that the idea of relying on a herb to take away the pain

is not as silly as it might first sound.

 

Herbs can be just as potent as prescription medicines, which is why

(of course) they work.

 

For general pain relief I use an Indian herb called boswellia, which

is every bit as powerful as Ibuprofen or other over-the-counter

painkillers.

 

Produced from the gum of the Boswellia serrata tree, the

key active ingredient is Boswellic acid.

 

This is a powerful anti-inflammatory and vascular-supporting herb

that can help relieve headaches, for example, by opening up the

blood vessels that are constricting and causing the pain.

 

Do not confuse Boswellia serrata with Boswellia carteri. Both are

often called frankincense, but they have different actions in the

body.

 

This is an excellent general painkiller, but you can also use

different natural remedies to tackle specific types of pain, from

migraines to stomach cramps.

 

Migraine Headaches-

 

The best remedy for an excruciating migraine headache is the

everyday herb, feverfew.

 

You need to take one x 125mg standardised dose (or 50

drops of tincture) every day - and since the active ingredients can

take almost a month to really kick in, you need to be patient.

 

Sufferers report different types of migraine headaches and

homeopathy, which has proven highly effective for many sufferers,

keys in to these differences, making a point of prescribing remedies

according to not only the type of pain but also how it starts.

 

If the headache is worse on the right side, for example, and if

trying to concentrate makes the pain worse, you need Lycopodium 6c

(this figure denotes the strength or potency of the dilution.)

 

Blurring of the vision and vomiting would suggest Iris 6c, while a

throbbing, blinding headache with a feeling of congestion in the

head would probably be best treated by Natrum mur 6c.

 

All of these remedies are widely on sale in good health stores.

 

*Do not use Feverfew if you are pregnant or taking Warfarin

 

Period Pains-

 

Females who suffer from cramping have been shown to produce greater

levels of prostaglandins (the hormones secreted by the uterine

lining). Evening primrose oil is rich in Gamma-Linoleic Acid (GLA)

an anti-inflammatory prostaglandin that can counter the inflammatory

hormones causing pain.

 

If you suffer, take the equivalent of 250mg of GLA a day for three

months and monitor the relief.

Nutritionists also

recommend niacin (vitamin B3), which triggers a dilation of the

blood vessels to improve blood flow to the contracting uterus. Look

for a non-flushing form and take, as directed on the bottle, for

five days from the onset of symptoms.

 

Stomachache-

 

Stomach pains, especially after eating, are often caused by

inflammation of the lining of the gut.

 

The single best healing agent for this part of the body is aloe

vera, a bitter-tasting juice that you will need to mix

with fruit juice to disguise the taste.

 

Aloe vera is rich in substances called mucopolysaccharides, which

help counter griping pains.

 

It does this by blocking the inflammatory agents, thromboxanes and

bradykinin, which would otherwise cause pain, inflammation, and

tissue swelling.

 

Sports Injuries/Arthritis/Rheumatism-

 

One of the best anti-inflammatory painkillers for the joints and for

sports injuries is an substance called bromelain, which is actually

an enzyme from fresh pineapple juice.

 

Bromelain reduces inflammation by first breaking down fibrin, a

substance that would otherwise work in the body to cause local

swelling.

 

It has also been shown to be as effective as antibiotics in

treating a variety of infectious and painful

conditions, from bronchitis to pneumonia.

 

Five Star Tip: Vets give horses B vitamins to strengthen their

hooves - and so when Swiss researchers decided to see whether the

same nutrients would work wonders for human nails they were very

pleased to find the answer was a resounding Yes!

 

They gave biotin - one of the B vitamins, which you can buy from

your local health store - to women complaining of

brittle nails and found that after six months, their nail thickness

had increased by 25%.

 

For the same results, take 2.5 mg of biotin every day.

[Guest guest]

, " Alobar "

<alobar@b...> wrote:

> I am still not clear about what you are saying, JoAnn.

Is there a problem with Niacin other than that some people find it

> uncomfortable?

> Since learning that niacin is not good for my blood glucose

> measurements because I am a diabetic, I have put aside the niacin &

> use niacinamide instead.

> Raven, my ex-wife, sometimes has problems with menstrual

> cramping. Being much younger than I am, she often stops taking her

> supplements when money is tight. She also likes the niacin flush.

> Is there some reason for her to use a non-flush variety of niacin?

> Or can I just give her the big bottle of niacin I can no longer

use? Alobar

 

Alobar,

 

It would be very difficult for me to imagine anyone `enjoying' a

Niacin flush as our experiences were so much different than yours.

For example we had some family members who were rushed

to `emergency' after experiencing a relatively severe `niacin flush'.

This episode has taught me that Niacin isn't something that I want

to play around with. In addition, I believe B-vitamins aren't all

that effective unless they are taken synergistically, in combination

with other B's as well. The body isn't made to handle such large

amounts of one specific vitamin even though they are water soluble

and much of it passes on through the body.

 

The flush free products consist of inositol hexaniacinate, a

special form of niacin composed of six nicotinic acid molecules

bound to, and surrounding one molecule of inositol (a B-vitamin).

Although inositol hexaniacinate yields slightly better results than

standard niacin, the big advantage is that it is safer and much

better tolerated.

I also wish to emphasize here that according to Shari Lieberman,

PhD relatively high dosages of regular niacin tablets may be linked

to some degree of liver toxicity when taken over a period of time.

This effect is not seen in the flush free tablets.

 

In my opinion, the reason that flush free niacin is so much better

( especially for women) is that it is basically a combination of

some other nutrients in the B family which benefit female problems.

 

The inositol (in the flush free variety) is useful for many

menstrual problems and when it is taken in a combination with

niacin, this makes it even more effective in controlling these

irregularities since our hormones originate from cholesterol and

fats and niacin plays a key role in metabolizing fats.

 

I wouldn't be in a position to advise as to whether your friend

should take Niacin. It would be dependent on her other health issues

if any, that she is facing at this time and as you say, it is not

advisable to take with any type of sugar problem or with duodenal

ulcers as it may cause gastrointestinal upset.

She may benefit from other brands, however the flush free brand

would benefit her much more in my opinion.

 

Cheers,

JoAnn

 

Human studies using as much as 4,000 mgs daily have shown IHN niacin

to be free of side effects and adverse reactions. IHN has been shown

to be beneficial for circulatory disorders, including Reynard's

disease and intermittent claudication.

" Aging without Growing Old " , Judy Lindberg McFarland " The Real

Vitamin & Mineral Book " Shari Lieberman, PhD