Seven Ways to Protect Your Heart With Anti-Inflammatory Alternatives

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http://www.mercola.com/2005/jan/12/anti_inflammatory.htm

 

Seven Ways to Protect Your Heart With Anti-Inflammatory Alternatives

 

By Dr. Joseph Mercola

with Rachael Droege

 

After one popular pain-killing drug, Merck's Vioxx, was pulled from

the market and two others, Pfizer's Bextra and Celebrex, had their

safety severely questioned, many Americans are opting to leave their

anti-inflammatory drugs on the shelf -- and understandably so.

 

These drugs are in a class of painkillers known as cox-2 inhibitors,

which are part of a larger class known as nonsteroidal

anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), and are often used to treat

arthritis and other pain. Let's take a quick look at these drugs'

disturbing past:

 

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Vioxx was pulled from the market in September 2004 after a study

showed that patients taking the drug faced twice the risk of heart attack

*

 

Bextra was found to double the risk for heart attack and stroke

*

 

In December 2004, Pfizer announced that Celebrex more than

doubled the risk of heart attack in a long-term cancer trial

*

 

The National Institutes of Health announced, also in December

2004, that over-the-counter pain reliever Aleve has been linked to an

increased risk of heart attack and stroke

 

In light of all of these significant warning signs, increasing numbers

of patients, particularly those with arthritis, are seeking pain

relief through alternative methods -- and they're in luck. Probably

the most important way is to reduce inflammation is to eliminate sugar

from your diet and for most of us that also includes all grains. Just

this simple strategy may provide amazing relief.

 

If eliminating sugar and grains doesn't provide you with the relief

you seen then the following herbal solutions provide the benefits of

painkilling drugs without raising your risk of serious health problems

like heart attacks and stroke.

 

You should work with your own knowledgeable health care professional,

someone who understands natural medicine, to develop the best

combination of herbal alternatives for you.

 

Ginger: This herb is anti-inflammatory and offers pain relief and

stomach-settling properties. Fresh ginger works well steeped in

boiling water as a tea or grated into vegetable juice. Powder capsules

are also available, but I recommend using the fresh root.

 

Boswellia: Also known as boswellin or " Indian frankincense, " this herb

contains specific active anti-inflammatory ingredients, referred to as

boswellic acids that animal studies have shown significantly reduce

inflammation. This is one of my personal favorites as I have seen it

work well with many of my rheumatoid arthritis patients

 

And in another study of 175 patients with rheumatic disorders such as

rheumatoid arthritis, 122 participants had reduced stiffness and

inflammation just two to four weeks after starting on boswellia.

 

Fish Oils: The omega-3 fats EPA and DHA found in fish oil have been

found, by many animal and clinical studies, to have anti-inflammatory

properties that reduce joint inflammation and promote joint lubrication.

 

Animal based omega-3 fats are absolutely essential for any

comprehensive anti-inflammatory program. They form the precursors to

the molecules that actually produce or inhibit inflammation in your

body (prostaglandins). That is why it is essential to make sure you

are getting enough. It is also vital to understand that you need to

reduce omega-6 fats like vegetable oils seeds and nuts, as it is

actually the ratio of omega 6:3 fats that determines how much

inflammation is present. You could theoretically consume enough

omega-3 fish oils to work but then ruin the effect by consuming too

many omega-6 fats.

 

Those of you who read the newsletter regularly know that I'm a fan of

Carlson's brand fish oil and cod liver oil as I have seen clear and

often substantial improvements in my patients who use it. It has shown

particularly positive benefits in those with rheumatoid arthritis.

 

You can find the Carlson's fish oil/cod liver oil in my Recommended

Products section; your local health food store may also carry

Carlson's, and usually they are very helpful in recommending any other

trustworthy brands.

 

Bromelain: This enzyme, found in pineapples, is a natural

anti-inflammatory. It can be taken in supplement form, but eating

fresh pineapple may also be helpful.

 

Cetyl Myristoleate (CMO): This oil, found in fish and dairy butter,

acts as a " joint lubricant " and an anti-inflammatory. The delicious

raw butter we carry from organic pastures contains " Wulzen

anti-stiffness factor. " This factor has been found to be highly

effective in reversing arthritis and protects against calcification of

joints. I have also used this for myself to relieve ganglion cysts and

a mild annoying carpal tunnel syndrome that pops up when I type too

much on non-ergonomic keyboards. I used a topical preparation for this.

 

In one study of 106 people with various types of arthritis who did not

respond to NSAIDs, 63.5 percent of those who took CMO orally and

applied the cream topically (it's available both in oral supplement

and cream forms) improved, compared to only 14.5 percent of those

taking a placebo.

 

Evening Primrose, Black Currant and Borage Oils: These contain the

essential fatty acid gamma linolenic acid (GLA), which is useful for

treating arthritic pain. These are the exception to omega-6 fats that

are necessary to have in your diet. It is reasonable for many to take

these as a supplement, particularly if you struggle with dry skin in

the winter, as this is a strong indicator that you are deficient in

these fats

 

In one study of 37 rheumatoid arthritis patients, those who received

1.4 grams of GLA per day reduced the number of tender joints by 36

percent, the tenderness of the joints by 45 percent, the number of

swollen joints by 28 percent, and the degree of joint swelling by 41

percent. The placebo group showed no significant improvements.

 

I personally prefer the use of GLA supplements from evening primrose

oil but borage oil contains a higher concentration of GLA, which means

you need fewer capsules, and it tends to be less expensive.

 

Cayenne Cream: Also called capsaicin cream, this spice comes from

dried hot peppers. It alleviates pain by depleting the body's supply

of substance P, a chemical component of nerve cells that transmits

pain signals to the brain.

 

Related Articles:

 

Finally -- FDA Admits That ALL Anti-Inflammatories May Kill You

 

Vioxx and Celebrex (Cox-2 Inhibitors) May Affect Kidneys

 

How Vioxx and Celebrex Increase Your Risk of Heart Attack

 

Warning: Taking Bextra May Harm Your Health

 

In Light of Vioxx, Bextra Getting A Closer Look

 

Two Tried-and-True Tips for Pain Relief