FDA actions may boost alternative medicine

Copyright © 2005 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

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What a pain. First the Food and Drug Administration removed the prescription pain relievers Vioxx and Bextra from the market for increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. This was followed by the recent FDA warning that nonprescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (popular over-the-counter pain relievers such as Aleve, Motrin and Advil) also increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease. This is most unwelcome news for the millions of Americans who suffer chronic pain.

But every cloud has a silver lining. Faced with the quandary of whether to continue to take NSAIDs and risk death from cardiovascular disease or to discontinue the drugs and live with excruciating pain could prompt some to seek other alternatives. Acupuncture has been shown by recent National Institutes of Health studies to decrease pain and increase function in osteoarthritis. Simple dietary changes, such as eliminating plants from the nightshade family, have eradicated the pain of rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia for countless people. Decreasing dietary intake of pro-inflammatory fatty acids (most of the fats and oils consumed in America) and increasing the anti-inflammatory fatty acids (from cold-water fish and some nuts and seeds) reduces pain by naturally reducing inflammation.

While these approaches are not as easy as popping a pill, they also don't have the same dangerous side effects. In fact, the only side effect these approaches have is better health. Better health -- what an unexpected silver lining to the FDA warning.

Dr. Terry Lee Cookson, N.D., L.Ac.

Naturopathic Physician, Licensed Acupuncturist

TLC Natural Healthcare

Augusta

tlcnaturalhealth@yahoo.com