Traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Related Terms
Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, arthritis, COX-1, COX-2, COX enzymes, cyclooxygenase, cyclooxygenase-1, cyclooxygenase-2, diclofenac, duodenal ulcers, etodolac, fever, heart disease, ibuprofen, inflammation, inflammatory response, naproxen, non-allergic drug reaction, non-narcotic, nonsteroidal, OTC drugs, over-the-counter drugs, pain relief, pain reliever, peptic ulcers, prostaglandins, rheumatoid arthritis, stomach ulcers, swelling, ulcers.
Background
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are medications that reduce inflammation (swelling) and pain (analgesic). The term "nonsteroidal" is used to distinguish the drugs from steroids. Unlike NSAIDs, steroidal drugs are synthetic hormones that are used to stop the inflammatory response in the body. NSAIDs are non-narcotic, and therefore, non-addictive.
Most people are familiar with over-the-counter (OTC) NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen (Motrin? or Advil?) or naproxen (Aleve? or Naprosyn?). Most NSAIDs, including ibuprofen, help reduce low-grade (continuous or fluctuating) fevers and prevent blood from clotting in the veins or arteries. NSAIDs are available in the form of pills, oral solutions, injectable solutions, suppositories, and topical creams, gels, and foams.
While acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin?) is often referred to as an NSAID, it does not truly fall under this category. Although it is also used to relieve inflammation and pain, acetylsalicylic acid is considered a salicylate.
The frequency and severity of side effects vary among NSAIDs. The most common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, decreased appetite, rash, dizziness, headache, and drowsiness.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that all NSAIDs print serious warning labels that highlight the risk of potential heart-related side effects and stomach bleeding. The labels must also state that patients who have recently had heart surgery should not take NSAIDs.
Author information
This information has been edited and peer-reviewed by contributors to the Natural Standard Research Collaboration (www.naturalstandard.com).
Bibliography
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. .
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. .
National Pain Foundation. .
Natural Standard: The Authority on Integrative Medicine. .
Spine-Health. .
Integrative therapies
Strong scientific evidence:
Acupuncture: The practice of acupuncture originated in China 5,000 years ago. Today, acupuncture is widely used throughout the world and is one of the main pillars of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Acupuncture involves penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles that are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation. The placement of these needles by an acupuncturist manipulates the body's energy or "qi" so healing can take place. Strong evidence supports the use of acupuncture for chronic pain. Several studies have also tested the effects of acupuncture on post-operative pain. A clear majority of these studies have reported beneficial effects.
Needles must be sterile in order to avoid disease transmission. Avoid with valvular heart disease, infections, bleeding disorders, medical conditions of unknown origin, neurological disorders or if taking anticoagulants. Avoid on areas that have received radiation therapy and during pregnancy. Avoid electroacupuncture with irregular heartbeat or in patients with pacemakers. Use cautiously with pulmonary disease (like asthma or emphysema). Use cautiously in elderly or medically compromised patients, diabetics or with a history of seizures.
Good scientific evidence:
Acupressure, shiatsu: During acupressure, finger pressure is applied to specific acupoints on the body. Acupressure is used around the world for relaxation, wellness promotion, and the treatment of many health problems. Good evidence supports the use of acupuncture for pain in general.
Acupressure appears to be safe if self-administered or administered by an experienced therapist. Serious, long-term complications have not been reported, according to available scientific data. Hand nerve injury and herpes zoster ("shingles") cases have been reported after shiatsu massage. Forceful acupressure may cause bruising.
Acupuncture: There is good evidence in support of the use of acupuncture for pain or discomfort associated with gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopic procedures. Further human research is needed.
Needles must be sterile in order to avoid disease transmission. Avoid with valvular heart disease, infections, bleeding disorders, medical conditions of unknown origin, neurological disorders or if taking anticoagulants. Avoid on areas that have received radiation therapy and during pregnancy. Avoid electroacupuncture with irregular heartbeat or in patients with pacemakers. Use cautiously with pulmonary disease (like asthma or emphysema). Use cautiously in elderly or medically compromised patients, diabetics or with a history of seizures.
Bromelain: Classified as an herb, bromelain is a sulfur-containing proteolytic digestive enzyme that is extracted from the stem and the fruit of the pineapple plant (
Ananas comosus)
. Overall, there have been various studies on the anti-inflammatory actions of bromelain in animal,
in vivo,
ex vivo, and human clinical trials; results are promising. The majority of clinical studies have shown a positive effect with bromelain in the treatment of inflammation with minimal adverse events.
Avoid if allergic to bromelain, pineapple, honeybee, venom, latex, birch pollen, carrots, celery, fennel, cypress pollen, grass pollen, papain, rye flour, wheat flour, or other members of the Bromeliaceaefamily. Use cautiously with a history of bleeding disorders, stomach ulcers, heart disease, or liver or kidney disease. Use cautiously before dental or surgical procedures or while driving or operating machinery. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Chiropractic: Chiropractic care focuses on how the relationship between musculoskeletal structure (mainly the spine) and bodily function (mainly nervous system) affects health. Chiropractors use many techniques, including, spinal manipulative therapy, diet, exercise, X-rays, and other techniques. A large number of published human trials and case reports detail the use of chiropractic manipulation in patients with chronic low back pain. Overall, the available scientific evidence suggests some improvement in pain symptoms. Better research is necessary before a definitive conclusion can be reached.
Avoid with symptoms of vertebrobasilar vascular insufficiency, aneurysms, unstable spondylolisthesis, or arthritis. Avoid with agents that increase the risk of bleeding. Avoid in areas of para-spinal tissue after surgery. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding due to a lack of scientific data. Use extra caution during cervical adjustments. Use cautiously with acute arthritis, conditions that cause decreased bone mineralization, brittle bone disease, bone softening conditions, bleeding disorders, or migraines. Use cautiously with the risk of tumors or cancers.
Clove: Clove is commonly used as a fragrant or flavoring agent. Clove essential oil is commonly used as a dental pain reliever. Early studies have found that a homemade clove gel may be as effective as benzocaine 20% gel. Clove oil combined with zinc oxide paste may be effective for dry socket, a temporary but painful complication that sometimes happens after a tooth is removed.
Avoid if allergic to Balsam of Peru, clove, eugenol, or some licorice and tobacco (clove cigarette) products. Avoid with bleeding disorders and in pediatric patients. Avoid use of undiluted clove oil on the skin. Use cautiously with seizure disorders and kidney or liver dysfunction. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Comfrey: Comfrey (
Symphytum officinale) has been found to have anti-inflammatory effects and may help decrease pain. Clinical trials investigating topical application of comfrey-containing creams have found significant reductions in inflammation and pain associated with sprains and muscle injuries. Overall, these studies have been well designed although some improvements in reporting are needed. Comfrey should only be used externally (on the skin), as internal use may cause liver damage. Various countries, including the United States, have asked companies to remove oral comfrey products from the market, and topical products are required to advise consumers not to use on broken skin. Other countries, such as Germany, allow topical comfrey products with a label including the maximal daily allowable levels of pyrrolidizine alkaloids of 100 micrograms and maximal use over six weeks per year.
