ARE WE GETTING TOO MUCH VITAMIN D?

Are Americans Really Getting Too Much Vitamin D? A Critical Look at Recent Media Warnings

July 03, 2017 • 182,542 views

Story at-a-glance

• A recent study claims many Americans are taking dangerously high doses of vitamin D, warning 4,000 IUs/day is the recommended max and that anything above this can lead to calcifications and other health problems
• Indeed, it is important to maintain not only the proper balance of vitamin D and calcium, but also magnesium and vitamin K2. Lack of balance between these nutrients is what causes symptoms of vitamin D toxicity
• The study’s authors assume the vitamin D dosage recommended by the National Academy of Medicine is scientifically substantiated. In reality, it underestimates vitamin D needs by a factor of 10, due to a mathematical error that has never been corrected

By Dr. Mercola

Over the past couple of decades, tens of thousands of studies have evaluated the benefits of vitamin D, linking low blood levels to a whole host of chronic health conditions. In fact, this site was one of the leaders helping to catalyze interest in vitamin D over 15 years ago. Today, many doctors have finally caught on and are taking vitamin D seriously; testing their patients and recommending supplementation when necessary. The progress made makes the present backlash all the more shocking and disappointing.

"Many Americans Taking Too Much Vitamin D," Reuters recently announced.1 "More people than ever are taking way too much vitamin D," Popular Science declared, adding, "You may have a deficiency, but overdosing isn't the answer."2 ABC News warned its viewers that taking more than 4,000 international units (IUs) of vitamin D is "far above safe levels," and could potentially cause heart disease.3Ditto for Consumer Affairs4 and many others.5,6

Where is this coming from? If you've followed the progression of vitamin D science, you will be aware of the fact that recommended vitamin D levels — and the dosages typically needed to achieve those levels if you're not getting regular sun exposure — have dramatically risen over the years.

Researchers have also pointed out a basic mathematical flaw that led to vitamin D recommendations being underestimated by a factor of 10. Unfortunately, the study now being promoted by the media takes none of these things into consideration, instead promulgating decades' old fallacies.

Are Americans Taking Too Much Vitamin D?

According to the featured study,7 nearly 20 percent of American adults are taking supplemental vitamin D, and many are taking "excessively high doses" — amounts linked to "an increased risk of fractures, falls, kidney stones and certain cancers" — even an increased risk of death from all causes.8

An "excessively high dose," the study warns, is anything over 4,000 IUs a day, adding that this is the maximum recommended dosage, and that anything higher than this may result in dangerous side effects. Senior author Pamela Lutsey, public health researcher at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, told Reuters:

"Vitamin D is essential for bone metabolism, as it helps the body absorb calcium and maintain appropriate concentrations of calcium and phosphate in the blood. Excessive intake of vitamin D can, however, be harmful, as it can cause over absorption of calcium. Excess blood calcium can, in turn, lead to detrimental deposition of calcium in soft tissues, such as the heart and kidneys."

Reuters does note that the study was "not a controlled experiment designed to examine the risks and benefits of varying amounts of vitamin D supplementation." Unfortunately, that important piece of information is likely to get lost in the fearmongering, no matter how flawed the conclusions.

For starters, the study's authors assume the vitamin D dosage recommended by the National Academy of Medicine (NAM; formerly the Institute of Medicine, IOM) is scientifically substantiated. As it turns out, it is not, and dedicated vitamin D researchers have for a long time urged NAM to update its recommendation, as it is based on flawed math.

Flawed Math Vastly Underestimates Vitamin D Need

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In this video, Keith Baggerly, Ph.D., explains the key problems with respect to NAM’s stance on vitamin D requirements. You can also read his report here.  NAM (formerly IOM) chose 20 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) of serum concentration of 25-hydroxy vitamin D as an adequate level for bone health, and to maintain a level of 20 ng/mL, NAM says you need to take 600 IUs a day up to age 70, and 800 IUs if you’re over 70. However, both of these measures are too low due to a mathematical error.

Using the same raw data, and correcting the math, you get an estimate of about 30 ng/mL as an adequate level for bone health, and given the logarithmic nature of the dose response curve for vitamin D, increasing the target serum level by 50 percent may require increasing the RDI in IUs by several times. 

In 2014, two investigators from the University of Edmonton published a paper9 that explicitly showed NAM had made a calculation error in defining the intake needed to reach and maintain 20 ng/mL. Had it been calculated correctly, the RDI would have been at least 10 times greater than what was publically posted.

