Natural Pain Relief: Experts advocate herbal remedies

Natural Pain Relief: Experts advocate herbal remedies

A recent scientific study, published in 2024, examined the regional acceptance and use of naturopathic remedies for pain management. The focus was on dealing with acute and chronic pain, which is often treated with conventional pharmacological approaches such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioids. However, these common treatments may be limited in patients with comorbidities due to side effects such as gastrointestinal distress, cardiovascular problems, and renal effects, not to mention the controversies associated with inappropriate use.

The discussions, led by multidisciplinary experts, highlighted experiences and clinical evidence for naturopathic treatments, particularly for types of pain such as joint and muscle pain, migraines, pain-related insomnia and general pain conditions. It has been found that curcumin and fish oil are considered by experts to be potentially effective for treating osteoarthritis pain, although these are not recommended in mainstream osteoarthritis treatment guidelines. When treating migraines, experts preferred coenzyme Q10 and magnesium.

This research highlights the need for further high-quality clinical trials to support naturopathic remedies that may not be reflected in the latest treatment guidelines. Additionally, missed opportunities for physicians and pharmacists to recommend effective naturopathic treatments were highlighted.

These results suggest that more attention may be directed toward integrating naturopathic therapies into pain management in the future. This would be particularly relevant for patients who are unable or unwilling to use traditional medications due to side effects or other concerns.

Basic terms and concepts:

• NSAIDs: Nicht-steroidale Entzündungshemmer, eine Klasse von Medikamenten, die zur Linderung von Schmerzen, Entzündungen und Fieber eingesetzt werden, aber Nebenwirkungen haben können.
• Opioiden: Eine Klasse von starken Schmerzmitteln, die sowohl in der Medizin als auch als illegale Drogen verwendet werden können und ein hohes Abhängigkeitsrisiko haben.
• Curcumin: Ein Wirkstoff, der aus Kurkuma gewonnen wird und entzündungshemmende Eigenschaften hat.
• Fischöl: Ein Öl, das aus Fisch gewonnen wird und reich an Omega-3-Fettsäuren ist, welches entzündungshemmende Vorteile haben kann.
• Coenzym Q10: Eine Substanz, die natürlich im Körper vorkommt und eine Rolle bei der Energieproduktion in Zellen spielt. Es wird manchmal zur Behandlung von Migräne eingesetzt.
• Magnesium: Ein Mineral, das für viele Körperfunktionen wichtig ist und auch in der Behandlung von Migräne Anwendung findet.

Regional acceptance and use of naturopathic remedies in pain treatment

Background:In modern pain management, pharmacological approaches, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioids, are widely used despite their known negative side effects, such as gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and renal effects, which may limit their use in patients with comorbidities. The controversies associated with these treatment methods and the risk of inappropriate use highlight the need for alternative and integrative treatments with minimal side effects, such as those that naturopathic remedies could offer.

Objective:The aim of the study was to explore the regional variation in the acceptance and use of naturopathic remedies in pain treatment.

Methods:GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (now Haleon Pte. Ltd.) hosted two expert panels in 2020 and 2021, lasting 9 and 12 hours respectively. Multidisciplinary experts from the fields of naturopathy, Ayurveda, community pharmacy, physiotherapy, clinical pharmacy, western medicine, academia and naturopathic pain relief took part. Experiences with naturopathic treatments and relevant clinical evidence on different types of pain (including joint and muscle pain, migraines, insomnia due to pain and general pain) were shared and barriers to supporting patients were discussed.

Results:Experts agreed on the potential of curcumin (2020, 71.4% [5/7]; 2021, 91.7% [11/12]) and fish oil (2020, 100% [7/7]) in the treatment of osteoarthritic joint pain, although these are not consistently recommended in current osteoarthritis treatment guidelines. When treating migraines, coenzyme Q10 and magnesium were preferred by experts (2021, 90.9% [10/11] and 63.6% [7/11] respectively).

Conclusion:The need to promote more and higher quality clinical trials in support of naturopathic remedies has been highlighted, which may not be reflected in the latest treatment guidelines. The expert panel also highlighted missed opportunities for doctors and pharmacists to effectively recommend naturopathic treatments.

The study suggests that despite the challenges faced by naturopathic remedies in terms of their recognition within established medical guidelines, there is significant potential for their integration into pain management, particularly in cases where traditional pharmacological therapies are limited due to side effects or contraindications.

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38347854