Avoid if allergic/hypersensitive to comfrey, its constituents, or members of the Boraginaceae family. Avoid oral comfrey due to hepatotoxic and carcinogenic pyrrolizidine alkaloids; oral use has caused death. Avoid topical comfrey on broken skin due to hepatotoxic and carcinogenic pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Avoid topical comfrey in individuals with or at risk for hepatic disorders, cancer, or immune disorders. Use topical creams containing comfrey cautiously if taking anti-inflammatory medications or cytochrome P450 3A4-inducing agents. Use extreme caution when using topical creams containing comfrey for extended periods. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Devil's claw: Devil's claw (
Harpagophytum procumbens) originates from the Kalahari and Savannah desert regions of South and Southeast Africa. Several human studies support the use of devil's claw for the treatment of low back pain. However, most studies have been small with flaws in their designs, and many have been done by the same authors. Therefore, although these results can be considered promising early evidence, additional well-designed trials are necessary before a firm conclusion can be reached. It is not clear how devil's claw compares to other therapies for back pain.
Avoid if allergic to devil's claw or to plants in the Harpagophytum procumbens family. Use cautiously with stomach ulcers or with a history of bleeding disorders, diabetes, gallstones, gout, heart disease, stroke, ulcers, or with prescription drugs used for these conditions. Stop use two weeks before and immediately after surgery/dental/diagnostic procedures with bleeding risks. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Guided imagery: In modern times, the term "guided imagery" may be used to refer to a number of techniques, including metaphor, story telling, fantasy, game playing, dream interpretation, drawing, visualization, active imagination, or direct suggestion using imagery. Therapeutic guided imagery may be used to help patients relax and focus on images associated with personal issues they are confronting. Early research suggests that guided imagery may help reduce cancer pain or lower postoperative pain ratings in children. Further research is needed to confirm these results.
Guided imagery is usually intended to supplement medical care, not to replace it, and guided imagery should not be relied on as the sole therapy for a medical problem. Contact a qualified healthcare provider if mental or physical health is unstable or fragile. Never use guided imagery techniques while driving or doing any other activity that requires strict attention. Use cautiously with physical symptoms that can be brought about by stress, anxiety or emotional upset because imagery may trigger these symptoms. If feeling unusually anxious while practicing guided imagery, or with a history of trauma or abuse, speak with a qualified healthcare provider before practicing guided imagery.
Hydrotherapy: Hydrotherapy is broadly defined as the external application of water in any form or temperature for healing purposes. It may include immersion in a bath or body of water (such as the ocean or a pool), use of water jets, douches, application of wet towels to the skin, or water birth. Several small trials report that regular use of hot whirlpool baths with massaging jets may improve the duration and severity of low back pain when added to standard therapy, compared to standard therapy alone. It is not clear if there is a reduced need for pain control drugs, or if benefits are long-standing. Because these studies are small with flaws in design and reporting, better quality research is needed before a strong conclusion can be drawn.
Avoid sudden or prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures in baths, wraps, saunas, or other forms of hydrotherapy, particularly with heart disease, lung disease, or if pregnant. Avoid with implanted medical devices like pacemakers, defibrillators, or hepatic (liver) infusion pumps. Vigorous use of water jets should be avoided with fractures, known blood clots, bleeding disorders, severe osteoporosis, open wounds, or during pregnancy. Use cautiously with Raynaud's disease, chilblains, acrocyanosis, erythrocyanosis, or impaired temperature sensitivity, such as neuropathy. Use cautiously if pregnant or breastfeeding. Hydrotherapy should not delay the time to diagnosis or treatment with more proven techniques or therapies and should not be used as the sole approach to illnesses. Patients with known illnesses should consult their physicians before starting hydrotherapy.
Hypnosis: Various forms of hypnosis, trance, and altered states of consciousness have played roles across cultures throughout history. Hypnotherapy has been studied in the management of pain, including low back pain, surgery-related pain, cancer-related pain, dental procedure-related pain, burn pain, repetitive strain injury, temporomandibular joint disorders, sickle cell disease-related pain, irritable bowel syndrome, oral mucositis, tension headache, and chronic pain from various causes. Various hypnotherapy approaches have been used, and it is not clear what technique or duration of treatment is optimal. Therefore, although the existing research is promising, better-designed trials are necessary.
Use cautiously with mental illnesses, such as psychosis/schizophrenia, manic depression, multiple personality disorder, or dissociative disorders. Use cautiously with seizure disorders.
Music therapy: Music is used to influence physical, emotional, cognitive, and social well-being, and improve quality of life for healthy people, as well as those who are disabled or ill. It may involve either listening to or performing music, with or without the presence of a music therapist. Music therapy helps in a wide range of pain conditions, primarily by its ability to improve mood, encourage relaxation, and elevate pain threshold. There is evidence of benefit for pain in cancer, neonates in intensive care, burn care, general post-surgery, hospice patients, osteoarthritis, post-anesthesia care, open-heart surgery recovery, and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Results are not universal, however. Studies have found no or unclear benefits in stroke patients during upper extremity joint exercises, tissue biopsy or port placement or removal in cancer, musculoskeletal trauma, inguinal hernia surgery and abdominal hysterectomy. Thus, music therapy may be less helpful with more severe pain. Music therapy is generally known to be safe.
Physical therapy: The goal of physical therapy is to improve mobility, restore function, reduce pain, and prevent further injury. A variety of techniques, including exercises, stretches, traction, electrical stimulation, and massage, are used during physical therapy sessions. Physical therapy has been used to treat pain in general. Long-term studies with more standardized outcomes measures would help make a stronger conclusion in this area.
Not all physical therapy programs are suited for everyone, and patients should discuss their medical history with their qualified healthcare professionals before beginning any treatments. Physical therapy may aggravate pre-existing conditions. Persistent pain and fractures of unknown origin have been reported. Physical therapy may increase the duration of pain or cause limitation of motion. Pain and anxiety may occur during the rehabilitation of patients with burns. Both morning stiffness and bone erosion have been reported in the physical therapy literature, although causality is unclear. Erectile dysfunction has also been reported. Physical therapy has been used during pregnancy, and although reports of major adverse effects are lacking in the available literature, caution is advised nonetheless. All therapies during pregnancy and breastfeeding should be discussed with a licensed obstetrician/gynecologist before initiation.
Therapeutic touch:Therapeutic touch may reduce pain and improve joint mobility in people with osteoarthritis, decrease pain and anxiety caused by burns, and improve chronic muscle and joint pain in elderly patients. Preliminary research reports that patients treated with therapeutic touch may need less pain medication after surgery. However, most studies of therapeutic touch have not been well designed, and therapeutic touch has not been clearly compared to common pain treatments such as pain-relieving drugs. Further research is needed before a firm conclusion can be drawn.
Therapeutic touch is believed to be safe for most people. Therapeutic touch should not be used for potentially serious conditions in place of more proven therapies. Avoid with fever or inflammation and on body areas with cancer.
Willow bark: In the United States, willow bark is used by herbalists as a fever reducer, mild pain reliever, and an anti-inflammatory agent. White willow has been compared to placebo and to cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, and many of the studies suggests that willow bark helps relieve lower back pain. Cost effectiveness studies have also been performed between white willow bark and conventional treatment, and found that willow bark was more cost effective. Additional study would help make a strong recommendation.
