Pain is defined as a noxious stimulus, and noxious indeed it is.

While most of us do not like pain, it does serve a purpose.

What is Pain?

Pain is an incredibly unpleasant experience designed by our body to warn us of injury or illness.

• Break your leg? Pain will most certainly tell you not to walk on it.
• Tooth abscess? Pain will most certainly tell you to pull the tooth—anything to make the pain go away.

However, pain is an important signal to let you know something has gone wrong and needs attention, which can be life-saving. So much as we may hate it, it is a necessary part of our health and longevity.

It is important to understand what the body is asking for so that the best steps can be taken to address the problem and (hopefully) the pain as well.

Chronic Pain

Chronic pain does not resolve easily.

It diminishes mood and energy, and drastically alters quality of life.

A few of the causes of chronic pain are:

• damage to the spinal vertebrae
• trigeminal neuralgia
• rheumatoid arthritis
• fibromyalgia

Methods of Pain Relief

Now that pain has our attention, we can deal with the underlying cause.

But what do we do in the meantime, until the injury is healed or the illness cured?

• Historical Treatments

  Humans have sought effective pain relief since prehistory.

  Various medicines and methodologies have gone in and out of vogue, some based on early science and some mystic in nature.

  • Physical Methods

    One of the ones I find most interesting (if gruesome!) is trepanning, in which practitioners more than 1,000 years ago drilled holes in the skull to release the demons responsible for headaches, epilepsy, and mental illness.

    Stings from electric fish were used in ancient Egypt to cure painful joints and headaches.

  • Herbal Remedies

    Plants have always been a part of the medicines developed to relieve pain.

    Cocaine from coca leaves is a very effective topical pain reliever, and opium from poppies yields morphine.

    However, though these botanicals numb the pain, they do not address the underlying cause of the pain, which most often is inflammation.

• Pharmaceutical Risks

  The reason people keep buying them is because they reduce pain, but at what cost?

  • Over-The-Counter Drugs

    You might be shocked to learn that:

    • more than 16,500 people a year die from the complications of using ibuprofen
    • the number one cause of acute liver failure in the United States is acetaminophen.

    Be Careful with NSAIDs

    NSAIDS are "nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs."

    Some drugs in this class are:

    • aspirin
    • naproxen sodium
    • celecoxib
    • ibuprofen

    The problems with these drugs is their side effects, which include:

    • stomach ulcers
    • intestinal ulcers
    • gastrointestinal bleeding
    • reduced kidney function
    • high blood pressure
    • increased risk of:
      • heart attack
      • stroke

  • Prescription Drugs

    The opiate epidemic of narcotic pain relievers is incredibly damaging and shows little sign of abating.

    How many lives are damaged and lost because of opioid addiction?

  As if these consequences weren’t enough, there is also another glaring problem: these drugs do nothing to treat the underlying cause of the pain.

  They do not heal, or treat, or cure.

Natural Remedies for Pain

Fortunately, there are powerful natural compounds that can make a measurable difference, and two of the best are curcumin and boswellia.

• Curcumin for Pain and Inflammation

  Curcumin is a concentrated extract of the spice turmeric. For relieving most types of pain, addressing inflammation is key, and curcumin may be the most effective natural anti-inflammatory in the world.

  Rather than mask the pain signal, or drive down inflammation artificially, curcumin actually modulates inflammation, and reduces pain with relatively little risk. It also does what these drugs cannot do: it boosts the healing of the underlying cause of pain.

  Turmeric contains only 2 to 5% curcumin, so in order to be effective, it needs to be extracted and concentrated. Curcumin has been found effective in published human studies, called clinical studies, on arthritis, autoimmune diseases, skin conditions, cancer, diabetes, and depression.

  In several of these studies, curcumin is able to equal or even outperform a class of drugs commonly used called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Some drugs in this class are aspirin, naproxen sodium, celecoxib, and ibuprofen. The problems with these drugs is their side effects, which include stomach or intestinal ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding, reduced kidney function, high blood pressure, and a significantly increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

  Curcumin has been shown to effectively relieve pain by modulating every single type of inflammatory pathway in the body. I consider it the most valuable player (MVP) on the pain-relieving team.

