Natural Relief for Inflammation of Sprains, Strains, and Arthritis

Abstract

Natural medicine can provide dramatic relief for patients who suffer from the aches and pains associated with sports-related injuries, other minor traumas, and chronic inflammatory conditions. The natural bounty of potential treatments runs the gamut from Lyprinol (a stabilized green-lipped mussel extract) (Tyler Encapsulations, Gresham, Oregon) to bromelain (a popular proteolytic enzyme derived from pineapple plants). Regardless of how the pain arises, whether it be associated with sprains, strains, arthritis, or general inflammation, pain can be incapacitating. Without question, pain is one of the single greatest factors leading to diminished quality of life. Virtually every adult has sometime during the journey through life experienced some level of discomfort that has led to the use of an over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Among the common uses for conventional anti-inflammatories include the treatment of conditions ending with the suffix itis, denoting inflammation. Among the more common are arthritis, bursitis, tendinitis, sinusitis, and myositis. Although brief utilization of NSAIDs is usually well tolerated with only occasional mild gastrointestinal (GI) disturbance, long-term use often leads to more serious side effects, including ulcer formation, GI irritation and bleeding, headaches, dizziness, and degeneration of cartilage. Indeed, studies have shown that NSAIDs actually inhibit cartilage formation and increase cartilage destruction.1-3 With these potential side effects and the tens of millions of individuals that suffer daily, it is not surprising that the pursuit of natural sources of relief is an area of phenomenal interest and growth. In fact, there are