Importantly, 30 ng/mL is merely indicated for bone health; it may not be sufficient for general health or diseases prevention. When studying a native African tribe, the physiological levels were found to be in the 40 to 60 ng/mL range, which is the range suggested by GrassrootsHealth’s panel of experts for general health.  As explained by the late Dr. Robert Heaney in a previous interview (included below for your convenience):

"The [RDI], as I think most of us know, is the intake that is reckoned to be necessary to meet the nutritional need of 97.5 percent of the population … How much is enough? The [IOM, now NAM] said 600 IUs was enough. But what's very clear is that 600 IUs would not get 97.5 percent of the population above 20 ng/mL. That's what the Edmonton investigators showed.

As a matter of fact … as many as half of the people getting 600 IUs a day wouldn't get up to 20 ng/mL … The Edmonton investigators calculated a number of 8,895 IUs per day, using the same set of studies on which the IOM had based its calculation ... When I was able to access the GrassrootsHealth (GRH) data, a completely different set from the one used by the IOM, we could directly calculate the intake needed …

That's because, in the GRH database, we know exactly how much of an increase in 25-hydroxy D the participants got on whatever dose they were taking. Our calculation showed that about 3,800 IUs per day, in addition to everything they were already getting [from sun and food], would have been necessary to get 97.5 percent of that population to 20 ng/mL.

Factoring in the basal intake in the GRH population, we showed that you need about 7,000 IUs per day in order to get 97.5 percent above 20 ng/mL. That's very close to the figure that the Edmonton investigators had used: 8,895 [IUs]."

The public health implications are tremendous. The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) has created a statistical panel to review NAM’s calculations. This panel has now completed its review, but the results have not yet been made public. It is imperative that the panel’s results be published as soon as possible, especially in light of the current misinformation being disseminated, suggesting Americans may be taking dangerously high levels of vitamin D, when in fact most are not getting nearly enough.

NAM Needs to Own Up to Its Mistake and End Catastrophic Misinformation Campaign

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Heaney would know what he was talking about, seeing how he was one of the leading, most well-recognized vitamin D researchers in the world. Up until his death he was also the research director of GrassrootsHealth, which is compiling data from a number of population-based studies like the D*Action project.

Trained as a clinical endocrinologist, Heaney spent a large part of the last 50 years of his life doing clinical research, most of it in the field of vitamin D, working on quantifying the vitamin D economy. This includes defining:

• How much vitamin D is necessary to reach a certain effect
• How large of an effect you might get at a particular dosage
• How much vitamin D you make in your skin in response to sunlight
• How long it lasts

Heaney and colleagues challenged NAM's vitamin D recommendation,10 warning the RDI underestimates need by a factor of 10. Most vitamin D experts also agree that a serum level of 20 ng/mL is too low for optimal health, which means the requirement for most people is even higher than that.

Moreover, any public guidance on vitamin D really should be based on your blood level, not a daily dosage, because the dosage response from one person to the next can vary significantly. As noted in a 2015 study evaluating the response to vitamin D supplementation:11

"In response to a given dose of vitamin D, the effect on 25(OH)D concentration differs between individuals … For this review, a comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify those factors and to explore their significance in relation to circulating 25(OH)D response to vitamin D supplementation …

Response to vitamin D supplementation can be explained by several environmental and demographic factors. Recently, Zittermann et al. (2014) published a systematic review concerning the importance of body weight for the dose-response relationship with circulating 25(OH)D.

The authors demonstrated that 34.5 percent of variation in circulating 25(OH)D was explained by body weight, followed by type of supplement (D2 or D3) (9.8 percent), age (3.7 percent), calcium intake (2.4 percent) and basal 25(OH)D concentrations (1.9 percent), leaving approximately 50 percent of the variations to unknown factors."

One such unknown factor could be related to differences in single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPS), a common genetic variation. At any rate, the only way to ensure you're taking a dose that is appropriate for you is to test your blood level, which should be between 40 and 60 ng/mL year-round.

Research suggests potential toxicity does not occur until you reach a level of about 200 ng/mL, and no evidence of toxicity has been found in trials using dosages of 10,000 IUs a day12,13 — a far cry from the recommended maximum of 4,000 IUs a day.

What Is an Ideal Vitamin D Level?

