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COMPLIMENTS FOR COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE

What do you know about complementary medicine? And how can it help me with my pain?

GREAT QUESTION. Thanks for asking. I had the pleasure of meeting with Nina Yannoukos, BSH, Lead Practitioner / Homeopath at Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy in the Pacific Palisades, CA, and Partner at Restoration Health who shared her expertise in complementary medicine and related pain management products with me. Here’s what I learned from Nina, and I’ve included links to additional information for your review if you feel like digging more deeply.

Complementary medicine is a ‘complement’ to conventional medicine with which westerners are most familiar. Complementary medicine is not the same as alternative medicine. According to The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), a component of the National Institutes on Health (NIH), complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine. An example of a complementary therapy is using aromatherapy, a therapy in which the scent of essential oils from flowers, herbs, and trees is inhaled to promote health and well-being to help reduce a patient’s discomfort following surgery.

Alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine. An example of an alternative therapy is using a special diet to treat cancer rather than surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy that may be recommended by a conventional doctor.

For tons of details on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), go to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM).

Nina Yannoukos, BSH, of Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy and Restoration Health gave me a tutorial on complementary medicine and its component parts, which include homeopathics, supplements (vitamins, minerals, amino acids, etc.) and herbs (Western and Chinese). And, more specifically, she introduced me to different homeopathics, supplements and herbs that her patients have found helpful for different types of pain.

Definitions:

Homeopathics – small diluted remedies in various potencies to stimulate the body’s immune system.

Herbals – plant-based remedies in crude form

Supplements – products that contain substances like vitamins, minerals, foods, botanicals, amino acids and are intended to supplement the usual intake of these substances.

For more on homeopathy, go to NCAAM’s section on homeopathy here.

Here are Nina’s recommendations and comments:

Herbals:

Zyflamend by New Chapter (www.newchapter.com)

Nina shared this product with me when I asked her to introduce me to some products that may not be especially well known, but are effective and that she thinks more people should be aware of. “It’s not well-known, but it’s extremely effective for joint and muscle pain due to inflammation. It’s a miracle herbal remedy of our time.”

Back and Neck Rescue by Peaceful Mountain

This is a topical product. There are numerous products in the Rescue Line by this company. In Nina’s experience, she has found Back and Neck Rescue to be particularly helpful for customers.

Infla-profen by GAIA Herbs

This is a new product, and Nina says it is especially helpful for back and joint pain.

St. John’s Wart Oil by GAIA Herbs

This is a topical product specifically for nerve pain.

GI Encap by Thorne Research

According to Nina, this product helps with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) pain and ulcer pain.

Digestive Enzymes and Herbs by Pioneer

Nina feels this product helps with overall gastrointestinal health and comfort.

Supplements:

Glucosamine + Chondroitin + MSM with Magnesium and Vitamin C by Jarrow Formulas

According to Nina, this supplement can help with overall joint health and joint pain.

In doing some additional research, I found controversy among experts about the effects of glucosamine + chondroitin for the prevention of osteoporosis and joint pain. Here are two articles with different conclusions about these supplements and their effectiveness:

http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/DSH/glucosamine.html

http://arthritis.webmd.com/tc/glucosamine-and-chondroitin-topic-overview

Ionic Fizz Magnesium Plus by Pure Essence Labs

According to Nina, magnesium is an important mineral that is very helpful for pain. She feels that this particular product is unusual because the magnesium is in powder form and therefore is absorbed by the body better.

Here’s an article (I found) on the risks of insufficient magnesium intake including heart disease, diabetes, muscle cramping, myalgias (including fibromyalgia) and back pain, as well as a 10 point summary on ways that magnesium can help you, and how much is recommended:

http://www.usaweekend.com/02_issues/020901/020901eatsmart.html

Homeopathics:

Traumeel by Heel, Inc.

According to Nina, this homeopathic remedy is not especially well known. It can relieve muscle, joint, and nerve pain.

In a recent study published in Complement Ther Med Journal, traumeel was found to be as effective as conventional medicines in the management of mild to moderate injuries (sprains, strains, contusions of ankles, knees and hands). Traumeel was safe in use and judged by physicians to be better tolerated than conventional medicines. Click here for the study.

So… all this should give you something to chew on… If you’re interested in complementary medicine to help with painful conditions, I think a good place to start is at the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) associated with the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Get informed.

Look for the MyBlankHurts! Alternative Medicine Practitioner Finder coming soon.

Good luck, and good health!

Meredith Soelberg, MPT, MBA