  Fortunately, curcumin has side benefits instead of serious side effects. Some side benefits of curcumin (to name only a few) are helping to prevent heart disease and diabetes. Since curcumin doesn’t absorb very well, enhancing absorption, turmeric essential oils can make a real difference in your degree of pain relief. It has also been found that turmeric essential oil itself has some great anti-inflammatory activity.

  Advanced Absorbtion

  Unfortunately, curcumin is hard to absorb. There is a patented, clinically studied enhanced absorption curcumin that uses turmeric essential oil, rich in ar-turmerone. It has been shown to reduce both pain and inflammation in both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, performing as well as drugs. There are also other formulas with enhanced absorption.

• Boswellia for Pain Relief

  The perfect companion to curcumin is the ancient herb, boswellia, sometimes known as frankincense.

  Boswellia is an amazing plant that contains a family of compounds called boswellic acids that address 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), a specific type of enzyme that plays a crucial role in mediating inflammation via a unique pathway. No over-the-counter drug, and almost no prescription drugs, can reduce this type of inflammation. This pathway is active in asthma, inflammatory bowel conditions, gout, and joint pain. While curcumin is the MVP because it modulates all the pathways, boswellia is a special teams player that always delivers.

  By combining boswellia’s activity with curcumin and turmeric essential oil, even higher levels of pain relief can be achieved. Two clinical studies, both on osteoarthritis pain, have shown the combination to provide high levels of benefits, and one study showed the two used together is more powerful than curcumin alone for pain.

  In fact, the combination of curcumin, turmeric essential oil, and a standardized high-AKBA boswellia was shown to stop arthritis pain as effectively as the prescription drug celecoxib, with better reductions in pain and greater increases in walking distances. And unlike celecoxib, known for adverse effects that include increased risk of heart attack and stroke, the herbal group saw no serious side effects at all and was very well tolerated

  Check Standardization

  It is important to check the standardization of boswellia. The most powerful boswellic acid is called AKBA, and unstandardized boswellia can have as little as 1%. For clinical benefits, a minimum of 10% is important. Also, boswellia contains a boswellic acid (BBA) that is pro-inflammatory, so purification to greatly reduce this troublesome compound also yields a more powerful extract.

• Relieve Pain with Hemp Oil & Phytocannabinoids

  There has been a lot of focus on one compound found in hemp oil, cannabidiol, known better by its shorthand name of CBD. Though CBD has studies, more recent research has found that CBD on its own is not nearly as powerful as the full spectrum of phytocannabinoids in hemp. In fact, CBD has over 100 distinct brothers and sisters in this family that can provide even greater levels of benefits.

  It’s important to look for full-spectrum hemp oil. Several published studies have shown great benefits for many types of pain utilizing the phytocannabinoids in hemp oil. For the cleanest source, European oil grown on land that is Ecocert certified is stellar.

Herbal Combinations for Better Pain Relief

While all these interventions on their own are very useful, for serious pain relief, the combination is best.

Pairing a clinically studied, powerful curcumin- and boswellia-based product with a premium European hemp oil addresses pain in two ways: reducing inflammation and activating the endocannabinoid system.

These products are fine on their own, but even better together, and can relieve pain while addressing the underlying problem that is causing the pain in the first place.

While I like the combination of curcumin and boswellia as the foundation for pain relief, there are many supplements that approach pain from various perspectives, including:

• hemp oil
• white willow extract
• dl-phenylalanine (DLPA)
• devil’s claw
• kava

You may need to add supplements or ingredients to your protocol to fine tune it to more exactly fit your needs.

A cleansing detox feels wonderful for your body and it can also be delicious! Your liver is your premiere detox organ, and all too frequently, factors interrupt its healthy functioning.

Examples include highly refined foods, nitrates, hormones and preservatives, along with environmental xenohormones, caffeine, alcohol, hormone birth control, overuse of antibiotics, prescription drugs, smog, secondhand smoke, and even metabolic residue from your foods.

When these elements come into play, your liver no longer performs normally, causing toxins to build up in your system, where they provoke chronic health conditions – but there are plenty of natural remedies available!

Love Your Liver

Your liver, as the center of action, also purifies the bloodstream, maintains sugar levels, produces enzymes and amino acids to metabolize carbohydrates, fats and proteins, produces bile during the digestive process for fat metabolism, then houses the bile in the gallbladder, and helps keep your body in hormonal balance.

