Ugh… pain…. you may be experiencing some minor pain/discomfort here or there temporarily or you may be hurting all over like… 24/7. Sometimes a minor adjustment of sorts will be the fix and yet at other times, you’re needing a miracle fix. In this section we’ll be investigating everything from migraine headaches to arthritis.
My own 911; i was sitting in the front seat row of a locomotive one winter’s day when a transport truck hauling a Caterpillar tractor on a flatbed trailer made a run to beat our train at a railroad crossing. Needless to say, people were hurt in the making of that movie; i was one of them.
Before we go deeper on the subject of aches and pains, allow me to show you another viewpoint on pain; that from the perspective of somebody who cannot feel pain… somebody suffering from Leprosy. Pain is essentially a built in relatively failsafe monitor designed to protect us from harming our body. Allow me to explain; first of all; it alerts us to damaged tissue/wounds, able to prioritize our attention to such. Secondly; depending on one’s tolerance to it, pain will eventually win the battle over your will/choice to continue doing what you are doing. It can/will stop you in your tracks like no other power on earth. Again; depending on one’s tolerance level, you’ll eventually surrender/succumb to its nagging call and will stop and take the time to heal/mend. Thirdly; it is an amazing cop/governor so to speak; we constantly/unconsciously adjust our bodies in order to avert pain… and ultimately… tissue damage. We take a simple task such as turning a key in a lock for granted; however, if that lock should be rusty/seized, a continuous twist of the key can result in some serious tissue damage to your fingers. Pain stopped that from happening. It first of all; subtly prodded you to adjust/reconfigure your fingers and/or forced you to stop trying altogether… to avert damage. As mentioned; somebody with leprosy does not feel pain and therefore push beyond that limit, resulting in damage to tissue. If this should be a consistent habit… breach of the rules governing our body, then you can imagine the collateral damage.
I know; that information doesn’t make your head ache, backache or toothache feel any less; however, it should turn the lights on back stage to how wonderfully made we are… how miraculously we heal. Science/technology failed to adequately address a leprosy victim… at least as of 30 years ago… it could all be different now; i cannot say. At the time they attached sensors and wires designed to flash specific colours to alert a leper victim of potential harm to an area of their body due to overuse. The challenge was to equip various departments of the body adequately according to each department. For example; the tongue consists of some seriously sensitive nerves; it can detect a hair in the mouth and yet it is able to tolerate pretty significant force such as that of a bite from the teeth. Lastly; there is a fine line between pain sensation and pleasure sensation… sexual activity is demonstrative of that. I’m not going to go into that here; however; suffice it to say this; we should all be grateful for pain… well… until it screams at us that is… and in some cases; 24/7, at which time we will be looking for some means… any means to turn it off… or at least; to turn it down a few notches.
We may as well start the pain section with the most common ache… headaches.
What do you have for headaches?
Ugh… headaches can be such a pain… and the worst of it is trying to figure out what’s causing the dang thing. The potential causes of headaches are manifold. Some of the most common causes are; eye strain, sinus congestion, hormonal imbalance, muscle/skeletal tension and/or nervous system stress, viral, bacterial or parasitical infections… low or high blood pressure and allergies. Ugh… i feel a headache brewing just listing them all. Hmm… oh yeah… i forgot to mention; stress is also a biggy on that ‘no wish list,’ as well. Once a potential culprit has been isolated than you stand a better chance accessing a remedy to address the situation.
An aching head often boils down to one of two things; an excessive blood flow to the brain or a lack of blood flow to the brain. If the cause of a headache should be the result of an excessive blood flow to the brain then one could apply an agent that will relax and/or dilate… expand the blood vessels in the head. A substance such as; nicotine, caffeine or perhaps, chocolate, could very well make a big difference, as these substances tend to constrict blood vessels.
Oftentimes, eye strain is a suspect, in which case, a warm and wet black tea bag can be applied directly to the eyes for several minutes to usher in some major relief. I personally found this remedy effective when working as a welder’s helper. I sometimes experienced a throbbing pain in behind my eyes from exposure to the welding flash. I wore protective eye covering to avert damage from the intense flash; however, i often got caught between welds. Subsequently, i spent many a time lying on a couch with teabags on my eyes.
