Our Natural Production Of Pain Relievers

Aspirin Alternatives: The Top Natural Pain-Relieving Analgesics, June, 1999

When pain occurs, the desire and need for pain relief becomes all important. We may not even realize that the body suffers many aches and pains each day in which we may experience as simple soreness, or have no pain experience at all. Our bodies, being the miracle machines they are, have a built-in mechanism to deal with pain. This capability is critical to our very survival. Without this ability, we would surely perish. While we do not currently understand and know of all the possible substances which make up this pain relief system, science has discovered a few substances within this group. These substances are called endorphins, enkephalins and substance P. The following is an explanation and description of these substances. Don't let the medical information in this portion stop you from reading through the material. It is background information, so work through it as best as possible.

These substances are termed neurotransmitters, and are found in specific areas of the brain and possibly in other areas of the body. A neurotransmitter (NT) is defined as a chemical that is selectively released from a nerve terminal by an action potential, then interacts with a specific receptor on an adjacent structure and produces a specific physiologic response. The endorphins have been found in abundance in the hypothalamus and in the pituitary gland. The enkephalins are found mainly in those areas of the brain associated with pain control, including the periventricular area, the periaqueductal gray, the midline raphe nuclei, the substantia gelatinosa of the dorsal horns in the spinal cord, and the intralaminar nuclei of the thalamus.

Endorphins are believed to bind to opiate receptors in various areas of the brain and thereby raise the pain threshold. Though several different types of endorphins have been isolated, the most potent and presumably most important is B-endorphin.

Enkephalins are believed to have potent, opiate-like effects; thus leading to analgesia. Enkephalins have been defined into two naturally occurring types called methionine enkephalin and leucine enkephalin. Substance P is a peptide and is the transmitter of many central neurons (e.g. dorsal root ganglia, basal ganglia, hypothalamus). Its synthesis and fate are similar to those of the endorphins and enkephalins. All of these substances have been found at different points in the analgesic system.

Perhaps the best way of understanding how this internal pain relief system works is to look at how our bodies respond after moderate muscular exercise. This can be from weight training, aerobic exercise or just plain old-fashioned labor, like digging. All of these exercises cause us to utilize our muscular system and activate a series of biochemical reactions. The usage of our muscles, especially with moderate or sustained activity, triggers the release of the natural, opiate-like chemicals within our bodies. Why is this important? Because without these substances, we would be in agony from the muscle usage!

It has been proposed that these substances may also reduce both anxiety and depression by their actions. They may do a great many things, but to date, only limited amounts of information have been gathered concerning these incredible chemicals. Watch for future information concerning these substances. As science continues to unravel their mysteries, we may find them playing an important role in future pain management.

Section I

1. Guyton, A., M.D., "The Nervous System -- Chapter 41," in Textbook of Medical Physiology, 6th Ed.; Philadelphia: W.B Saunders Company, 1981.

2. Price, SA., and Wilson, LM., Pathophysiology Clinical Concepts Of Disease Properties, 3rd Ed.; New York: McGrawHill Book Company, 1986.

3. McNaught, AB., and Callander, R., Illustrated Physiology, 4th Ed.; New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1983.

4. Cahill, M., et al., Professional Guide To Diseases, 6th ed.; Springhouse, PA: Springhouse Corporation, 1998.

5. Cahill, M., et al., Expert Pain Management, Springhouse, PA: Springhouse Corporation, 1997.

6. Graedon, J., and Graedon, T., The People's Guide To Deadly Drug Interactions, New York: St. Martin's Press, 1995.

7. U.S Pharmacopeia, The USP Guide To Medicines, 1st Ed.; New York: Avon Books, 1996.

8. Rapp, R.P., et al., The Pill Book Guide To Over-The-Counter Medications, 1st Ed.; New York: Bantam Books, 1997.

9. Rybacki, J.J., and Long, J.W., The Essential Guide To Prescription Drugs, 1998 Ed.; New York: HarperCollins Publishers, Inc., 1998.

10. Berkow, R., M.D., et al., The Merck Manual, 15th Ed.; New Jersey: Merck & Co., Inc., 1987.

11. McCullough, K., et al., Dorland's Pocket Medical Dictionary, 23rd Ed.; Philadelphia, PA: W. B. Saunders, Co., 1982.

12. Liska, K., The Pharmacist's Guide To The Most Misused And Abused Drugs In America, New York: Collier Books, Macmillan Publishing Co., 1988.

13. Sharp, B., and Yaksh, T., "Pain killers of the immune system," Nat Med, (8): 831-2, Aug. 3, 1997.