Avoid if allergic/hypersensitive to aspirin, willow bark (Salix spp.), or any of its constituents, including salicylates. Avoid operating heavy machinery. Avoid in children with chickenpox and any other viral infections. Avoid with blood disorders or kidney disorders. Avoid if taking other NSAIDs, acetazolamide or other carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Avoid with elevated serum cadmium levels. Use cautiously with gastrointestinal problems, such as ulcers, hepatic disorders, diabetes, gout, high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, history of allergy or asthma, or leukemia. Use cautiously if taking protein-bound medications, antihyperlipidemia agents, alcohol, leukemia medications, beta-blockers, diuretics, Phenytoin (Dilantin?), probenecid, spironolactone, sulfonylureas, valproic acid, or methotrexate. Use cautiously if predisposed to headaches. Use cautiously with tannin-containing herbs or supplements. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Unclear or conflicting scientific evidence:
Aconite: There is limited data on the use of aconite (
Aconitum napellus) or any of its derivatives in treating pain. In limited human study, homeopathic aconite significantly relieved postoperative pain in infants. Further information is needed to confirm these results.
Aconite is highly toxic and is not safe for human consumption. Avoid with heart disease, heart dysfunction, irregular heartbeat, hemodynamic instability (abnormal blood flow), gastrointestinal disorders, ulcers, reflux esophagitis, ulcerative colitis, spastic colitis, or diverticulosis. Use cautiously with diabetes or suicidal tendencies. Avoid if younger than 18 years old. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Acupressure, shiatsu: Early evidence suggests that acupressure may help reduce bone fracture pain, labor pain, low back pain, neck pain, and shoulder pain. There is also conflicting evidence on the effectiveness of acupressure for postoperative pain. Additional studies are needed to determine if acupressure effectively relieves any of these specific types of pain.
Acupressure appears to be safe if self-administered or administered by an experienced therapist. Serious, long-term complications have not been reported, according to available scientific data. Hand nerve injury and herpes zoster ("shingles") cases have been reported after shiatsu massage. Forceful acupressure may cause bruising.
Acupuncture: Evidence is inconsistent regarding the effects of acupuncture for shoulder pain, inflammation, craniofacial pain or cancer pain. More studies are needed to determine the potential benefits of acupuncture in pain management.
Needles must be sterile in order to avoid disease transmission. Avoid with valvular heart disease, infections, bleeding disorders, medical conditions of unknown origin, neurological disorders or if taking anticoagulants. Avoid on areas that have received radiation therapy and during pregnancy. Avoid electroacupuncture with irregular heartbeat or in patients with pacemakers. Use cautiously with pulmonary disease (like asthma or emphysema). Use cautiously in elderly or medically compromised patients, diabetics or with a history of seizures.
Acustimulation: Acustimulation is the mild electrical stimulation of acupuncture points to control symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. A low intensity electrical current is used to penetrate just slightly below the surface of the skin. A study of patients recovering from abdominal surgery found that both high- and low-intensity levels of acustimulation reduced their need for pain medication. However, the higher intensity stimulation was more effective. More studies are needed to determine recommendations for use of acustimulation in pain management.
Avoid if the cause of medical symptoms is unknown. Acustimulation devices may cause slight skin irritation under the electrodes when the wristband is used. Acustimulation devices should only be used on the designated area. Use cautiously with pacemakers. Keep acustimulation devices out of the reach of children.
Alexander technique: The Alexander technique is an educational program that teaches movement patterns and postures with an aim to improve coordination and balance, reduce tension, relieve pain, alleviate fatigue, improve various medical conditions, and promote well-being It is unclear if the Alexander technique improves back pain.
Serious side effects have not been reported in the available literature. It has been suggested that the technique may be less effective with learning disabilities or mental illnesses. The Alexander technique has been used safely in pregnant women.
Alpha-lipoic acid: Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is made naturally in the body and may protect against cell damage in a variety of conditions. Food sources rich in ALA include spinach, broccoli, and yeast. ALA shows some promise as a treatment for burning mouth syndrome, a condition that causes the mouth to feel hot or tingly. Additional research is needed before any conclusions can be made.
Avoid if allergic to ALA. Use cautiously with diabetes and thyroid diseases. Avoid with thiamine deficiency or alcoholism. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Arginine: Arginine, or L-arginine, is considered a semi-essential amino acid, because although it is normally synthesized in sufficient amounts by the body, supplementation is sometimes required (for example, due to inborn errors of urea synthesis, protein malnutrition, excess ammonia production, excessive lysine intake, burns, infection, peritoneal dialysis, rapid growth, or sepsis). A well-designed multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial found that ibuprofen-arginate (Spedifen?) was more effective for dental pain compared to conventional ibuprofen alone. The study included 498 patients who were given ibuprofen-arginate, ibuprofen, or placebo after dental surgery. It was found that ibuprofen arginate relieved pain faster and adverse events with ibuprofen-arginate were similar to those seen with ibuprofen alone. Another similar trial concluded that patients treated with ibuprofen-arginate rated its overall effectiveness higher than those treated with ibuprofen alone. Adverse event profiles were similar across all treatment groups. Further research is needed in this area.
Avoid if allergic to arginine. Avoid with a history of stroke or liver or kidney disease. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding. Use cautiously if taking blood-thinners, blood pressure drugs, antidiabetic drugs, or herbs or supplements with similar effects. Blood potassium levels should be monitored. L-arginine may worsen symptoms of sickle cell disease.
Arnica: Arnica is native to the meadows and mountainous regions of Europe and North America. The flowers of the plant are most often used for their medicinal benefit. Some patients use homeopathic arnica to relieve post-operative pain. However, arnica is often used with other pain-relieving agents. It is unclear how effective arnica is alone for the treatment of pain.
Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to arnica or any member of the Asteraceae or Compositae families (sunflowers, marigolds, or any related plants like daisies, ragweed, or asters). Use cautiously with blood thinners, protein-bound drugs, cholesterol or heart medications, or diabetes drugs. Use cautiously with a history of stroke. Avoid contact with open wounds or near the eyes and mouth. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Bach flower remedies: Back flower remedies are a set of preparations developed by Dr. Edward Bach. He asserted that harmful emotions are the main cause of disease, and he classified various emotions into seven principal categories. These categories were then divided further into 38 negative feelings, each of which was associated with a particular therapeutic plant. Limited study indicates that Bach flower remedies may benefit patients experiencing physical pain. More research is needed in this area. Back flower remedies should not be used in place of more proven therapies.
Black cohosh: Black
cohosh is a popular herbal remedy that is used to treat menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, migraine headache, mood changes, sleep changes, sweating, fast heartbeat, and vaginal dryness. More research is needed to determine if black cohosh is an effective treatment for arthritis pain.
Use cautiously if allergic to members of the Ranunculaceaefamily, such as buttercup or crowfoot. Avoid with hormone conditions (e.g. breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, endometriosis). Avoid if allergic to aspirin products, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen), or blood-thinners (such as warfarin). Avoid with a history of blood clots, stroke, seizures, or liver disease. It is recommended to stop use of black cohosh two weeks before and immediately after surgery/dental/diagnostic procedures with bleeding risks.
Bowen therapy: Bowen therapy is a technique that involves gentle but precise soft tissue manipulation. Although Bowen therapy is popularly used for pain treatment, more scientific research is needed in this area to reach a firm conclusion.
Bowen therapy is generally believed to be safe in most people. However, safety has not been thoroughly studied. Bowen therapy should not be used for severe conditions or in place of more proven treatments. Use cautiously in patients with cancer or in those who are undergoing surgery.