Simply put, the liver is the key to life. When your liver is sluggish, every organ in your body becomes affected by it. Your blood vessels enlarge, and blood flow becomes restricted. The congested liver starts to propel toxins into your circulatory system, producing a dull ache under your lower right rib cage—particularly after a rich meal.

With toxins running amok in your body, secondary problems are usually not far behind it. The liver – which produces enzymes and amino acids to aid in digestion – becomes overwhelmed and throws the whole body out of balance, which weakens the gastro lining and releases more toxins into the system.

And as higher amounts of these poisons are released, even more make their way into your liver, which starts the insidious circle all over again.

As the seat of energy flow for the body, your liver is susceptible to stagnation problems. Unresolved or prolonged anger and depression – the emotional markers of a compromised liver – prevent the body’s energy from flowing as it should. You may have a deep vertical crease between your eyebrows as a result, or a dark reddish complexion.

You could also experience a myriad of secondary symptoms such as acne, itchy rashes, petachiae (red spots), splitting or breaking fingernails, and digestive problems.

Hormonal imbalances could also come into play. These symptoms range from premenstrual irritability, mood swings and cramping, to perimenopausal irritability, mental fog, anxiety and depression, to menopausal hot flashes, palpitations and night sweats.

In fact, contending with years of a stress-damaged liver has also been known to bring about earlier menopausal symptoms.

Foods for Liver Health

These are four fantastic foods to feed your liver what it critically needs for peak performance.

• Dandelion Root

  Dandelion root is dandy for stimulating liver function and detox because it’s loaded with nutrients and minerals.

  One such is inulin, a fiber-like substance that functions as a prebiotic to help nourish the friendly bacteria in the gut.

  The humble dandelion root is also good for lowering blood sugar and boosting the overall health of the microbiome.

  Usage

  It’s the perfect swap or trade-off to have in place of coffee for those of you on a detox.

  Another easy and delicious option is to add it to your daily smoothie.

• Beets

  You can’t beat beets! They're full of betaine, a prominent protector of the liver against the damaging effects of alcohol.

  Betaine also thins the bile and helps it move freely within the bile ducts, and is an incredibly rich dietary source of nitric oxide and antioxidants.

• Flaxseeds

  Flaxseeds are fabulous for fiber, which keeps toxins moving out of your body – where they should be.

  They’ve also been found to power up the immune system and even be an effective cancer fighter.

  They can be of particular benefit to post-menopausal women because the lignans in the fibrous shell counteract the cell-proliferating power of excess estrogen.

  Usage

  From flaxseed crackers to an excellent smoothie add-in, there are many ways to work flax’s healthful crunch into your routine.

• Burdock Root

  Burdock root rocks as a liver cleansing agent by encouraging the body to remove waste and metabolize built up fats, old cholesterol deposits, and toxins.

  As an added bonus, it can be very helpful for skin conditions like eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis.

  Usage

  My favorite way to prepare it is to peel it and use it plentifully as an ingredient in a slaw. Yum!

In recent years we have seen a drastic increase in the number of people in this country who are overweight and obese. This has led to a scary increase in many chronic health conditions ranging from diabetes and metabolic syndrome to heart disease.

We are also seeing a rise in NAFLD (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease) in humans. I’ve written many blogs on this topic.

What is NAFLD?

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a term used to describe the accumulation of fat in the liver of people who drink little or no alcohol. People usually don’t have symptoms, or if they do, the symptoms are mild—most commonly, episodes of fatigue.

But we now know that the increase in NAFLD is due in part to obesity. It is no secret that weight loss is an important factor in improving a fatty liver.

Detox for People

As a big proponent of supporting liver function in people by using detoxing programs, I have always suggested the use of herbs, amino acids, and nutraceuticals in a combination formula. I have seen this formula help countless people over the years as they work on improving their health and losing weight.

Detox for Pets

Pet Obesity

Veterinarians are also finding that, just like people, dogs and cats that carry extra weight place additional demands on their organs too, especially on their livers.

So the question is: how do we help our furry friends who are overweight?

