Pain Relief Newsletter November -  2002 [ Send a copy to a friend ] Don't Let Back Pain Paralyze You Confronting fear of movement critical to recovery, experts say. Anyone who has ever had back pain knows the idea of moving around can be terrifying, but experts say facing your fears is critical to recovery (READ ARTICLE)   The Pitfalls of Over-The-Counter Painkiller Your over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain medications may not just kill pain -- they may kill you.  More than 16,500 people die each year and 103m000 are hospitalized for serious complaints caused by pain relievers known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), says the National Consumers League (NCL)  "People mistakenly assume that if a prescription is not required for a medication that is sold in a drugstore or a supermarket, then it must be safe," NCL president Linda Golodner says in a news release. (READ ARTICLE) Regaining a Normal Life with Bowen She was told she had to "learn to cope."  Cope with daily souvenirs of her auto accident:  TMJ, migraine headaches and back spasms.  Along with massive amounts of painkillers she also had heat packs, ultra-sound massage and cold packs three times a week for 18 months. She had to restrict her life to accommodate her limitations.  Soft diet not to tax the TMJ.  No heavy lifting or severe bending.  New pains appeared in her right hip.  She would never be the same. A dear friend could not bear watching her suffer and suggested she try Bowen therapy.  She had never heard of Bowen, but her mind was open and curious. During the first three weeks she was treated with Bowen, she couldn't lie on her stomach because her sinuses clogged up.  But then, every spring and summer they had always clogged up anyway.  Then at week four she noticed she was lying on her stomach with no pain in her shoulders, no discomfort and - strangest of all - she was breathing clearly. She had more strength, more energy and much more flexibility whether on the treadmill, walking the dog or climbing up stairs.  No back spasms.  No low-back aches or throbs.  She could even bend over and touch her toes.  And she hadn't had a migraine for a long time.  Even with the high humidity, her face didn't ache.  No earaches either, because the TMJ was better. After eight weeks of Bowen therapy, she was coping very well:  getting out of bed without a stiff aching low back, bending, lifting and moving around.  Slowly she learned to live once again without earaches, without migraines and without daily jaw pain. That's called having a normal life. Natural Migraine Relief More than 28 million Americans suffer from migraine, a condition that is commonly experienced as recurrent headache and involves the constriction of blood vessels, inflammation and a change in the level of a brain chemical called serotonin... Many people are dissatisfied with the conventional drug treatments for migraine -- both the side effects and the effectiveness of the drugs -- and are turning to natural medicine for help.  Here are some natural remedies that may be useful to prevent and treat migraine. (READ ARTICLE) Healing Back Pain Naturally - BOOK REVIEW The Mind-Body Program Proven to Work by Art. MD Brownstein, Arthur Brownstein, Joan Borysenko How to improve back health through exercise, yoga-based stretches, and stress reduction.  Brownstein (a clinical instructor of medicine at the University of Hawaii, Manoa) suffered multiple injuries and severe back pain for 20 years; when traditional medicines and surgery failed to help, he found relief by creating a regimen drawing on yoga, meditation and other alternative therapies. His program is sound, and his starting point valuable.  Rather than looking for an initiating catastrophic injury as the basis for designing treatment, chronic back pain sufferers would do better to understand their acute event as the culmination of years of stress, poor body mechanics, and possible weight and nutrition problems.  His second important point is that almost all back pain originates in the muscles (rather than bone or other structures) This program is aimed, therefore, at muscular fitness, principally with the extensive, progressive stretches based on yoga poses.  Brownstein is careful to give appropriate cautions along the way:  when to seek medical help, possible signs of serious disease.  Nutritional advice, stress-reduction exercises, advice on lifestyle changes, and "Emotional and Spiritual Lessons for Healing" round out the program. Reliable advice for a common problem, with a spiritual/yoga flavor that will have special appeal for some sufferers. --- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.  Nutritional Program for Arthritis by Michael Janson M.D. When patients come to me for advice about specific medical problems, they usually have been told that they need medication or surgery, and they are seeking ways to avoid those treatments.  Sometimes they have already tried medications, which have produced significant side effects.  Usually they have many treatment alternatives, but they have no information about their choices.  One example of effective alternatives is the reduction in blood pressure that meditation produces.  Others are the dietary changes and exercise programs that lead to lowered cholesterol.  Since the medical treatments for these two conditions are often more dangerous than the problems, it is worth seeking safer alternatives. (READ ARTICLE) Bowen Proven Effective in Research Studies FIBROMYALGIA In a study of 20 patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia conducted by Jo Anne Whitaker M.D., at the American College of Rheumatology, almost all participants experienced various degrees of relief which lasted from a few days to several weeks.  Most reported immediate relief following a Bowen treatment.  For some, repeated Bowen therapy maintained complete clinical remission.  Results were statistically significant and correlated with improvement of clinical well-being. TMJ A research project on TMJ abnormality was conducted by Dr. John Bauman, DDS.  Immediately after the first Bowen treatment, one third of the patients felt dramatic relief from their symptoms. CEREBRAL PALSY Ongoing research by Howard Plummer in Wales has produced encouraging results.  Initial outcomes include increased vocalization, calmer behavior, improved concentration and comprehension and improved head control and balance.  Laugh Yourself Healthy by Jen Albritton, CN You might not consider something as simple as laughter being an integral part of a comprehensive wellness program, but it is!  This so called "inner jogging" not only boosts one's mood, but it also revs up the immune system, protects the heart, enhances creativity, reduces pain, lowers blood pressure and provides a general sense of well-being. A giggle session also reduces stress hormones (e.g., cortisol and epinephrine) in the body, allowing you to cope better with everyday tension. (READ ARTICLE)   Herbs & Supplements for Chronic Fatigue Many individuals with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome choose to treat their condition with natural herbs and supplements.  The following is a breakdown by category of symptoms.  Nutritional supplements targeted toward each symptom follow. (READ ARTICLE) Newsletter Archives September 2002 October 2002