Cat's claw: Originally found in Peru, the medicinal use of cat's claw (
Uncaria tomentosa) has been said to date back to the Inca civilization, possibly as far back as 2,000 years. Cat's claw may reduce inflammation, and this has led to research of cat's claw for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. Early research suggests that cat's claw may reduce pain from knee osteoarthritis. Further research is needed to confirm these results.
Avoid if allergic to Cat's claw or Uncaria plants or plants in the Rubiaceae family such as gardenia, coffee, or quinine. Avoid with a history of conditions affecting the immune system (such as AIDS, HIV, some types of cancer, multiple sclerosis, tuberculosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus). Use cautiously with bleeding disorders or history of stroke, or if taking drugs that may increase the risk of bleeding. Stop use two weeks before and immediately after surgery/dental/diagnostic procedures with bleeding risks. Cat's claw may be contaminated with other Uncaria species. Reports exist of a potentially toxic, Texan grown plant, Acacia gregii being substituted for cat's claw. Avoid if pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to become pregnant.
Chiropractic: There is not enough reliable scientific evidence to conclude the effects of chiropractic techniques in the management of neck pain, acute low back pain, shoulder pain, pelvic pain, or thoracic spine pain. Better quality clinical research for the use of chiropractic for neck pain is necessary before a firm conclusion can be drawn.
Avoid with symptoms of vertebrobasilar vascular insufficiency, aneurysms, unstable spondylolisthesis, or arthritis. Avoid with agents that increase the risk of bleeding. Avoid in areas of para-spinal tissue after surgery. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding due to a lack of scientific data. Use extra caution during cervical adjustments. Use cautiously with acute arthritis, conditions that cause decreased bone mineralization, brittle bone disease, bone softening conditions, bleeding disorders, or migraines. Use cautiously with the risk of tumors or cancers.
Coleus: The root extract of coleus is known as forskolin. It is unclear if coleus has anti-inflammatory effects. Additional research is needed.
Avoid if allergic to Coleus forskohlii, members of the Lamiaceae family, or any of their constituents. Avoid oral and parenteral preparations that contain forskolin in patients with autosomal dominant PKD (polycystic kidney disease). Avoid in children, breastfeeding women, pregnant women, or in those who are trying to become pregnant. Avoid with active bleeding with a history of bleeding, hemostatic disorders, or drug-related hemostatic problems. Use cautiously in patients taking anticoagulants, antidiabetic agents, thyroid agents, or heart medications. Stop taking coleus at least two weeks before dental or surgical procedures with bleeding risks. Use cautiously with asthma, diabetes, hypoglycemia, thyroid disorders, heart disease, acid reflux, or other gastric acid problems.
Color therapy: Color therapy uses the proposed healing abilities of colors to treat emotional and physical problems. Color therapy is based on the idea that different colors evoke different responses in people. There is early research suggesting that color therapy may help relieve some types of pain, including hand, elbow, or lower back pain. Further study is needed before a clear conclusion can be drawn.
Color therapy is generally considered safe. Exposure to bright light may cause eye injury, such as retinopathy. Strobe lights may cause seizures in susceptible individuals. Use cautiously during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Comfrey: A comfrey-containing cream has been applied on the skin to reduce pain associated with myalgia. Improvements in pain at rest and in motion were noted. Further studies are required before a firm conclusion can be made.
Avoid if allergic/hypersensitive to comfrey, its constituents, or members of the Boraginaceae family. Avoid oral comfrey due to hepatotoxic and carcinogenic pyrrolizidine alkaloids; oral use has caused death. Avoid topical comfrey on broken skin due to hepatotoxic and carcinogenic pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Avoid topical comfrey in individuals with or at risk for hepatic disorders, cancer, or immune disorders. Use topical creams containing comfrey cautiously if taking anti-inflammatory medications or cytochrome P450 3A4-inducing agents. Use extreme caution when using topical creams containing comfrey for extended periods. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Corydalis: Corydalis has been used as part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparations since ancient times. Early study suggests that corydalis may be effective for treating some types of pain. High-quality clinical research is needed to confirm these findings.
Corydalis is generally considered safe. Avoid if allergic or sensitive to corydalis. Avoid if taking sedative or hypnotic drugs, drugs that treat abnormal heart rhythms (including bepridil), pain relievers, or anticancer agents. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Dandelion: Research in laboratory animals suggests that dandelion (
Taraxacum officinale) root may possess anti-inflammatory properties. Human studies are currently lacking in this area.
Avoid if allergic to chamomile, feverfew, honey, yarrow, or any related plants (such as aster, daisies, sunflower, chrysanthemum, mugwort, ragweed, or ragwort). Use cautiously with diabetes, bleeding disorders, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), kidney or liver disease, or with a history of stroke or electrolyte disorders. Potassium blood levels should be monitored. Stop use two weeks before and immediately after surgery/dental/diagnostic procedures with bleeding risks. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.
DMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide (C2H6OS), or DMSO, is a sulfur-containing organic compound. DMSO occurs naturally in vegetables, fruits, grains, and animal products. Treatment with DMSO may help reduce pain associated with kidney and gallbladder stone removal. However, more research is needed in this area.
Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to DMSO. Use cautiously with urinary tract cancer or liver or kidney dysfunction. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Euphorbia: There are more than 2,000 species of
Euphorbia in the world, ranging from annual weeds to trees.
Euphorbia balsamifera has been studied in patients with acute dental pulpitis and may have anti-inflammatory effects comparable to pulpal nerve caustics. Additional study is necessary to make a strong recommendation.
Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to pollen from Euphorbia fulgens. Use cautiously with a history of Epstein Barr virus infection or stomach conditions. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Eyebright: In Europe, eyebright
(Euphrasia officinalis) has been used for centuries to treat eye infections and other eye-related irritations. Several iridoid glycosides isolated from eyebright, particularly aucubin, possess anti-inflammatory properties comparable to those of indomethacin (a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug). Although early evidence is promising, more research is needed to determine if it is an effective anti-inflammatory agent.
Avoid if allergic to eyebright, any of its constituents, or members of the Scrophulariaceae family. Use cautiously as an eye treatment, particularly homemade preparations, due to the risk of infection if not sterile. Use cautiously with diabetes or if taking drugs that are broken down by the liver. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Feldenkrais Method?: The Feldenkrais Method? involves stretching, reaching, and changing posture in specific patterns. In some cases, it includes a form of massage. Limited research suggests that Feldenkrais sessions may be helpful when added to other therapies for low back pain and may have mild benefits when used alone. Limited evidence also suggests that Feldenkrais may reduce neck and shoulder pain, although additional research is necessary before a firm conclusion can be drawn.
There is currently a lack of available scientific studies or reports of safety of the Feldenkrais Method?.
Focusing: Focusing (experiential therapy) is a method of psychotherapy that involves being aware of one's feelings surrounding a particular issue and understanding the meaning behind words or images conveyed by those feelings. Early evidence suggests focusing may improve medical symptoms and activity in individuals with chronic pain. More research is needed.
Side effect reporting is rare, but patients should consult with their qualified healthcare practitioners before making decisions about medical conditions and practices. Individuals with severe emotional difficulties should not abandon proven medical and psychological therapies, but rather choose focusing as a possible adjunct.
Glucosamine: Glucosamine is a natural compound that is found in healthy cartilage. Glucosamine sulfate is a normal constituent of glycoaminoglycans in cartilage matrix and synovial fluid. Based on early human research, injected glucosamine plus chondroitin may help treat leg pain arising from advanced lumbar degenerative disc disease. Further scientific evidence is necessary before a firm conclusion can be made.
Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to shellfish or iodine. Some reports suggest a link between glucosamine/chondroitin products and asthma. Use cautiously with diabetes or with a history of bleeding disorders. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Healing touch: Data from small studies are inconclusive as to whether healing touch can benefit patients with post-operative pain, chronic pain, or back pain. Studies of better design are needed.
HT should not be used as a substitute for established medical treatments. Use cautiously if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Lavender: Oils from lavender flowers are used in aromatherapy, baked goods, candles, cosmetics, detergents, jellies, massage oils, perfumes, powders, shampoo, soaps, and teas. Early research suggests that the impression of pain intensity and unpleasantness may be reduced after treatment with lavender therapy. Other research has shown that lavender aromatherapy may be effective when used with acupressure for short-term relief of lower back pain or neck pain. Further research is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.
Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to lavender. Avoid with a history of seizures, bleeding disorders, eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia), or anemia (low levels of iron). Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Licorice: Licorice is harvested from the root and dried rhizomes of the low-growing shrub
Glycyrrhiza glabra. Because licorice may affect the metabolism of steroids, licorice is sometimes used to help decrease inflammation. Additional study is needed to make a firm conclusion.
Avoid licorice with known allergy to licorice, any component of licorice, or any member of the Fabaceae (Leguminosae) plant family. Avoid with congestive heart failure, coronary heart disease, kidney or liver disease, fluid retention, high blood pressure, hormonal abnormalities, or if taking diuretics. Licorice may cause abnormally low testosterone levels in men or high prolactin or estrogen levels in women. This may make it difficult to become pregnant and may cause menstrual abnormalities.
Magnet therapy: Early research reports improved muscle strength and reduced pain in post-polio patients receiving therapy with static magnetic fields. Additional study is necessary before a firm conclusion can be drawn.
The use of permanent or harnessed bipolar magnets in the treatment of chronic back pain is controversial. Early evidence with stronger magnets (up to 2,000 gauss strength) reported benefits, while more recent study with lower strength magnets (450 gauss strength) noted no effects. Additional research is necessary.
Pulsed electromagnetic therapy and magnetic "necklaces" have been used and studied in people with chronic neck pain. Research is limited and not well designed. Better studies are necessary before a firm conclusion can be drawn.
Avoid with implantable medical devices like heart pacemakers, defibrillators, insulin pumps, or hepatic artery infusion pumps. Avoid with myasthenia gravis or bleeding disorders. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding. Magnet therapy is not advised as the sole treatment for potentially serious medical conditions and should not delay the time to diagnosis or treatment with more proven methods. Patients are advised to discuss magnet therapy with their qualified healthcare providers before starting treatment.
Massage:
The main goal of massage is to help the body heal itself. Touch is fundamental to massage therapy and is used by therapists to locate painful or tense areas, to determine how much pressure to apply, and to establish a therapeutic relationship with clients. Based on early evidence, massage alone, or in combination with mindfulness-based stress reduction, may benefit patients with chronic pain, back pain, or neck and shoulder pain. More research is needed to confirm these results.
Avoid with bleeding disorders, low platelet counts, or if taking blood-thinning medications (such as heparin or warfarin/Coumadin?). Areas should not be massaged where there are fractures, weakened bones from osteoporosis or cancer, open/healing skin wounds, skin infections, recent surgery, or blood clots. Use cautiously with a history of physical abuse or if pregnant or breastfeeding. Massage should not be used as a substitute for more proven therapies for medical conditions. Massage should not cause pain to the client.
Meditation: Many forms of meditation have been practiced for thousands of years throughout the world, with many techniques originating in Eastern religious practices. Meditation, yoga, and other stress management techniques may help to relieve chronic pain, including chronic low back pain. However, since meditation is often used with many other treatments and therapies, the specific benefits of meditation are not clear. More studies are needed that examine the specific effects of meditation as a treatment for chronic pain.
Use cautiously with underlying mental illnesses. People with psychiatric disorders should consult with their primary mental healthcare professionals before starting meditation and should explore how meditation may or may not fit in with their current treatment plans. Avoid with risk of seizures. The practice of meditation should not delay the time to diagnosis or treatment with more proven techniques or therapies, and should not be used as the sole approach to illnesses.
Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA): Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) is a naturally occurring non-protein amino acid. It has been shown that n-butyl-p-aminobenzoate (BAB) is an anesthetic. When used epidurally as an aqueous suspension, it may cause long-lasting sensory blockade, without motor impairment. These qualities may make BAB particularly suitable for the management of cancer pain. Additional research is warranted in this area.
Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to PABA or its derivatives. Avoid oral use in children and pregnant or nursing women. Use cautiously caution in patients with kidney disease. Abnormalities of liver function tests have been noted in patients taking PABA. Use cautiously in patients with diabetes or hypoglycemia. Blood sugar monitoring may be warranted in diabetics or patients at risk for hypoglycemia who are taking PABA systemically. Discontinue use if rash, nausea, or anorexia occurs. Pharmaceutical doses of PABA and its derivatives should only be taken under appropriate medical supervision. PABA should not be given concurrently with sulfonamides. Use cautiously in patients with bleeding disorders or in those taking anticoagulants.
Pet therapy: Pet therapy (or animal-assisted therapy /AAT) is a goal-directed intervention in which an animal meeting specific criteria is an integral part of a treatment process. Based on early study, canine visitation therapy (CVT) may be an effective adjunct to traditional pain management for children. More high-quality studies are needed to make any firm conclusions.
Avoid if allergic to animal dander. Use only animals that have had veterinary screening, particularly in situations involving young children, the elderly, or immunocompromised people. Do not provide unsupervised use of animals with the severely mentally ill and very young children. Avoid in patients who are fearful of animals or in those that have traumatic histories with animals.
Physical therapy: Based on the available literature, it is unclear if physical therapy improves back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, sciatica, or complex regional pain syndrome.
Not all physical therapy programs are suited for everyone, and patients should discuss their medical history with their qualified healthcare professionals before beginning any treatments. Physical therapy may aggravate pre-existing conditions. Persistent pain and fractures of unknown origin have been reported. Physical therapy may increase the duration of pain or cause limitation of motion. Pain and anxiety may occur during the rehabilitation of patients with burns. Both morning stiffness and bone erosion have been reported in the literature, although causality is unclear. Erectile dysfunction has also been reported. Physical therapy has been used during pregnancy, and although reports of major adverse effects are lacking in the available literature, caution is advised nonetheless. All therapies during pregnancy and breastfeeding should be discussed with a licensed obstetrician/gynecologist before initiation.
Prayer, distant healing: Prayer can be defined as a "reverent petition," the act of asking for something while aiming to connect with God or another object of worship. More research is needed to determine if prayer effectively reduces chronic pain.
Prayer is not recommended as the sole treatment approach for potentially serious medical conditions and should not delay the time it takes to consult with a healthcare professional or receive established therapies. Sometimes religious beliefs conflict with standard medical approaches and require an open dialog between patients and caregivers.
Propolis: Propolis is a natural resin created by bees, used in the construction of hives. Propolis is produced from the buds of conifer and poplar tress, in combination with beeswax and other bee secretions. There is preliminary evidence that propolis may reduce dental pain, for example with the use of a propolis gel. Additional research is needed.
Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to propolis, black poplar (Populas nigra), poplar bud, bee stings, bee products, honey, or Balsam of Peru. Severe allergic reactions have been reported. Use cautiously with asthma or gastrointestinal disorders. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding because of the high alcohol content in some products.
Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy is an interactive process between a person and a qualified mental health professional. The patient explores thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to help with problem solving. Psychotherapy may reduce pain, including chronic pain, low back pain, and pain associated with pelvic congestion. In some cases, psychotherapy combined with medication may be more effective. More research needs to be done in this area.
Some forms of psychotherapy may evoke strong emotional feelings and expression.
Qi gong: Qi gong is a type of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that is thought to be at least 4,000 years old. Internal Qi gong is a self-directed technique that involves the use of sounds, movements, and meditation. Internal Qi gong actively engages people in their own health and well-being, and can be performed with or without the presence of an instructor. External Qi gong, also known as qi emission, is performed by a master using his or her hands on a patient, with the aim to project qi for the purpose of healing. Preliminary research reports that Qi gong may be useful in the management of chronic pain and anxiety caused by pain. However, the available research is low quality, and more evidence is needed in this area before a scientifically based conclusion can be drawn.
Additionally, there is some evidence that patients with complex regional pain syndrome might benefit from Qi gong instruction. However, more research is needed before Qi gong is recommended as a therapy for this indication.
Qi gong is generally considered to be safe in most people when learned from a qualified instructor. Use cautiously with psychiatric disorders.
Reflexology: Reflexology involves the application of manual pressure to specific points or areas of the feet called "reflex points" that are believed to correspond to other parts of the body. Early research suggests that reflexology may not effectively manage chronic lower back pain. Additional research is warranted.
Avoid with recent or healing foot fractures, unhealed wounds, or active gout flares affecting the foot. Use cautiously and seek prior medical consultation with osteoarthritis affecting the foot or ankle or with severe vascular disease of the legs or feet. Use cautiously with diabetes, heart disease, unstable blood pressure, cancer, active infections, past episodes of fainting (syncope), mental illness, gallstones, kidney stones, or with a pacemaker. Use cautiously if pregnant or breastfeeding. Reflexology should not delay diagnosis or treatment with more proven techniques or therapies.
Reiki: Reiki is a Buddhist practice that is approximately 2,500 years old. Patients in a preliminary ("phase II") trial of Reiki in combination with standard pain medications (with opioids) were reported to experience improved pain control. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.
Reiki is not recommended as the sole treatment approach for potentially serious medical conditions and should not delay the time it takes to consult with a healthcare professional or receive established therapies. Use cautiously with psychiatric illnesses.
Reishi mushroom: Reishi mushroom (
Ganoderma lucidum), also known as
ling zhi in China, grows wild on decaying logs and tree stumps. Reishi extract was found effective in decreasing post-herpetic pain (pain after herpes lesions heal) in early study. Further research is needed to confirm these results.
Reishi mushroom is likely safe when consumed in amounts generally found in foods in non-allergic people. Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to any constituents of Ganoderma lucidum or any member of its family. Use cautiously with diabetes, blood disorders (including hemophilia), low blood pressure, or ulcers.
Relaxation therapy: Relaxation techniques include behavioral therapeutic approaches that differ widely in philosophy, methodology, and practice. The primary goal is usually non-directed relaxation. Most techniques share the components of repetitive focus (on a word, sound, prayer phrase, body sensation, or muscular activity), adoption of a passive attitude towards intruding thoughts, and return to the focus. Most studies of relaxation for pain, including post-operative pain and low back pain, are poor quality and report conflicting results. Better research is necessary.
Avoid with psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia/psychosis. Jacobson relaxation (flexing specific muscles, holding that position, then relaxing the muscles) should be used cautiously with illnesses like heart disease, high blood pressure, or musculoskeletal injury. Relaxation therapy is not recommended as the sole treatment approach for potentially serious medical conditions and should not delay the time to diagnosis or treatment with more proven techniques.
Rolfing? Structural Integration: Rolfing? Structural Integration involves deep tissue massage aimed at relieving stress and improving mobility, posture, balance, muscle function and efficiency, energy, and overall well being. Rolfing? might improve pelvic tilt in healthy patients, suggesting that other low back disorders may benefit from Rolfing?. More studies are needed to determine if Rolfing? Structural Integration can effectively treat chronic low back pain and other back disorders.
Rolfing? Structural Integration should not be used as the sole therapeutic approach to disease, and it should not delay the time it takes to speak with a healthcare provider about a potentially severe condition. Rolfing? Structural Integration is generally believed to be safe in most people. Avoid in patients taking blood thinners and in patients with broken bones, severe osteoporosis, disease of the spine or vertebral disks, skin damage or wounds, bleeding disorders, blood clots, tooth abscesses, acute disc problems, aneurysm, fever, recent scar tissue, connective tissue disease, cancer, and in patients who have just received cortisone shots or who are on chronic cortisone therapy. Use cautiously in patients with varicose veins or phlebitis, joint diseases, psychosis or bipolar disorder, severe kidney, liver, or intestinal disease, diabetes, menstruation, infectious conditions, colostomies, high blood pressure, and stenoses or strictures.
Shark cartilage: Based on laboratory studies, shark cartilage may reduce inflammation. Chondroitin sulfate, a component of shark cartilage, has been shown to benefit patients with osteoarthritis. However, the concentrations of chondroitin in shark cartilage products may be too small to be helpful. It is currently unclear if shark cartilage is a helpful treatment for pain in humans.
Avoid if allergic to shark cartilage or any of its ingredients (including chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine). Avoid with a history of heart attack, vascular disease, heart rhythm abnormalities, or heart disease. Use cautiously with sulfur allergy. Use cautiously with a history of liver or kidney disorders, tendency to form kidney stones, breast cancer, prostate cancer, multiple myeloma, breathing disorders (like asthma), cancers that raise calcium levels (like breast, prostate, multiple myeloma or squamous cell lung cancer), or diabetes. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Spiritual healing: A number of therapeutic techniques involve spiritual aspects, and there is overlap among these different approaches. It is unclear if spiritual healing has beneficial effects on chronic pain.
Spiritual healing should not be used as the only treatment approach for medical or psychiatric conditions and should not delay the time it takes to consider more proven therapies.
St John's wort: References to the use of St. John's wort in healing can be found for the last 2,000 years, dating back to the early Greeks. Early study suggests that St. John's wort may be ineffective at reducing pain after surgery or pain associated with burning mouth syndrome. More well-designed trials are needed before a conclusion can be made.
Rare skin reactions, including rash and itching, are reported in human studies. Avoid taking if pregnant or breastfeeding. The most common adverse effects include stomach upset, skin reactions, tiredness, restlessness or worrying, sexual dysfunction (including impotence), sensitivity to light, dizziness, headache, and dry mouth. St. John's wort may interact with drugs broken down by the liver, drugs used to treat depression, birth control pills, blood thinners, Imodium?, headache medications, drugs that reduce swelling, drugs used for cancer treatment, imantinib, omeprazole, tolbutamide, caffeine, dextromethorphan, fexofenadine, carbamazepine, cimetidine, drugs that cause sedation, opioids, P-glycoprotein regulated drugs, antibiotics (increases sun sensitivity), antivirals, anesthetics, antifungals, drugs used for anxiety, heart problems, or seizures and herbs or supplements with similar effects.
