LIVE WELL
Health
Did
you know?
When it comes to a headache,
popping too many pills can make
it worse. ‘When the effect of
a painkiller wears off, you may
experience a withdrawal reaction
which prompts you to take more
medication, resulting in a vicious
cycle of worsening, daily headaches,’
says Dr Brewer. ‘Plus, due to our
genes, on average, a third of
people will not achieve
significant pain relief
with paracetamol.’Ifyou’reworried...
Alwaysreadtheleafletprovidedsoyou
knowthepotentialsideeffectsandcorrect
doseforyou,especiallyifyouhaveother
healthissuesorareonothermedication.
‘Whilelong-termusemaynotnecessarily
meanyou’re“addicted”,theremaybe
amoreappropriatewayoftreatingyour
condition,’saysDrMiddleton.Youmay
bereferredtoapainclinic,whichcan
offertreatmentssuchashypnotherapy
orCBT(cognitivebehaviouraltherapy).e safer alternative?
Here are our safer suggestions for what to take instead of
the‘dailyessentials’relieduponbysomanyof us...Aspirin
This inhibits an enzyme needed to
maintain the protective mucus coating
of the stomach,’ says Dr Brewer. ‘By
blocking this enzyme, aspirin can cause
peptic ulceration (sores in the stomach).’
HERBAL ALTERNATIVE: Phynova
Joint & Muscle Relief Tablets
(£19.99, Holland & Barrett) has
St Paul’s wort for joint and muscle
pain, backache, and minor injuries.
BEST BUY: Hot or coldIbuprofen
‘Studiessuggestthata highdosemay
be associated with a small increased
risk of heart attack or stroke,’ says Dr
Brewer. ‘It can also worsen asthma.’
HERBAL ALTERNATIVE: Atrogel Arnica
Gel (£7.25, Boots, Holland & Barrett)
has arnica montana for aches, pains and
stiffness, sprains, bruises and swelling.
BEST BUY: TENS machine,
such PainPod MI (£89,
painpod.co.uk), uses safe
microcurrents to treat pain
across the whole body.Antacids
‘These can affect the absorption of some
vitamins, minerals and medicines,’ says
Dr Brewer. ‘If used regularly for long
periods, they can affect calcium and
magnesium balance. Those
containing sodium may
increase blood pressure.’
HERBAL ALTERNATIVE:
Milk Thistle Complex
(£10.99, avogel.co.uk), is
packed with dandelion and(£10.99, avogel.co.uk), has devil’s claw
root to relieve muscle aches, joint pain
and backache.
BEST BUY: 4head QuickStrip
(£3.59, Boots). It contains black
peppermint to relax local blood
vessels, causing a sensation of
coldness or tingling, followed
by pain relief.compression packs can
reduce swelling and numb
pain. We like Deep Heat
Pain Relief Heat Patch or
Deep Freeze Pain Relief
Cold Patch (£5.99 each,
Boots). A covered hot-water
bottle or a bag of frozen
veg can work well, too.peppermint to offer relief.
BEST BUY: Chamomile tea can
relieve stress, which is a main
cause of indigestion. We like
Clipper Organic Chamomile
Calming Infusion (£1.99,
leading supermarkets).