The following is a simple and effective home remedy… to at least, relieve the pain caused by head aches; soak your feet in a container of hot water while holding a cold cloth to the head or neck area. The hot water will dilate the blood vessels in the feet and legs, drawing blood away from the head while the cold cloth will constrict the vessels in the head. The principle is; the inflamed nerves in the head are relieved by the reduction of excessive blood flow in that area. If this technique should fail to bring relief, then reverse the protocol; apply cold water to the feet and a warm to hot compress to the head. If both techniques should fail to bring relief, then try sitting on your head. Okay… seriously kidding… try rubbing a slice of lime on the aching section of your head. I’m being serious now; it might sound crazy but it is legitimate. I can’t pretend to know why or how it works, but it has brought relief to many. Hey, you’ll only be out half of a lime if it doesn’t work, right?
Sinuses are sometimes responsible for head aches. If this be the cause, there are several natural approaches one can consider. Herbs such as Garlic, Cayenne and Ginger to name a few are effective in dealing with sinus congestion. I personally like Golden Seal simply because it can be applied directly to any inflammation or infection without raising hell in an already hellish condition. I’ve snorted Golden Seal directly into my nostrils without any sort of negative reaction. ‘Snorting’ is a technique well known by illicit drug users, especially; cocaine, by the way. They’d conveniently tightly roll up a dollar bill to act as a make shift straw, stick one end into a nostril and abruptly sniff the powder. The effect was instant; the nose offers ready access to the brain. Nasal injection is nothing new; it is an effective protocol for drug delivery, dating back to ancient Egyptian history. Hmm… you might now be questioning the application of the invasive nasal swab being applied to test for the so called; new/bad kid on the block virus called; Covid-19. Ah… but that’s an entirely different story; information on that can be found in section entitled; ‘Covid Circus.’ Some have dared to snort cayenne solution directly into the nostrils to alleviate the headache… a pretty bold/daring exploit, i might add. The head ache apparently disappeared; however, mega other pains/discomfort presented in the process. I personally do not recommend this remedy for obvious reasons… the cure is much worse than the disease… 10,000 purse snatchers… and/or pesky bears can’t be wrong. One nasal therapy i do particularly appreciate is a nose spray called; X-Lear. This may, or may not be an instant fix for your head ache; however, it definitely clears the nasal cavity of excess mucous, which is there because of inflammation. Can you see the connection?
***Refer to the section entitled, ‘Immune System,‘ for more detailed information on sinus congestion.
***Refer to section entitled; ‘Gare’s Hall of Fame‘ for detailed info on ‘XLear‘ and my personal concoction; cold/flu remedy… a tea consisting of Garlic, Cayenne, Ginger, Honey and Lemon. Works great for congestion/
Several Anti-inflammatory agents… specifically, nerve and muscle calming agents to consider are as follows; White Willow Bark, Feverfew, Butterbur, Devils Claw, Devil’s Club, Valerian, Passion Flower, MSM, Lemon Balm and Hops, to name some of the more popular ones.
NATURAL AGENTS FOR HORMONAL HEADACHES:
Migraine Headaches can often be the result of hormone imbalance… ugh! This involves a very complicated department of your body, namely, ‘The Endocrine System.’ ***Refer to section entitled; ‘Endocrine System,’ for detailed information in that complex department. Bear in mind; there is no magic pill able to instantly balance hormones… that i am aware of anyway; it requires a multi-directional approach. The section entitled, ‘Digestive System,’ is a great place to start in getting your health/life back.
However; if you are willing to experiment a little rather than read a lot, then i will offer a few effective agents to address hormone related headaches. Vit B2 (Riboflavin) has been reported to deliver relief for hormone related migraine sufferers. I’m really not sure why/how this agent works but many customers have informed me that it does indeed do the job. Niacin; another member of the B Vitamin family has also been reported as effective. You’ll want to be using the regular, ‘flush‘ Niacin not the ‘non-flush’ for this particular application, anyway. I’d suggest starting with 100 mg; you can increase the dosage as your body adjusts to the hot flush… don’t worry; the flush us just a minor/temporary discomfort, well worth the benefits. The flushing is an indication that furniture in your liver is being rearranged… in a good way. All roads lead to the liver and so you can expect a connection… especially to hormone activity in particular.
HEAD ACHE, BACK AND NECK PAIN, SCIATICA:
Head aches and migraines are often the result of a structural/nerve issue. I’ve had mega customers come into the store requesting a pill to alleviate severe nerve and/or muscular pain. I have to admit to them that they are wasting their hard earned money with such a high ended expectation. This is not to say that there aren’t natural agents able to address neural/muscular inflammation; however, i’ve yet to find one that can compare to pharmaceutical agents such as; morphine. Howbeit; you might wanna consider going to the root cause of such. Oftentimes, the fix would be a structural adjustment (Chiropractic) or a massage. This is/was the case with my wife; she experienced headaches from time to time due to an automobile accident. A simple chiropractic adjustment, one of which we will be discussing in detail always alleviated the issue.
