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Product Highlight
Flex (Heat) by Evergreen Herbs
for Arthritis Pain
CLINICAL APPLICATIONS
- Acute muscle aches and pain with heat manifestations, such as swelling, burning sensation and inflammation
- Acute arthritis, arthralgia or gout with redness and swelling
- Fibromyalgia with heat manifestations
- Rheumatic heat disorders
WESTERN THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS
- Strong analgesic function to relieve pain 3
- Anti-inflammatory effect to reduce inflammation and swelling 1,2
- Antirheumatic function to treat disorders of the connective tissue such as joints, muscles, bursae, tendons and fibrous tissues 1,2
CHINESE THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS
- Expels wind and heat
- Disperses bi zheng (painful obstruction syndrome)
- Clears damp-heat and reduces swelling
- Alleviates pain
FORMULA EXPLANATION Flex (Heat) is formulated specifically to treat musculoskeletal disorders characterized by heat. It contains herbs with functions to eliminate wind, heat and damp, remove painful obstructions, and relieve pain.
PHARMACEUTICAL DRUGS & CHINESE MEDICINE: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
Western Medical Approach: Pain is a basic bodily sensation induced by a noxious stimulus that causes physical discomfort (as pricking, throbbing, or aching). Pain may be of acute or chronic state, and may be of nociceptive, neuropathic, or psychogenic type.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAID), such as Motrin (Ibuprofen), Naprosyn (Naproxen) and Voltaren (Diclofenac) are very frequently used to treat mild to moderate pain characterized by inflammation and swelling.
Clinical applications include headache, arthritis, dysmenorrhea, and general aches and pain. Though effective, they may cause such serious side effects as gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, gastrointestinal bleeding, tinnitus, blurred vision, dizziness
and headache.
Furthermore, the newer NSAID's, also known as Cox-2 inhibitors [such as Celebrex (Celecoxib)], are associated with significantly higher risk of cardiovascular events, including
heart attack and stroke.
In fact, these side effects are so serious that two Cox-2 inhibitors
have already been withdrawn from the market [Viox (Rofecoxib) and Bextra (Valdecoxib)].
In brief, it is important to remember that while drugs offer reliable and potent symptomatic pain relief, they should be used only if and when needed. Frequent use and abuse leads to unnecessary side effects and complications.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Approach:
Treatment of pain is a sophisticated balance of art and science. Proper treatment of pain requires a careful evaluation of the type of disharmony (excess or deficiency, cold or heat, exterior or interior), characteristics (qi and/or blood stagnations), and locations (upper body, lower body, extremities, or internal organs).
Furthermore, optimal treatment requires integrative use of herbs, acupuncture and Tui-Na therapies.
All these therapies work together to tonify the underlying deficiencies, strengthen the body, and facilitate recovery from chronic pain.
TCM pain management targets both the symptoms and the causes of pain, and as such, often achieves immediate and long-term success. Furthermore, TCM pain management is often associated with few or no side effects.
Summation:
For treatment of mild to severe pain due to various causes,
TCM pain management offers similar treatment effects with significantly fewer side effects.
[1] Bensky, D. et al. Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica. Eastland Press. 1993
[2] Yeung, HC. Handbook of Chinese Herbs. Institute of Chinese Medicine. 1996
[3] Liao, JF. Evaluation with receptor binding assay on the water extracts of ten CNS-active Chinese herbal drugs. Proceedings of the National Science Council, Republic of China - Part B, Life Sciences. Jul. 1995; 19(3):151-8
[4] Sun, DH. Treatment of heat type of painful obstruction (Bi) syndrome with stephania (fang ji) in 120 patients. Shangdong Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 1987; 6:21
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