A Controversial Take on Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs: Pain Relief with Added Health Risks

The wonders of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain relief cannot be understated. In just a few minutes after taking the medication, you can get back on track and forget about your headache for the rest of the day. Although the discovery of the power of NSAIDs for pain relief is groundbreaking in allopathic medicine, their unregulated and frequent use can cause dire health consequences, especially to your gastrointestinal tract.
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What are NSAIDs?

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are a class of medications that help reduce inflammation and pain relief, making them useful in managing muscle pain, fever, migraines, arthritis, and even period cramps. The wonders of NSAIDs come from their ability to block the action of cyclooxygenase, a special enzyme that exerts protective and regulatory effects to body processes and at the same time drives your body’s inflammatory response. Cyclooxygenases are divided into two subgroups: cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). COX-1 is regularly expressed in the body, as it plays a big role in nurturing the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, promoting platelet aggregation to stop bleeding and assist in wound healing, and regulating kidney function. COX-2, on the other hand, is not regularly expressed and is only present during inflammation.

The wide variety of NSAIDs available in the market allows people to choose their preferred type and brand. A very important consideration to remember when choosing the type of NSAIDs for your health problem is that not all medications are made equal. In fact, NSAIDs are classified into two types: nonselective COX inhibitors which block the effects of COX-1 and COX-2, and COX-2 selective inhibitors which only suppress COX-2. This means that although their actions in suppressing inflammation are the same, their side effects may be different from the other.
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The Consequences of NSAID Use

NSAIDs affect all major organ systems in the body. From the very first day of taking the medication, your risks of having stomach ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding (GI bleeding), heart problems, and stroke, are higher than those who have not taken the medication.2 Since non-selective COX inhibitors affect both COX-1, that helps protect your gastric mucosa, and COX-2, which is necessary during inflammation, you may experience pain relief but at the same time put yourself at risk of stomach irritation and ulcers with long-term and unregulated use. Opting for a COX-2 selective NSAIDs may mitigate these risks since it does not hamper the protective effects of COX-1. 

However, the use of COX-2 selective NSAIDs is not entirely beneficial since these medications do not help regulate platelet aggregation, putting you at risk of developing blood clots with prolonged use.2 The risk of side effects with NSAID use is higher in the elderly population, since these people are likely to take medications that may modify the effects of NSAIDs and because it can reduce the effects of aspirin therapy.2
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Safety and Considerations

NSAIDs may cause hypersensitivity reactions to people who are allergic to the medication. Additionally, the use of NSAIDs are contraindicated in people who have undergone coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) and mothers during the second half of pregnancy.1 When ultimately necessary, the benefits of its use for your health should outweigh possible health risks.

The improper use of NSAIDs may lead to toxicity, damaging your kidneys and liver, inducing high blood pressure levels, and causing gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding.1 As previously mentioned, the use of non-selective NSAIDs may also cause gastrointestinal damage, since it blocks the protective effects of cyclooxygenase to your stomach and intestinal lining. Once prolonged, this damage can lead to decreased nutrient absorption, putting you at risk of developing anemias and malnutrition.

Naturopathic Solutions for Pain and Inflammation

Rather than dealing with unwanted consequences of long-term NSAID use, naturopathic medicine offers alternative holistic remedies that will not only help relieve pain and inflammation, but also target the root cause of your health problems. 

Botanical Medicine

• Turmeric (Curcuma Longa). Curcumin is a powerful herb that blocks the drivers of inflammation and COX-2, but spares COX-1, helping to reduce inflammation and relieve pain but without putting yourself at risk of gastrointestinal irritation, which is associated with non-selective NSAIDs.5
• Ginger (Zingiber officinale). Ginger contains active ingredients that exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects by controlling the expression of TNF-alpha, which is the key regulator of the inflammatory process.6 The smell of ginger also activates receptors expressed in neurons responsible for recognizing pain, ultimately decreasing pain perceived with inflammation.6
• Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus). Eucalyptus helps relieve pain and reduce inflammation by preventing blood vessels from becoming leaky, thereby preventing swelling, as well as the progression of the inflammatory response.7

Acupuncture

Acupuncture has been used by traditional medicine to manage pain and reduce inflammation by inserting needles through the skin at specific surface points to recover the natural energy flow within. Its wonders in pain control comes from its ability to nurture your body’s natural energy flow.3 Acupuncture has been observed to provide pain relief within 30 minutes of the procedure, which can last for months or even a whole year after therapy.3

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy focuses on applying essential oils on the skin or inhaling them to relieve pain and provide relaxation.4 These essential oils are made from plants that contain healing and relaxing properties. Additionally, the pleasant smell of essential oils can help you enjoy each aromatherapy session.4 

Aromatherapy can be an invaluable treatment option, but this realm is also full of false claims, greedy companies, and pseudoscience. Burns, kidney failure, worsening of chronic disease and cancer, and even infant deaths have occurred because of inappropriate use of aromatherapy. Always talk to a trusted and knowledgeable healthcare professional before utilizing essential oils.

The Naturopathic Approach

The naturopathic approach aims to support the body’s natural ability to heal itself. This is done through exploring holistic solutions that incorporate lifestyle, nutrition, supplementation, and natural remedies that are all aimed to nurture. Explore the wonders of naturopathic medicine for pain relief and inflammation today.

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​This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your licensed naturopathic physician or other licensed healthcare provider before making changes to your medications or supplements. 

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​REFERENCES:

1. Ghlichloo I, Gerriets V. Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs). In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; May 1, 2023.
2. Davis A, Robson J. The dangers of NSAIDs: look both ways. Br J Gen Pract. 2016;66(645):172-173. doi:10.3399/bjgp16X684433
3. Niruthisard S, Ma Q, Napadow V. Recent advances in acupuncture for pain relief. Pain Rep. 2024;9(5):e1188. Published 2024 Sep 13. doi:10.1097/PR9.0000000000001188
4. Lakhan SE, Sheafer H, Tepper D. The Effectiveness of Aromatherapy in Reducing Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Pain Res Treat. 2016;2016:8158693. doi:10.1155/2016/8158693
5. Eke-Okoro UJ, Raffa RB, Pergolizzi JV Jr, Breve F, Taylor R Jr; NEMA Research Group. Curcumin in turmeric: Basic and clinical evidence for a potential role in analgesia. J Clin Pharm Ther. 2018;43(4):460-466. doi:10.1111/jcpt.12703
6. Rondanelli M, Fossari F, Vecchio V, et al. Clinical trials on pain lowering effect of ginger: A narrative review. Phytother Res. 2020;34(11):2843-2856. doi:10.1002/ptr.6730
7. Arooj B, Asghar S, Saleem M, et al. Anti-inflammatory mechanisms of eucalyptol rich Eucalyptus globulus essential oil alone and in combination with flurbiprofen. Inflammopharmacology. 2023;31(4):1849-1862. doi:10.1007/s10787-023-01237-6