How would you know if you are a structural/headache candidate? Conduct the following simple experiment. Have a friend visually inspect your stature when standing approximately 10 feet away from you. You can do this experiment alone if you don’t have a friend… hmm… although you might wanna investigate the ‘no friend’ issue first; your health might depend on that more so than the head ache. In that case, your friend will end up being a mirror. Either way ensure that your feet are tight together and your arms are somewhat relaxed by your side. You’re looking for level shoulder heights; the right and left side should be level/equal in height and not one lower than the other. Don’t be shocked/dismayed if you should notice one shoulder significantly lower than the other side; you’ll be hard pressed to find somebody who is not. We’ve all had our falls and/or carried a heavy load and felt a back ache at one time or other and so it just stands to reason that we’ll be structurally compromised over time. Some may not notice it while others may be chronically pain ridden because of the fact… hence why your head might very well be aching.
The fix; get your head back on straight.
There is one particular type of chiropractic therapy that i can personally endorse… to testify as being effective; it’s a procedure/technique known as, Upper Cervical Chiropractics (NUCCA). The NUCCA technique involves a manipulation of one specific vertebra located at the top of the neck and base of the skull, namely the upper cervical vertabra. This particular vertabra is considered to be the axis of our stature and where all of the nerves from the head to the torso of your body pass through; it’s no wonder, you are experiencing head aches, vertigo, back and/or sciatic pain etc; ‘you hafta get your head back on straight’ in order to obtain some lasting relief. Nucca is a very gentle, safe and accurate procedure, requiring a preliminary x-ray of one section of the spinal column in order to establish an accurate adjustment… not ‘a hit and sometimes miss’ procedure by any means. I’ve been enjoying the benefits of NUCCA for approximately 40 years now, no thanks to numerous concussions i’ve experienced over the years; including a train/truck collision.
AGENTS for pain relief:
Some of the mainline aids revolving around inflammation are; White Willow Bark, Yucca, CBD and/or THC (extracts from Marijuana), Devils Claw, Arnica. Bear in mind; not all Arnica agents are created equal. My fave is Absolute Arnica (Vogel)… also effective for instantly arresting leg/muscle cramps as well. More gems; Boswelia, Formula 7 (by Sisu), Sierrasil, Turmeric, Joint Force (by Mega foods), Scullcap, Leaf Source (humic/fulvic acids), Zeolite (extract from lava), Magnesium, MSM, DMSO (external use), Zyflamend (by New Chapters), Bromelain, Turmeric… or Curcumin, one of the main constituents of Turmeric and Wobenzyme, a propitiatory blend of enzymes. Serratic Peptidace is a synthesized version of the silk worm enzyme, an enzyme recognized for its unique ability to dissolve the cocoon, which separated the caterpillar stage from the adult moth. Inflamed tissue resembles that of a cocoon and therefore; could very well be your ticket to ‘relief.’ Note; this particular enzyme is marketed under many different names, and so do some homework regarding that. What about collagen; it has been purported to address pain resulting from degenerative bone and joints? Ingesting collagen is no guarantee that your body… your joints in particular are gonna get the goods. What happens at a cellular level is where the rubber meets the road. Collagen is essentially a protein, which is indeed a reputable building material; however, the body must be able to read and utilize it as such. This normal body function tends to be compromised as we age… and that we do. Wrinkles, cellulite and aching joints are evidence of this. But… hey… don’t panic; there is some legit science out there that can help us in this endeavor. One example/agent is a supplement called; Biosil. I’m pretty sure there are more out there; you’ll just have to research to find them.
ARTHRITIS:
Arthritis is a biiiigggy and can be a complicated query; nonetheless, it can be fixed. I can say that because i was once diagnosed with a severe case of Juvenile Arthritis… and i was a senior at the time… ah but i am so much younger now… and much, much better. ***Refer to section entitled, ‘Journey of Life,’ for the details on that painful story. Arthritis, much like all health dilemmas is merely a syndrome…. the result of a ‘malfunction’… being ‘out-of-balance’ (Homeostasis). Furthermore; it is often the result of a compromised condition that has been progressing over a long period of time; therefore, it’ll require some time to remedy it. Mind you; it is worth the effort for your life will get better and better each step of the way. It begins with the realization… realization of the aforementioned aspect of an imbalance (homeostasis). It’s much like realizing that the house you have been residing in is in dire need of some serious maintenance/renovation. Yes; it takes work and commitment to change; however, as mentioned; the benefits begin to present immediately and increase the further on you go. Bear in mind that you’re renovating not just the body… but also the mindset and spirit, as well.
