Collection: Pain Stack

We are always exploring natural alternatives to treating pain. Don't want to suffer from the side effects of pain pills for the rest of our lives. Read more about those side effects here.

But let's look at a few things known to cause chronic pain in some cases (not a complete list):

* Opioid painkillers: In the case of fibromyalgia, there is almost always a history of using opioid painkillers long BEFORE the chronic pain syndrome begins. Since opioids are known to damage small nerve fibres (leaving pain sensors exposed), this may help explain why the pain does not respond to any conventional therapy (and why taking opioids for pain is a really bad idea).

* Antibiotics: There is often a history of antibiotic use before the symptoms of pain or tiredness begin to appear. This indicates a gut microbe connection.

* Diet: It is increasingly clear that a diet rich in sugar, sweeteners or MSG (monosodium glutamate) makes matters worse. It may not be causative, but it does contribute to the pain.

* (Pre)diabetes: The prevalence of insulin resistance/prediabetes/diabetes among patients with chronic pain is much higher than the population average. Insulin is a pro-inflammatory hormone, which may explain this connection.

* Stress: Chronic pain is often (not always) preceded by a high-stress lifestyle. It causes “yuppie flu”. Young, highly motivated professionals who suddenly “burn out”. This suggests that high cortisol levels are implicated, leading to damaged production of stress response hormones, such as adrenaline and noradrenaline. It also indicates that treatment with steroids is counterproductive.

* Low Vitamin D levels: Patients with chronic pain always have Vitamin D blood levels below 30 ng/ml. Once blood levels are raised to above 80 ng/ml, symptoms often begin to recede. Ironically, a blood level of 30 ng/ml is regarded as “normal” by all labs in South Africa, while a level of 80 ng/ml is regarded as “high”.

* Glyphosate: Chronic exposure to the weed killer sold as RoundUp seems to be linked to worsening of symptoms. There are a number of ways this can happen. One mechanism would be the destruction of the gut microbes that help detoxify the body. Another mechanism likely has to do with the way the body produces energy – glyphosate likely compromises this pathway.

There are many other suspicious toxins as well, such as pesticides, plastics, and molds. The list goes on.

Disclaimer: You know your own condition best. Consult your doctor before starting, stopping, or changing painkiller use, or before exploring alternative treatments.

So here is a suggestion to explore natural alternatives for pain:

• Stop all sugar intake. It destroys gut health and feeds inflammation.
• Try intermittent fasting for 14 to 18 hours per day to give your gut a fighting chance to recover. Or do OMAD (One Meal A Day) on any three days of the week. It really helps the liver to detoxify itself. It also helps with lowering insulin, thus reducing inflammation. Doing this for three months seems to reverse a lot of chronic pain symptoms and actually increase energy levels. Note that fasting is like exercise. The more you do it, the easier it gets. Even if it takes 6 months to get to do one OMAD per week, it's worth it. Only drink water on a fast, about 2.5 L/day.
• 50g Nucleo as the first meal of the day after your fast. Which feeds and grows the gut microbes exponentially. Many ingredients like Omega 3 and Spirulina are also anti-inflammatory.
• 1 x Mega D3 capsule per day for 7 days to increase Vit D levels to 80 ng/ml. Then take 1 capsule per week to maintain those levels.
• Rub DMSO gel or liquid anywhere on your body where there is pain. As many times a day as is necessary to control the pain. If you have pain all over your body, rub it under your feet. It will absorb quickly and scavenge all the inflammation in your body. If you are not allergic to DMSO, DMSO has no side effects at all. You can use it every day for as long as you live. And it is ridiculously cheap. You can even drink it. If you can stand its terrible taste. Dropping a few drops in aloe juice makes it easier. See my video explanation and read more about DMSO here.
• Optional: 20ml Liposomal Vit C once or twice a day. Also, a fantastic anti-inflammatory which scavenges free radicals and therefore reduces pain. It absorbs so fast it's like taking it intravenously. 
• Optional: 30ml Rawbiotics Defence per day. A 12-strain probiotic to populate the healthy microbes in your gut, especially if you used antibiotics recently.  

Every person's body and source of pain is different. So you know best and should experiment with various products to see what works for you. However, we found that the combination of these products has a significant impact on most people who use it daily.