Based on the accumulated data collected and research done by GrassrootsHealth, a vitamin D level of 40 ng/mL is a more appropriate minimum level. To prevent chronic disease and optimize health, a level between 40 and 60 ng/mL appears to be ideal. According to Heaney, evidence shows that 20 ng/mL is not even adequate for the prevention of osteomalacia.

"The point is the [IOM, now NAM] is dead wrong; not because it chose the wrong number, but because it made a mathematical mistake. They miscalculated, which is really kind of embarrassing if you think about it. Somebody didn't check the work," Heaney says.

"Now, having made that mistake, bureaucrats being bureaucrats, they're unlikely to want to change. They're not going to say, 'Oops, we made a mistake. Here is the right answer.' They seem to say, 'We are not wrong, [and] if no federal agency asks to have it reviewed, it could be 10 years from now before anybody ever looks at it again.'"

Lutsey's study is a perfect example of why NAM needs to rectify its mistake. We cannot move forward when researchers are making assumptions based on flawed recommendations. That Lutsey was unaware of this mathematical error just goes to show that scientists cannot keep up with all the relevant papers being published relating to vitamin D. Lutsey also ignores the many studies showing higher vitamin D levels in fact correlate with improved health outcomes and a lower risk of all-cause mortality, not higher risks.

The Interplay of Vitamin D, Calcium, Magnesium and Vitamin K2

Lutsey points out that excessive vitamin D may cause over absorption of calcium, which in turn may result in calcium deposits in your heart and kidneys. Indeed, it is important to maintain not only the proper balance of vitamin D and calcium, but also magnesium and vitamin K2. Lack of balance between these four nutrients is why calcium supplements have become associated with increased risk of heart attack and stroke, and why some experience symptoms of "vitamin D toxicity."

I use quotation marks here, because the problem is not so much excess vitamin D as it is a lack of vitamin K2. Part of the explanation for these adverse side effects is that vitamin K2 keeps calcium in its appropriate place. If you're K2 deficient, added calcium can cause more problems than it solves, by accumulating in the wrong places. Similarly, taking megadoses of vitamin D supplements without sufficient amounts of K2 can lead to inappropriate calcification, which is what Lutsey is alluding to.

While the optimal ratios between vitamin D and vitamin K2 have yet to be established, Dr. Kate Rheaume-Bleue (whom I've interviewed on this topic) suggests that for every 1,000 IUs of vitamin D you take, you may benefit from about 100 micrograms of K2, and perhaps as much as 150 to 200 micrograms (mcg).

Maintaining an appropriate calcium-to-magnesium ratio is also important, as magnesium helps keep calcium in your cells so they can function better. Historically, mankind ate a diet with a calcium-magnesium ratio of 1-to-1,14 but Americans tend to have a higher calcium-to-magnesium ratio in their diet, averaging about 3.5-to-1.

Magnesium and vitamin K2 also complement each other, as magnesium helps lower blood pressure, which is an important component of heart disease. So, all in all, anytime you're taking any of the following: magnesium, calcium, vitamin D3 or vitamin D2, you need to take all the others into consideration as well, since these all work synergistically with each other.

Discouraging Vitamin D Supplementation Is Inadvisable

So, to recap:

The best way to optimize your vitamin D levels is to expose enough of your skin for long enough periods to increase your vitamin D levels so they are between 40 and 60 ng/mL. If you cannot get adequate sun exposure, then it would be wise to use oral vitamin D3 in the dosage recommended below	Current RDI for oral vitamin D underestimates need by a factor of 10 due to a simple mathematical error. Correcting this error would result in an RDI of 6,000 IUs, and 8,000 IUs if you're over 70
Ideal dosage can only be determined through blood testing, as dosage response to supplemental vitamin D varies widely from one person to the next	You need a blood level of at least 40 ng/mL to significantly impact your risk of chronic disease, including heart disease, cancer and all-cause mortality
No toxicity has been found in trials using 10,000 IUs per day of vitamin D, and toxicity does not become a concern until you reach a level of about 200 ng/mL	The risk of calcification is ameliorated by taking vitamin D supplements with vitamin K2 and balancing your calcium and magnesium ratios

Considering this, the notion that many Americans are endangering their health by taking in excess of 4,000 IUs of vitamin D per day is unreasonable at best. Research shows higher vitamin D levels can help prevent and/or treat:

Dry eye syndromes15,16 and macular degeneration17,18

Autoimmune diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases, including multiple sclerosis19,20