Tai chi: Tai chi is a system of movements and positions believed to have developed in 12th Century China. Tai chi techniques aim to address the body and mind as an interconnected system and are traditionally believed to have mental and physical health benefits to improve posture, balance, flexibility, and strength. There is a lack of scientific evidence to conclude that tai chi is effective for chronic pain conditions. Further research is needed in this area.
Avoid with severe osteoporosis or joint problems, acute back pain, sprains, or fractures. Avoid during active infections, right after a meal, or when very tired. Some believe that visualization of energy flow below the waist during menstruation may increase menstrual bleeding. Straining downwards or holding low postures should be avoided during pregnancy, and by people with inguinal hernias. Some tai chi practitioners believe that practicing for too long or using too much intention may direct the flow of chi (qi) inappropriately, possibly resulting in physical or emotional illness. Tai chi should not be used as a substitute for more proven therapies for potentially serious conditions. Advancing too quickly while studying tai chi may increase the risk of injury.
TENS: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a non-invasive technique in which a low-voltage electrical current is delivered through wires from a small power unit to electrodes located on the skin. TENS is usually performed in conjunction with acupuncture treatments. Electrodes are temporarily attached with paste in various patterns, depending on the specific condition and treatment goals. Mixed results from clinical studies have been reported with the use of TENS or acupuncture-like TENS for pain, including back pain, neck or shoulder pain, burn pain, broken bone pain, cancer pain, chronic pain, phantom limb pain, pain from surgery, and pain control during lithotripsy, a technique used to break up gallstones. TENS for low back pain remains controversial. Better-designed research is needed before a firm conclusion can be reached.
Avoid with implantable devices, such as defibrillators, pacemakers, intravenous infusion pumps, or hepatic artery infusion pumps. Use cautiously with decreased sensation (such as neuropathy) or with seizure disorders. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Therapeutic touch: There is little evidence that therapeutic touch can relieve phantom limb pain after amputation. More research is needed before therapeutic touch can be recommended as a treatment for this indication.
Therapeutic touch is believed to be safe for most people. Therapeutic touch should not be used for potentially serious conditions in place of more proven therapies. Avoid with fever or inflammation and on body areas with cancer.
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM): Chinese medicine is a broad term that refers to many different treatments and traditions of healing. They share a common heritage of technique or theory rooted in ancient Chinese philosophy (Taoism) that dates back more than 5,000 years. TCM herbs may augment conventional Western medicine for better outcomes in low back pain. Additional study is needed before a recommendation can be made.
Chinese herbs can be potent and may interact with other herbs, foods or drugs. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before taking. There have been reports of manufactured or processed Chinese herbal products being tainted with toxins or heavy metal or not containing the listed ingredients. Herbal products should be purchased from reliable sources. Avoid ma huang, which is the active ingredient in ephedra. Avoid ginseng if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Trigger point therapy: Trigger points are discrete, focal, hyperirritable spots in skeletal muscle. The spots may be painful on compression and associated with referred pain and tenderness, motor dysfunction, and autonomic phenomena. The goal of trigger point therapy for back pain is to eliminate the trigger points, and thus lessen the pain. There have been few studies that addressed the therapeutic potential of this therapy. Overall, the evidence is positive and demonstrates that this therapy might be effective for treatment of back pain. However, because back pain may be insidious and brought on by unrecognized causes, future studies should address trigger point therapy in various etiologies of back pain.
Avoid aspirin ingestion within three days of injection. Avoid with extreme fear of needles, large bruises, phlebitis, varicose veins, undiagnosed lumps, or open wounds. Avoid if allergic to anesthetic agents (mainly caused by aminoester agents). Use cautiously with local or systemic infection, anticoagulation or bleeding disorders, or acute muscle trauma. Use cautiously during pregnancy.
Turmeric: Turmeric (
Curcuma longa) has traditionally been used as an anti-inflammatory herb. Laboratory and animal studies show anti-inflammatory activity of turmeric and its constituent curcumin, however, reliable human research is lacking.
Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to turmeric, curcumin, yellow food colorings, or plants belonging to the Zingiberaceae (ginger) family. Use cautiously with a history of bleeding disorders, immune system deficiencies, liver disease, diabetes, low blood sugar levels, or gallstones. Use cautiously with blood-thinners, such as warfarin (like Coumadin?), or blood sugar-altering medications. Avoid in medicinal amounts if pregnant or breastfeeding. Turmeric should be stopped before scheduled surgery.
Vitamin C: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a water-soluble vitamin that is necessary for the body to form collagen in bones, cartilage, muscle, and blood vessels. It also aids in the absorption of iron. Limited human study suggests that vitamin C may help prevent complex regional pain syndrome among elderly female patients with wrist fracture. This area merits additional study.
Avoid if allergic or sensitive to vitamin C product ingredients. Vitamin C is generally considered safe in amounts found in foods. Vitamin C supplements are also generally considered safe in most individuals if taken in recommended doses. Avoid high doses of vitamin C with glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, kidney disorders or stones, liver cirrhosis, gout, or paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (bleeding disorder). It is unclear if vitamin C supplements in doses higher than Dietary Reference Intake recommendations are safe for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Vitamin C is naturally found in breast milk.
White horehound: White horehound has traditionally been used for pain and spasms from menstruation or intestinal conditions. There is a lack of reliable human studies on safety or effectiveness for this use.
Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to white horehound or any member of the Lamiaceaefamily (mint family). White horehound is generally considered safe when used to flavor foods. Use cautiously with diabetes, high/low/unstable blood pressure, high levels of sodium in the blood, irregular heartbeats or gastrointestinal diseases (like ileus, atony or obstruction). Use cautiously with diuretics (drugs that increase urine production). Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Yoga: Preliminary research reports that yoga may improve chronic low back pain in humans. However, larger better-designed studies are needed before a firm conclusion can be drawn.
Yoga is generally considered to be safe in healthy individuals when practiced appropriately. Avoid some inverted poses with disc disease of the spine, fragile or atherosclerotic neck arteries, risk for blood clots, extremely high or low blood pressure, glaucoma, detachment of the retina, ear problems, severe osteoporosis, or cervical spondylitis. Certain yoga breathing techniques should be avoided in people with heart or lung disease. Use cautiously with a history of psychotic disorders. Yoga techniques are believed to be safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding when practiced under the guidance of expert instruction (the popular Lamaze techniques are based on yogic breathing). However, poses that put pressure on the uterus, such as abdominal twists, should be avoided in pregnancy.
Fair negative scientific evidence:
Magnet therapy: Overall, static magnets do not appear to be useful for general pain reduction.
Avoid with implantable medical devices like heart pacemakers, defibrillators, insulin pumps, or hepatic artery infusion pumps. Avoid with myasthenia gravis or bleeding disorders. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding. Magnet therapy is not advised as the sole treatment for potentially serious medical conditions and should not delay the time to diagnosis or treatment with more proven methods. Patients are advised to discuss magnet therapy with their qualified healthcare providers before starting treatment.
Phenylalanine: As a dietary supplement, phenylalanine is commercially available as L-phenylalanine, D-phenylalanine, and DL-phenylalanine. Early research suggests that phenylalanine may be ineffective for the treatment of low back pain.
