Most Americans have taken some type of anti-inflammatory pain relief medicine at some point in their lives, but most do not have an understanding of how they actually work. These anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen, and steroids reduce pain and inflammation primarily by blocking normal prostaglandin function. Prostaglandins are hormone-like substances in the body necessary to normal body processes.
There are 3 categories of prostaglandins. Prostaglandin-1 (PG1) and prostaglandin-3 (PG3) are anti-inflammatory. The last group, prostaglandin-2 (PG2) is naturally inflammatory. All three are necessary for multiple functions in the body. Production of PG2 is part of the body’s response to a need for repair, healing, and maintaining homeostasis in the body. Inflammation is a normal part of that response; however, there is often pain and discomfort associated with the inflammation, especially when in excess.
NSAID drugs, aspirin, and steroids are often prescribed to reduce the body’s pain and inflammation even though suppression of PG2 production may actually delay or prevent the natural healing process. The above stated drugs block the normal prostaglandin function by inhibiting the process of converting the essential fatty acid arachadonic acid (found mainly in saturated fats) into PG2, thus suppressing pain and inflammation. Delaying or blocking the body’s natural healing response is a serious health consequence, especially when these medications are taken over a long period of time. In addition, there are many other adverse side effects associated with the use of NSAIDS and steroid drugs, including gastrointestinal bleeding, liver problems and even renal failure.
Before the risks of anti-inflammatory drugs are chosen for pain, it would be wiser to consider a natural approach of working to improve a person’s PG1/PG3 anti-inflammatory prostaglandin response. This can often be affected positively by working to balance one’s omega 3/omega 6 fatty acids. For most people in America, this means increasing healthy sources of omega 3 fatty acids through diet and supplementation since the American diet already has too many omega 6 fatty acids present in much of our processed foods made with vegetable oils. Working on changing diet would be a better first step before adding synthetic drugs and incurring the above risks.