Gastrointestinal diseases and related cancers21

Infectious diseases, including influenza and HIV22,23

Inflammatory rheumatic diseases24

Neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease25,26 and epilepsy In one study,27 epileptics given a one-time megadose of vitamin D3, ranging from 40,000 IUs all the way up to 200,000 IUs, followed by a daily dose of 2,000 to 2,600 IUs a day for three months, to bring each individual's vitamin D status to at least 30 ng/ml, resulted in significant improvements. Ten out of 13 had a decrease in the number of seizures, five of which experienced more than a 50 percent reduction. Overall, the group had a 40 percent reduction in the number of seizures

Lupus According to researchers in Cairo,28 most patients with systemic lupus erythematosus have some level of vitamin D deficiency, defined as a level of 10 ng/mL or less, or insufficiency, a level between 10 and 30 ng/mL

Depression A vitamin D level below 20 ng/mL may raise your risk for depression by as much as 85 percent, compared to having a vitamin D level greater than 30 ng/mL

Pregnancy complications Optimizing your vitamin D during pregnancy is crucial not only for your own health, but also for the short- and long-term health of your child.29 Studies30 reveal you need a vitamin D level above 40 ng/mL to protect your baby from serious complications such as premature delivery and preeclampsia, and studies have confirmed there's a lifelong impact of vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy — ranging from childhood asthma,31,32 colds and flu, dental cavities, diabetes and even strokes and cardiovascular disease33,34 in later life

Cancer Studies indicate a dosage range of 1,100 to 4,000 IUs a day and a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration of 60 to 80 ng/mL may be needed to reduce cancer risk. One 2011 study35 led by vitamin D experts Drs. Cedric Garland and Heaney found the supplemental dose ensuring 97.5 percent of the study population achieved a vitamin D blood level of at least 40 ng/mL was 9,600 IU/day. It also concluded that intake of up to 40,000 IUs per day is unlikely to result in vitamin D toxicity. Vitamin D also helps improve health outcomes for cancer patients. A 2009 study36 showed cancer-free survival during four years of follow-up was 77 percent higher among patients receiving calcium and vitamin D supplements compared to those receiving a placebo. Here, the minimum year-round blood level of vitamin D required to prevent breast and colorectal cancers was 40 to 60 ng/mL. According to the authors, "The time has arrived for nationally coordinated action to substantially increase intake of vitamin D and calcium." Breast37 and prostate38,39 cancers are just two examples where low vitamin D also renders you more vulnerable to more aggressive forms of the disease. Recent research40 has also found that low vitamin D levels are associated with more severe peripheral neuropathy in cancer patients

Falls, fractures, dental health and more A 2006 review41 looking at vitamin D intakes and health outcomes such as bone mineral density, dental health, risk of falls, fractures and colorectal cancer, found "the most advantageous serum concentrations of 25(OH)D begin at 30 ng/mL, and the best are between 36 to 40 ng/mL"

Obesity Research42 has shown vitamin D supplementation (4,000 IUs/day) combined with resistance training helps decrease your waist-to-hip ratio — a measurement that is far better at determining your risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease than BMI

Diabetes Abdominal obesity in combination with a low vitamin D level has also been shown to "synergistically influence" your risk of insulin resistance.43 According to this study, 47 percent of the increased odds of insulin resistance can be explained by the interaction between insufficient vitamin D levels and a high BMI

All-cause mortality A meta-analysis44 of 42 randomized controlled trials found supplemental vitamin D significantly reduced mortality from all causes when taken for a minimum of three years

Vitamin D and Omega-3 — Two Crucial 

Nutrients for Optimal Health

Considering there are well over 30,000 studies on vitamin D, and vitamin D receptors have been found in virtually all bodily tissues, from your brain to your bones, the above list is far from complete. The main point is that your risk of experiencing adverse effects from vitamin D supplementation are slim, and the notion that people are endangering their health by taking 4,000 IUs or more of vitamin D3 per day is not supported by a majority of the evidence.

On the contrary, vitamin D experts are becoming increasingly convinced that an ideal vitamin D blood level is somewhere between 40 and 60 ng/mL, and the most appropriate dosage is whatever dosage will put you within that range. For some, that may be 2,000 IUs a day; for others it may be 10,000 IUs.

I don't know ANY single physical factor that could improve your health more than understanding and finally applying what we now know about vitamin D. Getting your blood levels tested and making sure your vitamin D levels are in the optimal range is especially important, no matter what your age is, or where you live.