Avoid if allergic to hypersensitive to phenylalanine. Avoid with phenylketonuria (PKU), Parkinson's disease, or tardive dyskinesia. Use cautiously with high blood pressure, anxiety or other psychiatric disorders, or sleep disorders. Use cautiously if taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Side effects
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that all nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) print serious warning labels that highlight the risk of potential heart-related side effects and stomach bleeding. The labels must also state that patients who have recently had heart surgery should not take NSAIDs.
The frequency and severity of side effects vary NSAIDs. The most common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, decreased appetite, rash, dizziness, headache, and drowsiness. The most serious side effects include kidney failure, liver failure, ulcers, and prolonged bleeding after an injury or surgery. About 15% of patients on long-term NSAID treatment develop ulceration of the stomach and duodenum.
Phenylbutazone (Butazolidine?), a prescription NSAID (not available in the United States), is especially likely to cause serious side effects, including immunosuppression, which makes patients vulnerable to infection and disease.
NSAIDs may also cause fluid retention, which may lead to edema (fluid in the body tissues). Edema often causes swelling in the arms and legs.
Patients who have asthma may develop shortness of breath and are at an increased risk of experiencing a non-allergic drug reaction to NSAIDs.
Patients who are allergic to one type of NSAID are likely to experience a similar reaction to other types of NSAIDs.
Function
General: There are two main types of cyclooxygenase enzymes in the blood: cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Both of these enzymes produce prostaglandins, which are substances that cause inflammation. COX-1 enzymes protect the stomach lining from harsh acids and digestive chemicals and help maintain kidney function. The body produces COX-2 enzymes when the joints are injured or inflamed.
Traditional (non-selective) NSAIDs: Traditional NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen and naproxen) block the actions of both cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzymes. However, since the COX enzymes are needed to protect the stomach and maintain kidney function, traditional NSAIDs may cause indigestion, duodenum or stomach ulcers, or kidney damage.
Non-traditional NSAIDs (selective COX-2 inhibitors): COX-2 inhibitors are only available by prescription. These drugs only target the COX-2 enzyme that stimulates inflammation. Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has only approved one COX-2 inhibitor called celecoxib (Celebrex?).
Since these medications do not block the actions of the COX-1 enzyme, these medications generally do not cause the kind of stomach upset that is often associated with traditional NSAIDs. COX-2 inhibitors are often prescribed for long-term conditions such as arthritis because they may be safer for the stomach. However, some studies have not shown any difference between the incidence of gastrointestinal side effects from traditional NSAIDs and COX-2 inhibitors. Also, COX-2 inhibitors do not offer the same kind of protection against heart disease as traditional NSAIDs.
Uses
NSAIDs are primarily used to reduce inflammation, pain (mild to moderate), and low-grade fever. The anti-inflammatory effects may take anywhere from a few days to three weeks to initiate.
Specific uses include the treatment of headaches, arthritis (including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis), back pain, sciatica (pain extending from lower back down the leg), pain after surgery, fever, dental pain, kidney stone pain, sports injuries, menstrual cramps, tendonitis (inflamed tendons), and other painful conditions (especially where there is inflammation).
NSAIDs are also added to many cold and allergy drugs to relieve symptoms such as minor aches and pains, headaches, and fevers.
Precautions
Avoid with a history of peptic ulcers because nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) increase the risk of developing duodenal or stomach ulcers.
Avoid with history of kidney or liver damage because NSAIDs may increase the risk of developing kidney or liver failure.
Avoid with indigestion or heartburn because NSAIDs may cause upset stomach or indigestion.
Avoid in patients who consume three or more alcoholic drinks a day because heavy drinkers may have an increased risk of developing liver damage and stomach bleeding from NSAIDs.
Do not take antacids or eat fatty foods with COX-2 inhibitors because they limit the body's ability to absorb the medication.
Do not take traditional NSAIDs (prescription or over-the-counter) with celecoxib (Celebrex?), the only selective COX-2 inhibitor approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Use cautiously with asthma because NSAIDs may cause shortness of breath. Also, asthma patients are at an increased risk of experiencing a non-allergic drug reaction to NSAIDs.
Use cautiously with bleeding disorders because NSAIDs may cause prolonged bleeding after an injury or surgery.
Use cautiously if pregnant or breastfeeding. NSAIDs may damage the heart or blood flow of the fetus or newborn baby if they are taken regularly during the last few months of pregnancy. Some animal studies have shown that if NSAIDs are taken late in pregnancy, they may increase the length of pregnancy, prolong labor, or cause complications during delivery. Pregnant mothers should consult a qualified healthcare provider before taking NSAIDs. Although NSAIDs have not been shown to cause medical problems in breastfeeding babies, diclofenac (Cataflam? Voltaren?-XR), diflunisal (Dolobid?), fenoprofen (Nalfon?), flurbiprofen (Ansaid?), meclofenamate (Meclofenamate sodium?), mefenamic acid (Ponstel?), naproxen (Aleve?), piroxicam (Feldene?), and tolmetin (Tolectin? or Tolectin? DS) can pass into breast milk. Caution is warranted.
Non-allergic drug reactions
Some patients taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil? or Motrin?), may experience non-allergic drug reactions that may cause symptoms similar to drug allergies. Symptoms of non-allergic drug reactions include difficulty breathing, wheezing, cough, tightening in the chest, hives, nasal congestion, watery eyes and, occasionally, facial flushing and swelling. Asthmatics and especially asthmatics who also have nasal polyps, are vulnerable to asthma as a side effect of NSAIDs. However, such reactions to NSAIDs do not involve the immune system, and are therefore not considered allergic reactions. Instead they are considered side effects of the medication.
A non-allergic drug reaction occurs because NSAIDs inhibit the cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) enzyme. When COX-1 is inhibited, other enzymes in the body are able to cause severe side effects, such as difficulty breathing and wheezing, in some patients. For instance, one of these enzymes triggers the release of chemicals that cause the airways to swell and increase mucus production, which leads to an asthma attack. Therefore, this reaction is considered an unwanted side effect of the drug, not an allergic reaction.
Formulations
Oral:Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be taken orally as liquids, tablets, or capsules. Oral NSAIDs are the most widely used form. Examples of over-the-counter traditional NSAIDs that are taken by mouth include ibuprofen (Motrin? or Advil?), aspirin and naproxen (Aleve?). Examples of prescription oral NSAIDs include diclofenac (Cataflam? or Voltaren?-XR), celecoxib (Celebrex?), and etodolac (Lodine?).
Injections: Some NSAIDs like ibuprofen lysine (Neoprofen?) are available as injections. Intravenous NSAIDs are used to treat the pain after surgery, as well as pain caused by kidney stones.
Suppositories: Suppositories are also available. These are typically used for pain after surgery. They may also be used to relieve chronic pain when the patient is unable to take medication by mouth.
Creams, gels, and foams: NSAIDs are also available in creams, gels, and foams, which are applied to the skin to treat conditions such as osteoarthritis. For instance, diclofenac (Solaraze?) is applied to the knee to relieve pain associated with knee osteoarthritis. Topical NSAIDs are considered the least effective form.
Preventing side effects
Patients should tell their healthcare providers if they are taking any drugs (prescription or over-the-counter), herbs, or supplements because some agents may interact with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Patients should carefully read all packaging labels and taken medications exactly as prescribed by their healthcare providers.
The smallest effective dose should be taken.
Medication should be taken with meals to reduce the chances of indigestion, upset stomach or ulcers.
Patients who are risk of developing side effects should avoid or use NSAIDs cautiously.