***Refer to section entitled, ‘Immune Malfunction,’ for detailed information regarding the root cause of your systemic aches and pains; knowledge is a valuable tool.
Albeit; all conditions ending with, ‘itis,’ spell inflammation, which spell; office overload. It’s time to clean up the office, i’d say. Some examples of this are; Tendonitis, Arthritis, both, Rheumatoid and Osteo-Arthritis, Bursitis, Colitis, Appendicitis etc. Bear in mind that when you’re dealing with a health issue such as; arthritis, you’ll be choosing the challenge to reverse/renovate a long time mess… at its root. Are you up for the journey?
THE PAIN FIX:
Let’s deal with the pain first, cause like i said; “nobody likes pain.” There are many choices of anti-inflammatory agents to address this department; finding the right one for you is going to involve some trial and error. I say this because we’re all different; what works for one person may not work at all for another. Some of the more common agents to arrest inflammation to consider trying are; MSM, Turmeric or Curcumin, Boswellia, CBD and/or THC (extracts from Marijuana), Yucca… Devils Claw and Devils Club… i seriously doubt that the devil had anything to do with the benefits of those two herbs, White Willow Bark, Rosemary, Ginger, Magnesium and Silica. Although there are many effective combinations containing some of the aforementioned agents, they are not necessarily the better choice over applying one single agent at a time; nonetheless, you’ll have to be the judge of that. Glucosamine Sulphate and/or Chondroitin are reported to have yielded favorable results to some, although improvement is not instant, and so you may wanna give it some time, like about two or three months, or so i’d say. Bear in mind that Glucosamine Sulphate and Chondroitin require intense stomach acid (HCL) to digest/assimilate them. The same can be said about all elemental, bone or shell sourced agents. However; animals respond well to these types of agents because they do have an intense concentration of HCL… lucky dogs! Nonetheless; this obstacle can be remedied/subsidized by using agents such as; Betaine (HCL).
Serratia Peptase yields favourable results for many; however, it seems to be effective for only some types of inflammation. It did nothing for my own arthritic aches/pains. As mentioned; Serratia Peptace is the synthetic reproduction of an enzyme produced by the silk worm… an enzyme naturally designed to dissolve the fibrin sheath of its cocoon… a vital protocol to escape its tight little sleeping quarters. That’s its magic connection to inflammatory issues… it is able to dissolves inflammation. Speaking of enzymes, most any enzyme is going to be effective when it comes to inflammation; that’s what they’re designed to do; digest/dismantle. Bear in mind, that most of us are bankrupt of enzymes and so we require more than just a few capsules per day if we’re expecting to clean up a backlog of debris that got us all twisted up like a pretzel… more on that later.
The following group of agents are worth their weight in gold are; Diatomaceous Earth, Bentonite Clay, Zeolite, Leaf Source (humic/fulvic acid) and/or Sierra-Sil, to name but a few. First of all; the aforementioned are valuable sources of available minerals and trace minerals due to their ionic (energized) status. Secondly; they serve to draw and eliminate toxins from the body, which most often are at the root of inflammation, and thirdly; these types of agents assist the body in its endeavor to achieve a balanced PH, more so in an alkaline zone.
If one’s PH environment is chronically acidic, then disease is indicated/inevitable, especially inflammatory diseases. No thanks to our food choices and life styles, most people are experiencing excess acidity… a sad but true fact. How would you know? Contrary to what you may have heard/read, PH strips are not a reliable tool to measure PH; they merely reveal an instant snapshot of what might be going on in your body at one particular moment in time. For example; sucking on a lemon will render a PH test strip alkaline. This is because your body will have dispatched alkaline substances, most likely Bicarbonate to counter balance the extreme acidity introduced by the lemon. Furthermore; if you were to even think about a certain food, then your brain would be dispatching specific enzymes into the saliva in order to effectively digest such. It’s like one big united factory. The bottom line is; PH test strips merely indicate the results of your body’s amazing balancing act. Probably the most useful application of this tool is to test your urine first thing in the morning; it should be seriously alkaline. That would indicate reasonable health metabolic activity more s0o than a saliva reading by far.
***Refer to section entitled; ‘Miscellaneous Health Issues‘ alphabetically recorded under ‘Osteoporosis‘… ‘PH‘ for detailed information on this subject.