GrassrootsHealth has now released a consumer-sponsored research kit that includes both vitamin D and omega-3. This kit is part of the D*Action + Omega-3 Project, and you can get it either from my online store or directly from GrassrootsHealth. To learn more about this project, see their FAQ page.

Vitamin D and omega-3 are two of the most important nutrients your body needs to maintain optimal health, and the only way to evaluate your status is to test them. GrassrootsHealth D*Action + Omega-3 Project is the largest project in the world that allows scientific researchers to study the links between these nutrients, and participating in the project is an inexpensive way to take control of your health and help advance science at the same time.

……….

THE THREE AGES OF THE EARTH

THE  EARTH  BEFORE  AND  AFTER  THE  WATERS  COVERED  IT....

GENESIS  1: 1 and  2

BY  KEITH  HUNT

I  HAVE  SHOWN  AND  PROVED  ELSEWHERE  ON  THIS  WEBSITE,  THAT  THE  EARTH  WAS  NOT  CREATED  IN  A  CHAOS,  COMPLETE  DISORDER  AND  CONFUSION.  IT  WAS  CREATED  TO  BE  INHABITED!

[Job 38:1-7;  Isaiah 45:18 “vain” same Hebrew as in Genesis 1:2 “without form and void]

YES,  THERE  WAS  A  WORLD  THAT  IN  MANY  WAYS  WAS  DIFFERENT  THAN  THE  EARTH  MADE  FOR  MANKIND.

IT  WAS  A  WORLD  OF  MYRIADS  OF  CREATURES,  SOME  SMALL  AND  SOME  VERY  LARGE;  A  WORLD  OF  LAND,  SEA,  AND  AIR  CREATURES.

IT  WAS  THE  WORLD  OF  THE  DINOSAUR   AGE!

IT  WAS  THE  WORLD  WHERE  THE  GREAT  BEAUTIFUL  CHERUB  WAS  PUT  IN  CHARGE,  THAT  CAME  FROM  THE  VERY  THRONE  OF  GOD.

[Isaiah 14: 12-14; Ezekiel 28: 11-17, king of Tyrus as type of covering cherub]

DID  THAT  WORLD  HAVE  A  NORTH  AND  SOUTH  POLE,  AS  WE  HAVE  TODAY?  WE  ARE  NOT  TOLD,  MAYBE  SO  AND  MAYBE  NOT  SO.  THAT  WORLD  COULD  HAVE  BEEN  VERY  BALMY  WEATHER  WISE,  ALL  OVER  THE  EARTH,  BUT  ALSO  MAYBE  NOT.

IT  MAY  HAVE  BEEN  A  WORLD  OF  CREATURES  THAT  DID  NOT  EAT  OTHER  CREATURES  AT  FIRST;  THEN  THE  GREAT  ANOINTED  CHERUB  THAT  COVERED,  WANTED  TO  BE  GOD....WAR,  SPACE  WAR  WAS  CALLED  FOR.  THE  BEAUTY OF  THE COVERING  CHERUB  AND  HIS  1/3  OF  THE  ANGELS  THAT  HE  GOT  TO  FOLLOW  HIM;  BECAME  THE  DEVIL  AND  DEMONS.  THERE  WAS  A  MIGHTY  HEAVENLY  WAR,  BETWEEN  THE  EVIL  AND  GOOD.

[Rev. 12: is part of the story of Satan the Devil; he tried to kill the Christ child…. Jesus said He beheld Satan fall from heaven -   Luke 10:18. Satan fell from heaven after he rose up from the first age of earth; he with 1/3 of the angels rebelled and tried to conquer heaven - Rev. 12. Stars are sometimes used for angels - Rev. 1:20]

SATAN  LOST  THAT  WAR  AND  WAS  THROWN  BACK  TO  EARTH;  [Jesus saw Satan fall from heaven - Luke 10:18] THERE  TO  STAY  UNTIL  FINAL  SENTENCING, THOUGH  AT  TIMES  HE  IS  ALLOWED  BACK  IN HEAVEN  AS  HE  WAS  IN  THE  TIME  OF  JOB (see  first  chapters  of  JOB).

IT  COULD  BE  THAT  AFTER  THAT  WAR  IN  HEAVEN  WHEN  SIN  ENTERED  THE  UNIVERSE,  SOME  OF  THE  ANIMALS  ON  EARTH  BECAME  MEAT  EATERS [GOD  CHANGING  THE  DNA].

