Supplement Therapy

Excerpts from the entry on Supplement Therapy in Relieving Pain Naturally by Dr. Sylvia Goldfarb and Roberta W. Waddell. For full entries on all 37 conditions and 27 treatments, order the book.

Supplementation is often necessary because so many foods have been processed or altered that they end up lacking the proper nutrients. Vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants, enzymes, and herbs (a separate entry) are all supplements, and all are beneficial for many conditions, but we are limiting the discussion here to those useful for chronic pain. You can buy supplements at health food stores, grocery stores, pharmacies, by mail, and on the Internet. They are available in many forms, including capsules, geltabs, liquids, powders, and tablets. Vitamins are substances derived from plant and animal food sources, or they may be synthetic. They are present in varying quantities in many different foods. Minerals are necessary to help your body assimilate vitamins. Soil contains minerals, which are absorbed by the fruits and vegetables you eat. Amino acids are components of protein and act as neurotransmitters that are needed by the brain to send and receive messages. Enzymes are complex proteins produced by living plant and animal cells that help digest and repair body tissue and aid most body functions. Antioxidants include those particular vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that protect your body from free radicals.

Also in this entry:

• The History of Supplement Therapy
• How Supplement Therapy Works
• Painful Conditions that Respond Well to Supplement Therapy
• Advantages of Supplement Therapy
• How to Use Supplement Therapy
• Cautions
• Clinical Studies

See below for full list of all conditions and treatments in the book. Or, download a complete Condition entry or Treatment entry for free.