Why we should be taking action to support it, not simply cover it up with dangerous drugs like aspirin.
One of the biggest myths of medicine is that we need to be treating inflammation with an anti-inflammatory drug. This is no surprise. Popular companies that sell products like Aleve, Advil or Bayer would like you to believe that their product is necessary for reducing pain and treating inflammation. But there’s a menacing downside to that approach. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like aspirin and ibuprofen, don’t do anything to support the body’s normal healing process after an injury. Some pain medications simply mask the pain temporarily, until you can take more drugs. A vicious cycle ensues and a dependency upon drugs becomes unavoidable.
The truth is, sometimes inflammation is a good thing. Dr. Robert A Cornfeld, for The Huffington Post, explains it this way:
“Inflammation is a directed response by the immune system designed to detoxify, repair and protect tissues under any form of functional or metabolic stress… In situations where the stress on the tissues is beyond the capability of the primary pathway, the immune system will then incorporate the secondary, or chronic, inflammatory pathway. This pathway is a protective pathway. It prevents rapid tissue destruction by allowing for cellular adaptation to the stress as well as the release of pain-causing chemicals to prevent continued “overuse and abuse” of the involved part. Therefore, the patient becomes aware that there is a problem because they are in pain… It is the body’s way of trying to help itself deal with these kinds of issues.”
Cornfeld stresses that “anti-inflammatory medications actually impair the body’s ability to detoxify, repair and protect itself.” Furthermore, most NSAIDs cause dangerous side effects including liver damage and damage to the gastric mucosa, which can lead to ulceration.
So, what is the solution for a doctor trying to treat inflammation or a patient trying to “support” the body’s natural healing process or reduce the pain of inflammation?
Many doctors and practitioners are now recommending all-natural approaches like omega-3 fatty acids. Higher concentrations of EPA and DHA have shown to help patients reduce their dependence on NSAIDs and lessen inflammatory pain without harmful side effects.
Studies have also been done on the New Zealand green-lipped mussel. A double-blind study carried out at The Victoria Infirmary in Glasgow, on 86 patients, showed that 68% of the rheumatoid patients and 40% of osteoarthritis sufferers gained significant relief from the symptoms of their disease when treated with Oceana-brand GlycoMarine. More importantly, the study showed that the mussel extract of this particular brand had no effect on the stomach lining and was actually found to protect the lining from damage by NSAIDs such as aspirin.
References:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-robert-a-kornfeld/medical-myths_b_1015752.html