THE WAR  BETWEEN  SATAN  AND  HIS  ANGELS  WHO  BECAME  DEMONS  AND  GOD’S  RIGHTEOUS  ANGELS,  BROUGH  DEVASTATION  ON  THIS  EARTH  THAT  IS  HARDLY  COMPREHENDED  BY  THE  HUMAN  MIND.  THE  FORCES  AND  TIDAL  WAVES  WOULD  HAVE  BEEN  LIKE  A  SCIENCE  FICTION  MOVIE.

THIS  WAS  THE  TIME, AND  AFTER,  THAT  THE   COAL  AND  OIL  BEDS,  THE  NATURAL  GASS,  THE  GOLD  AND  DIAMONDS  IN  THE  EARTH  WERE  ALL  LAYED  AND  FORMED.  THE  TIME  WHEN  ALL  CREATURES  OF  THAT  AGE  WERE  KILLED  AND  BURIED,  SOME  WITH  FOOD  STILL  IN  THEIR  MOUTH.  THERE  WOULD  HAVE  BEEN  THE  MOVEMENT  OF  ALL  CREATURES,  INCLUDING  SEA  CREATURES  TO  ALL  PARTS  OF  THE  EARTH;  SOME  BURIED  DEEP,  SOME  NOT  SO  DEEP;  SEA  CREATURES  WITH  LAND  CREATURES.

THE  WATERS  COVERED  THE  EARTH  FOR  A  LENGTH  OF  TIME  WE  ARE  NOT  TOLD,  COULD  HAVE  BEEN  DECADES,  COULD  HAVE  BEEN  CENTURIES,  COULD  HAVE  BEEN  THOUSANDS  OF  YEARS.

WHATEVER  THE  TIME…… THE  LORD’S  SPIRIT  MOVED  ON  THE  WATERS.

THEN  GOD  SPOKE!

THEN  GOD  BROUGHT  ABOUT  WHAT  WE  READ  IN  GENESIS  1  AND  2.  THE  EARTH  AND  WATERS  DIVIDE  AND  THE  7  CREATION  DAYS  WERE  STARTED.

GOD  BROUGHT  FORTH  THE  LAND  FROM  THE  SEAS.  GOD  BROUGHT  FORTH  THE  GREAT  MOUNTAIN  CHAINS  AROUND  THE  EARTH.  I  BELIEVE  THE  NORTH  POLE  WAS  THEN  CREATED  ALONG  WITH  THE  ANIMALS  THAT  LIVE  IN  THE  NORTH  POLE.  THE  SOUTH  POLE  I  BELIEVE  THEY  SAY  DOES  HAVE  LAND  UNDER  IT.  THE  SOUTH  POLE  COULD  HAVE  BEEN  LAND,  THEN  SOMETIME  AFTER  BECAME  WHAT  IT  IS  TODAY.  I  BELIEVE  PLACES  LIKE  AUSTRALIA  AND  NEW  ZEALAND  WERE  CREATED  WITH  THE  ANIMAL  CREATURES  PECULIAR  TO  THOSE  LANDS.  I  BELIEVE  SOME  DESERTS  WERE  CREATED  ALONG  WITH  THE  CAMEL  TO  TRANSVERSE  THOSE  DESERTS,  AND  OTHER  CREATURES  THAT  LIVE  IN  THE  DESERT. OR  GOD  FOREKNEW  THAT DESERTS WOULD COME AND SO THE CAMEL WAS CREATED.

I  BELIEVE  THERE  NEVER  WAS  AN  ICE  AGE  OVER  NORTH  AMERICA;  I  BELIEVE  IT  WAS  ENOUGH  FOR  THE  LAND  OF  CANADA  AND  SOME  OF  THE  NORTHERN LAND  OF  THE  USA,  TO  BE  A  COLD  FROZEN  LAND  FOR  6  OR  MORE  MONTHS  OF  THE  YEAR,  AS  CANADA  WAS  ONCE  FAMOUS  FOR  NOT  LONG  AGO.  WHEN  I  CAME  TO  CANADA  IN  1961  IT  WAS  STILL  FAMOUS  FOR  ITS  LONG  COLD  WINTERS, AND THROUGH  THE 1960s  WE  SURE  HAD  THEM, LIVING  AS  I  WAS  IN  SASKATOON,  SASKATCHEWAN. I CAN REMEMBER WINTERS OF -30 F FOR 5 WEEKS STRAIGHT, TODAY UNHEARD OF EXCEPT UP IN THE ARCTIC, AND EVEN THEN THE ICE AND SNOW IS MELTING THERE, WITH WINTERS SHORTER AND MILDER.