We can’t exactly offer our pets suggestions like “Push away your plate before you are full,” or “Stop opening the refrigerator after 7 PM for that extra snack!” I sometimes joke about our dogs with my husband Stan, “I’ll bet they wish they had thumbs so they could open the refrigerator.” You see, I am also trying to control the weight in my dogs at this time, yet they have learned so many ways to control me and devour more food!

I often read articles that claim overweight pets habitually hang around during mealtimes and while food is being prepared. Well, where else would they be?

Fatty Liver Disease in Pets

Hepatic lipidosis (commonly known as fatty liver) is one of the most common feline liver diseases in cats. But dogs can also suffer from fatty liver, which results in a decrease in liver function and leads to myriad other health conditions.

Once again, we share the same problems with our health as our pets when it comes to both weight and liver disease.

Guess what? The answer to this problem is the same for both humans and pets: lose the extra pounds. When we—and our pets—lose weight, the liver then loses fat. And by detoxing the liver, it will naturally become healthier.

Liver Detox for Pets

Many pet owners have been detoxing their own livers for years. We now know that liver detox is important for our beloved pets as well.

A very important point to remember is to choose a gentle daily detox for our pets (just as we do for ourselves) that will not cause them to feel poorly as their livers detox.

You’ll want to find a formula that includes milk thistle, turmeric, and MSM. These gentle ingredients support and assist in liver detoxification in animals just as they do in humans.

Make sure the product is specifically formulated for pets.

Helping Your Pet to Lose Weight

Now to address the issue of helping our furry friends lose weight; the responsibility is ours. We must make sure to not overfeed them or give them too many treats. I have one important rule with my dogs: I never feed them from the table!

Admittedly, it’s not easy to refuse those pitiful eyes when they look up at me asking for a treat. But I know that their health depends on it.

Believe it or not, your lungs are your most vulnerable organ and pulmonary function is the an important predictor of not only how long you’ll live, but how active and healthy you’ll be.

Taking good care of your lungs is not an option, it’s a MUST as we face more and more viral challenges.

Lung inflammation – and cough – from a viral respiratory infection can last for up to 2 months after the rest of your symptoms are gone. It’s called post-viral cough, and has been recognized in the scientific literature all the way back to 1950. The exact cause of the cough isn’t known, but it’s thought to be from all the damage to the lungs during the infection, plus the inflammatory reaction the body has from fighting off the virus.

Not only does the virus do damage, but the radiation exposure from X-rays and CT scans, invasive medical procedures (including intubation and mechanical ventilation), and medications we take all can have undesirable effects on our long-term health as well. Fortunately, there are supportive herbs and nutritional supplements we can use to support our lungs as they heal from such a coordinated assault.

Respiratory Virus 101

In order for your immune system to eradicate a virus anywhere in your body, it has to target and kill your own cells. This is different from a bacterial infection because bacteria attach to the outside of your cell, so you can kill bacteria without sacrificing your own cell. A virus invades your cell and takes over its command center, forcing it to make copies of infected cells and spread. The only way your body knows to kill the virus that’s hijacking your cells is to kill your own cells.

Once a virus is detected, this activates your T cells, the “soldiers” of your immune system that seek out and destroy infected cells. These dead cells are then cleaned up by the macrophages in your blood, which are like little garbage disposals that travel through your blood stream and “eat” any diseased cells. The viral attack on your cells also triggers a protective inflammatory response, which can persist long after the infection is gone.

A respiratory virus typically targets the epithelial cells and the alveoli in the lungs, which are right at ground zero of where oxygen is exchanged. Oxygen travels from these small alveolar air sacs in the lungs into the blood stream so it can be carried to the rest of the body. Once the lung tissue is injured it can become hyperreactive, resulting in decreased oxygen exchange, increased inflammation, and a persistent cough.

While you are recovering from a respiratory virus, your body needs additional nutrients to help it repair and replace cells, reduce inflammation, and soothe irritated tissues. If you’ve been exposed to radiation through medical imaging, then additional detox is helpful to mitigate the effects.

My Top Ten Supplements for Lung Health

From infrared sauna to cupping, herbs, vitamins, and more, there’s so much we can do to support good lung health – especially after an infection. While our access to hands-on therapeutic practitioners may be limited during this pandemic, good quality supplements are back in plentiful supply. Here are my top ten nutrients for supporting the health of your lungs after a viral assault.

