Can Aloe Vera Replace Non-Steroidals?
Every year in the UK, approximately 25 million prescriptions are written for Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs). That doesn’t include those non-steroidal drugs that are bought over the counter.
They’re very effective. If you’ve ever injured yourself, you’ll know just how painful the inflammation in the muscles, tendons or joints can be. And that inflammation - the body’s secondary reponse to healing - can be more painful than the original injury itself. You’ve probably bought non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs from the chemist without even thinking about it. Nurofen® and Ibuprofen are over-the-counter NSAIDs.
The full list of non-steroidals covers aspirin, naproxen (Aleve®, Naprosyn®), ibuprofen (Nurofen®, Motrin®), diclofenac (Voltarol®), piroxicam (Feldene®) and others. Essentially, they are a class of drugs that have a strong anti-inflammatory effect. They’re effective in reducing mild to moderate pain - muscle strains & sprains, joint and tendon problems - as well as helping with headaches; reducing fevers; and alleviating the symptoms of coughs, colds and flu. Which is why NSAIDs also often included in many cold and allergy preparations.
So NSAIDs are widely used and prescribed; and clearly have important benefits. Yet like many manufactured drugs, there are possible complications and side-effects.
A good example is that aspirin (also an NSAID) is widely used to inhibit the blood clotting to prevent and reduce the effect of strokes and heart attacks in high-risk individuals. (A good thing.) Yet that very benefit can be a complication. Since NSAIDs prevent or reduce blood clotting, this might lead to prolonged bleeding after injury or surgery. (A bad thing.) Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can also increase blood pressure in certain patients with hypertension and so counteract the drugs used to treat hypertension. (Another bad thing.)
There are a number of other side-effects with NSAIDs. These vary between the drugs and from person to person. The most common side effects are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, decreased appetite, skin rashes, headaches, dizziness and drowsiness. People with asthma should be careful taking NSAIDs because of an increased risk of an allergic reaction.
If that wasn’t enough, the more serious(!) complications include fluid retention, edema, allergic reactions, duodenal and stomach ulcers, kidney failure and liver failure.
A US study puts the effect of NSAIDs into perspective: deaths from non-steroidal/gastrointestinal complications (ie. NSAIDs causing ulcers, which then bleed significantly) are higher than deaths from cervical cancer or malignant melanoma!
In the UK, those figures carry some weight. According to the evidence-based medicine website Bandolier, there are about 12,000 NSAID-related hospital admissions in the UK each year and 2,500 NSAID-related deaths.
So next time you have a mild headache, maybe think twice before you reach for that handy box of non-steroidal pills!
Ok, enough already! What’s the alternative? Not surprisingly, nature has the answer… In the same way that aspirin was derived from tree-bark, many pharmaceautical drugs take their cues from the natural properties of plants and herbs. The big pharma companies find the properties they want, then try to isolate them for a particular effect.
Why not let nature dictate what’s best? Aloe Vera has many natural properties - one of which is as a strong anti-inflammatory and analgaesic (pain-killer). Aloe has been shown to reduce swelling and inflammation with no negative side-effects. In fact the only side-effects from Aloe Vera are likely to be positive ones. Instead of having to take an NSAID with another drug, to counteract the possibility of duodenal ulcer, take Aloe Vera - which is going to protect and help heal any digestive problems — not cause them!
We’ve found one Aloe Vera tablet which is made to pharmaceutical standards, and is prescribed privately by doctors and therapists, but is no widely known… yet.
Please click here to get more information on this pure Aloe Vera tablet, and to discover how it can help you.
Comments
No comments yet... Be the first.