Dear Healthy Friend,

When you have a headache, toothache, stomach ache or any other ache, I'm sure you reach for your trusty painkillers. Right? They're an easy, quick fix. And harmless.

Think again.

They keep the pain at bay and make it a bit more bearable. But do you know the full extent of the side-effects of these trusted pain-eliminators? Did you know they could be deadly? Read Dr Spreen's article to see what destruction this silent killer leaves in its wake.

In the name of good health,

Taryn Strugnell
Managing Editor of Nutrition & Healing

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Don't sacrifice your liver for the sake of pain relief
Dr Allan Spreen
Editor of Guide to Good Health

There's a drug that's extremely toxic to your liver. In fact, it's the leading cause of acute liver failure. Now it seems even the FDA may admit otherwise. In fact, a panel of experts recently recommended the FDA adopt new restrictions on this drug.

I'm talking about acetaminophen.

Acetaminophen is an over-the-counter analgesic (or painkiller). Lots of people use it to treat occasional aches and pains. It's actually one of the most used drugs on the market. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, nearly 20% of adult men and women use it in any given week.

Unfortunately, many people believe that acetaminophen is a gentle pain-reliever that can't do much harm. It's safe enough for babies. It's got to be safe for you and me, right?

Well, that's not always the case. Just consider this...

Currently, the single dose limit for acetaminophen is 500mg for adults. The daily limit is 4,000mg for adults.

But acetaminophen becomes toxic to the liver after a single dose of just 7,000mg in adults. That's not even double the daily dosage. You can see how someone might inadvertently take too much if they were trying to manage their pain after a bad fall or after dental work.

Many adults use acetaminophen every day to manage their chronic pain. They may even take triple or quadruple the recommended dose to handle their pain on a regular basis. This sets them up to reach the toxic threshold much more easily.

Also, you can inadvertently reach toxic levels by mixing acetaminophen with other medicine. For instance, say you take an antacid to control your stomach upset. Maybe you also take an allergy pill to handle your springtime sniffles. Then you take a painkiller when a tooth begins to bother you.

Well, guess what? This could put you at serious risk for liver failure. You may not realise it, but all three of these drugs could contain acetaminophen.

In fact, many cold and allergy products on the market do contain acetaminophen.

It's amazing to see just how many non-painkillers out there also contain acetaminophen!

Now, don't get me wrong. Taking these medications for the occasional headache or sniffle is probably fine if you follow proper dosing guidelines. But if you've got chronic pain that just won't go away, there are other options you should consider. And be careful to check the labels on the products that you are taking, as they may contain acetaminophen.

If you've got general aches and pains, why not try natural agents like white willow (the origin of aspirin), Boswellia or bromelain. In terms of joint pain, I've always recommended glucosamine and chondroitin.

Or consider addressing the root of your pain, instead of just masking it with painkillers. Have you ever given acupuncture or chiropractic adjustments a try? If you're willing to go that route, check out the South African Society of Intergrated Medicine - you can contact them on (021) 887-5364 or lucia@integrativemedicine.co.za. It's a great resource for finding an established and skilled complementary health professional in your area.

In closing, a note about acetaminophen and alcohol. You may not realise it, but drinking just one glass of wine with dinner puts demands on your liver. Add acetaminophen to the mix and you're asking for trouble.

In its early stages, liver failure due to acetaminophen toxicity can seem like the flu. If you experience nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, abdominal tenderness in your upper right quadrant, heart palpitations or jaundice after taking any drug containing acetaminophen, seek immediate medical treatment. They could be signs of liver failure.

In the meantime, I'll keep you posted on any new acetaminophen regulation.  If the FDA decides to adopt the advisory panel's recommendations (and I hope they do), the recommended maximum dosage would come down to 2,600mg per day and 325mg per single dose.

I doubt the pharmaceutical companies will give in without a fight. It's a billion rand industry, after all.

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Kick foot pain to the curb

Q: A few days ago I had a horrible pain in my foot. I went to my doctor, who told me it was likely a case of gout. Can you tell me more about this condition and whether there are any natural remedies for it?

Dr. Wright: Gout occurs when the body can't process and eliminate excess uric acid. The result is a painful burning or stabbing sensation usually in the ball joint of the foot.

Although there are no published studies on this topic, over the years I've found the combination of low-dose lithium (10-15 milligrams twice daily) and vitamin C (2 grams twice daily) can be very effective in preventing recurrent attacks of gout.

Vitamin C significantly reduces serum uric acid levels. Lithium makes uric acid more soluble so it doesn't crystallise into painful "needles". These two actions combine to significantly reduce gout attacks.

If you have gout, I also recommend you drink 946ml of cherry juice at the first sign of an attack. Just please make sure it's real cherry juice - no sugar added. Although no one is sure why or how it works, studies have shown that cherry juice usually eliminates the pain of acute gout.