• CoQ10

  Every cell in your body relies on the lungs for its oxygen, so when the lungs have been damaged by infection, we are plagued with fatigue from impaired oxygen delivery. CoQ10 is essential for our cells to make energy, and is a powerful antioxidant that protects delicate tissues from damage.

  This fat-soluble enzyme is in its lowest concentration in the body in your lung tissue, and to make matters worse, it declines as we age.

  Just 100 milligrams of this powerful enzyme has been found in studies to improve cell activity and reduce inflammation in people with asthma, which results in a reduced need for steroids.

• Fish Oil

  Inflammation of the lung and throat tissues can persist long after the viral infection has gone, which can predispose us to a secondary bacterial infection.

  According to Richard Phipps, PhD from the University of Rochester Medical Center, in cases of persistent lung disease, the Omega 3 fats in fish oil provide the precursors for molecules that help stop excessive inflammation, while helping your body clear out bacteria.

• Vitamin C

  We already know how wonderful vitamin C is for boosting the immune system during an infection, but it’s equally as helpful when it’s time for cell repair.

  Did you know the new generation of anti-flu medications blocks an enzyme the virus has that breaks down collagen? And did you know that vitamin C is an essential building block of collagen?

  When you put all of this together, you can see that vitamin C helps restore healthy collagen that may have been damaged by the influenza virus, or any other cause. It also helps thin mucus secretions so you can breathe easy.

• Vitamin D3

  This versatile vitamin is not just for bone health – it plays an important role respiratory health as well through its influence in lung development and structure, respiratory muscle strength, inflammation, and immune response to foreign invaders.

  Researchers have found that a deficiency in vitamin D is a risk factor for developing viral respiratory tract infections. It turns out that vitamin D is such a powerful immune factor for the respiratory tract that the lungs actually produce their own active form of vitamin D.

  Take 5000 IU of vitamin D3 daily or as recommended by your health professional.

• N-Acetyl-Cysteine

  Have you ever had a viral infection that left you with thick mucus that was hard to expectorate with coughing? If so, you needed N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC).

  This powerful antioxidant not only boosts your glutathione levels in your lungs and reduces bronchial and lung inflammation, but it also acts as an expectorant, breaking up trapped mucus and helping you cough it out more easily.

  It’s available by prescription as nebulizer breathing treatments (the method of choice), or over-the-counter in pill form.

• Serrapeptase

  This systemic proteolytic enzyme has been widely known for its role in helping the immune system repair injured tissues – including in the lungs.

  Severe viral respiratory infections can leave behind thickened tissues and even scars that impair your body’s ability to exchange oxygen. This is often caused by a buildup of fibrin protein.

  Serrapeptase dissolves fibrin and proteins, while decreasing inflammation, reducing scar tissue, and supporting a healthy respiratory system.

• Marshmallow Root

  This time-honored herbal remedy has been known as a demulcent that soothes dry coughs and irritated respiratory tissues. This antioxidant herb is used for swelling or irritation of any mucus membrane in the body, especially those that line the respiratory tract.

  The recommended use is in tea form, so it can soothe the tissues as you swallow.

• Fenugreek

  This pleasant-tasting herb (reminiscent of maple syrup) is a natural expectorant and antiseptic that is wonderfully effective as a cough syrup. It not only loosens excess mucus and helps you cough it out, but it also eases the urge to cough when there’s nothing to expectorate.

  Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects have been shown in studies to ease asthma symptoms and improve quality of life.

  I recommend it as a tea or syrup.

• Pleurisy Root

  This uncommon herb is a great support for any type of lung inflammation – including pleurisy, pneumonitis, and viral infections – and has been used specifically in cases of influenza.

  The key to safe usage of this herb lies in using small amounts, so I recommend a tincture.

  This herb should not be taken if you are pregnant, nursing, taking estrogen, or taking a diuretic.

• Thyme

  This tiny leaf packs a powerfully good punch! Thyme is a powerful antiviral, antiseptic, antibacterial, and expectorant.

  Thymol, an extract from thyme, is so potent that the EPA lists it as a disinfectant that kills COVID-19.

  Thyme Honey

  Thyme mixed with honey has been shown in studies to prevent skin damage caused by radiation treatments and UV radiation.

  Thyme honey also soothes throat pain.