By Kenneth Proefrock, NMD

From the self-limiting bumps and bruises of childhood to sprains/strains and occasional headaches of adulthood, everyone is all too familiar with the experience of pain. Pain is one of the primary reasons why people go to see the doctor. There are more than 50 million people in this country who suffer from some sort of chronic pain syndrome, that is, a condition that causes them to experience pain on a daily or almost daily basis. These syndromes run the gamut from monthly migraine headaches to chronic rheumatic diseases like lupus, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis. What these conditions all have in common is how they are treated by modern medicine. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents like aspirin, acetaminophen, and other cox inhibitors are the typical first line medical answers to inflammation and pain. This type of intervention is so common that the old saying, “Take two aspirin and call me in the morning”, has become the stereotypical admonition from calling the doctor during off hours.