THE  SEA  CREATURES  FOUND  SAY  IN  NORTH  AMERICA,  WERE  FROM  THE  FIRST  AGE,  AND  WERE  DEPOSITED  IN  THAT  ONE  AND  ONLY  DESTRUCTION  TIME  WHEN  THE  EARTH  WAS  COVERED  WITH  WATER.

THE  STRATA  OF  LANDS  WAS  FORMED  IN  THAT  SAME  AGE  AS  THE  WATERS  WERE  COVERING  THE  LAND  OF  THE  EATH. THINK OF EARTHQUAKES, TSUNAMIS, ALL OVER THE EARTH…..DESTRUCTION SO GREAT THE MIND CANNOT REALLY FATHOM.    

THE SPIRIT OF GOD MOVED UPON THE WATERS;  WHEN  GOD  BROUGHT  UP  THE  LAND  FROM  THE  SEA,  SOME  OF  THE  STRATA  WAS  LIFTED  AND  TURNED  UP-SIDE-DOWN. THE STRATA IS CLEARLY VISIBLE IN THE GRAND CANYON AND THE CANADIAN ROCKIES.

SOME  OF  THE  LAND  CONTAINED  THE  DINOSAUR  CREATURES  NEAR  THE  TOP  AS  LIKE  AT  DRUMHELLER    IN  ALBERTA,  CANADA.  DELIBERATELY  DONE  SO  MANKIND  WOULD  EVENTUALLY  FIND  THEM,  AND  KNOWING  WHAT  IS  WRITTEN  IN  THE  BIBLE,  WE  WOULD  KNOW  THERE  WAS  AN  AGE  BEFORE  MANKIND,  A  DINOSAUR  AGE,  AN  AGE  THAT  THE  COVERING  CHERUB [LATER  BECAME  SATAN  THE  DEVIL  WHEN  HE  AND  A  THIRD  OF  THE  ANGELS  REBELLED]  RULED  AND  WAS  GIVEN  CHARGE  OVER.  

AT  THE  REBELLING  OF  SATAN,  THAT  COULD  HAVE  BEEN  THE  TIME  WHEN  THERE  WAS  A  CHANGE  IN  SOME  ANIMALS  TO  FLESH  EATING.  A  CHANGE  IN  THE  DNA  TO  PRODUCE  FLESH  EATING  CREATURES.  WE  STILL  HAVE  THAT  CHANGE,  BUT  WE  ARE  PROMISED  IT  WILL  DISAPPEAR  IN  THE  NEW  AGE  TO  COME,  WHEN  THE  LION  WILL  EAT  STRAW  LIKE  THE  OX  ETC.  THAT  MANY  PASSAGES  OF  BIBLE  PROPHECY  PREDICT.  A  DNA  CHANGE,  THEN  THE  RESTITUTION  OF  ALL  THINGS  WILL  TAKE  PLACE.  THINGS  WILL  THEN  BE  AS  IT  WAS  FROM  THE  VERY  BEGINNING  BEFORE  THE  COVERING  CHERUB  SINNED  AND  BECAME  THE  DEVIL.

THERE WAS AT THE BEGINNING AND FOR WHATEVER LENGTH OF TIME DURING, BEFORE THE COVERING ANGEL SINNED; A WORLD OF SUCH BEAUTY AND PEACE IN ALL CREATURES, THAT THE GREATEST FAIRY-TALE COULD ONLY BRING TO THE HUMAN MIND.

THE  CREATION  OF  MANKIND  COULD  HAVE  BEEN  20, 30, 40  THOUSAND  YEARS  AGO. THE BIBLE DOES NOT SAY, NOR CAN IT BE USED TO PROVE MANKIND WAS CREATED ABOUT 6 THOUSAND YEARS AGO.

BEFORE THE DISPERSING OF THE PEOPLE TO FAR AWAY LANDS, THERE WAS A TIME OF GROWTH IN LIVING AND TECHNOLOGY THAT THE ATHEISTS WILL NOT ADMIT TO. MANY THINGS HAVE BEEN  DISCOVERED THAT EVOLUTION WILL NOT RECOGNIZE, SO THEY HAVE BEEN HIDDEN FROM HUMAN SIGHT AND NOT EVEN MENTIONED IN MODERN SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES.  SEE  THE  BOOKS  ON  MY  WEBSITE  UNDER  "HISTORY" - SCROLL DOWN TO THE BOTTOM. TWO BOOKS YOU WILL FIND THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND.