Some topical agents to consider for inflammation are; DMSO, MSM, Arnica and Cannibis, as well as an assortment of Camphor/Eucalyptus, Mint and/or Cayenne based formulas; there are plenty of these to choose from. ***Caution if Cayenne is in the formula… this stuff can seriously irritate the eyes… 10,000 pesky bears and purse snatchers can’t be wrong. I found Rhus Tox ointment (Homeopathy) to relieve Rheumatoid conditions more than some of the aforementioned agents personally speaking, but then again… we’re all different.
GETTING DOWN TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM:
Regardless of the name of your ‘itis‘ condition, the common denominator of it boils down to the fact that… your body is out of order; cells are reacting and metabolic functions are compromised. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) affects the synovial cells in the joints in such a manner so as to result in intense pain and swelling in those particular areas. Osteo-Arthritis (OA), is characterized by a calcium build up around the joints. Although it is somewhat uncomfortable and debilitating, it doesn’t cause the pain that RA does. MS, Parkinsons and Fibromyalgia involve neural and/or muscular inflammation.
And so what causes it? Often times, we’re dealing with a residual carcinogen of sorts. It could be the result of a toxic environment; other times it’s the result of simple abuse and/or neglect, something more in our control such as; poor dietary choices and/or cultured attitude/behaviour… sometimes… it’s a bit of both. According to my research/experience… physically speaking, the shit show began… and continues to go on as a result of a Gastro-Intestinal system (GI Tract) imbalance; therefore, our focus on getting well should begin with digestion/assimilation, dismantling/elimination.
The first step is to pay attention to what you’re eating. Your body requires real food in order to function. Your GI Tract/colon was designed to separate/extract nutrients from the food you consume and to eliminate the waste from such in due process.
The second step is to ensure that you have a strong and healthy, hierarchy of beneficial micro-organisms established throughout the GI Tract. Probiotics along with sufficient Fiber, such as; various Grain Brans, Seeds and/or Fruit Pectins, is a sure way to secure this. Thirdly; Enzymes (plenty)… not only unlock the nutrients found in the food we just ate, but are also able to dissolve/dismantle the fibrin/protein layer common to inflammation, as well as that of tumors, environmental carcinogens, and Pathogens… one or some of which may very well be the cause of the problem to begin with. Enzymes can be purchased individually, such as; Bromelain, Papaya, Turmeric and Ginger… or in combinations such as; Wobenzyme or any Broad Spectrum enzyme combination. Check the ingredient list; you’re looking for a combination, capable of dismantling; Proteins (Protease), Carbohydrates (Amylase), Fats (Lipase) and Fibers (Cellulose). Fourthly; EFA Fats and Super Greens/Berries should also eventually be seriously added to that menu for none of these are present in our food chain anymore.
ADRENAL AND IMMUNE CARE:
Since the Immune system is under serious fire, one or more Immune modulators would be wise ‘reach for.’ Some heavy hitters to consider are; Plant Sterrols, Mushroom and fungals, such as; Reishi and Shitake, Cordyceps and Chaga…. Herbs, such as; Shisandra, Rhodiola and Astragalus, Bee Pollen and/or Propolis and Transfer Factor. Furthermore; your Adrenal glands more than likely got the message even before the immune guys got involved and one or more adrenal adaptagens should be sought out, as well. Some choices there would be; Vitamin-C (Berries) with Royal Jelly, Rhodiola, Aswagandha, Shisandra, Maca, Ginseng and/or Licorice Root, to mention but a few. Osteo-Arthritis, although different than Rheumatoid Arthritis,would qualify for the same protocol in that we’re dealing with a metabolic imbalance. There is obviously a mineral mal-absorption, and/or a distribution issue going on also, hence why calcium is being deposited round the joints, therefore; I’d be scrutinizing your mineral supplementation… Calcium supplementation, in particular. The amount and format of calcium that many people are choosing is counterproductive, if not conducive to worsening the situation, in my opinion. Furthermore, there are several valuable co-factors available that are renowned for enabling the distribution and utilization of Calcium, such as; Betaine Hydrochloride (stomach acid agent), Vit-D3 and K-2.
***Refer to section entitled, ‘The Calcium Myth‘ for more detailed info on calcium and mineral supplements.
We are made up of body, mind and Spirit, each one of these departments will play a dynamic role in ushering in… healing or… disease. Seek serenity from the things you cannot change… despair and/or anger, resentment and harboured un-forgiveness can be at the root of your chronic disease; you’ll not find a pill to fix that. Therefore, make a serious effort to forgive, not just those who may have willfully harmed you, but also… to forgive yourself.
***Refer to section entitled, ‘Remedy for a Wounded Spirit,’ for direction in the Spiritual department of affairs… I guarantee that it’ll be nothing like you had ever read before… truly a breath of fresh and healing air.