AT  THE  DISPERSING  OF  THE  PEOPLE  BY  GOD  AND  ALL  THE  NEW  LANGUAGES  THAT  THEN  CAME  INTO  BEING [Genesis 11: 1-9],  THE  SO-CALLED  “INDIAN”  PEOPLES  MADE  THEIR  WAY  TO  NORTH  AND  SOUTH  AMERICA  OVER  CENTURIES  OF  TIME.  IT  WOULD  NOT  HAVE  BEEN  HARD  TO  CROSS  THE  NARROW  STRETCH  OF  WATER  FROM  RUSSIA  TO  ALASKA,  DOWN  INTO  CANADA  AND  THE  USA  AND  FURTHER  SOUTH.  SOME  MAY  HAVE  COME  VIA  BRITAIN,  ICELAND,  AND  GREENLAND,  THEN  ACROSS  TO  NORTH  AMERICA.  SOME  OF  THESE  PEOPLES  DECIDED  TO  STAY  AND  LIVE  IN  THE  ARCTIC  LANDS  AND  BECAME  WHAT  WAS  CALLED  AT  ONE  TIME  “ESKIMOS” -  SOME  ARE  STILL  THERE  BUT  UNDER  MODERN  LIVING  OF  HOUSES  ETC.   THE POLAR BEAR WAS CREATED FOR THE NORTH POLE TOGETHER WITH OTHER ANIMALS OF THAT REGION WHO DO NOT MIGRATE. THERE IS NO WORD AMONG THESE PEOPLE THAT THEIR ANCESTORS  BROUGHT WITH THEM THE ANIMALS WE SEE AS THE WHITE MAN SAW, WHEN THEY CAME TO NORTH AMERICA.  THE BUFFALO,  DEER,  MOOSE,  BEARS,  SNAKES,  WILD CATS, COYOTES, THE LITTLE GOFFER  AND ETC. WERE CREATED FOR NORTH AMERICA. HORSES WERE NOT IN NORTH OR SOUTH AMERICA….IT WAS THE SPANISH THAT BROUGHT THEM, AS THE WHITE MAN BROUGHT CATTLE AND SHEEP, GOATS, AND OTHER COMMON FARM ANIMALS OVER RECENT CENTURIES.

WITH  THE  CREATION  OF  MANKIND,  THERE  WERE  “DINOSAUR”  CREATURES  OF  ONE  TYPE  OR  ANOTHER  ALSO  CREATED;  THE  FOOT  PRINTS  OF  MAN  AND  THAT  CREATURE  HAVE  BEEN  FOUND  TOGETHER.  LIKE  AS  IS  HAPPENING  TODAY,  THOSE  CREATURES  IN  TIME  BECAME  EXTINCT.  THE  TWO  CREATURES  MENTIONED  IN  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB,  ARE  NOT  LIKE  ANY  WE  HAVE  TODAY….. THEY  BECAME  EXTINCT.

THE  BUFFALO  AND  OTHER  CREATURES  OF  NORTH  AMERICA  I  BELIEVE  WERE  CREATED,  WHEN  THE  LANDS  OF  THE  EARTH  WERE  BROUGHT  UP  FROM  THE  WATERS  OF  GENESIS  ONE,  AS  LIKE  THE  NATIVE  ANIMALS  OF  AUSTRALIA  WERE  CREATED  FOR  THAT  LAND  BROUGHT  UP  OUT  OF  THE  WATERS., I.E. KANGAROO,  PLATYPUS.  CERTAIN ANIMALS WERE CREATED FOR CERTAIN PARTS OF THE EARTH.   

AT  THE  PRESENT  THIS  IS  WHAT  I  BELIEVE  AS  TO  THE  THREE  AGES  FOR  THIS  EARTH;  THE  FIRST  AGE  -  THE  DINOSAUR  AGE;  THE  SECOND  AGE  -  MANKIND  AGE  TO  THE  COMING  OF  CHRIST  IN  GLORY;  THE  THIRD  AGE  -  THE  AGE  YET  TO  COME,  THE  1,000  YEAR  AGE,  AND  THE  RESTITUTION  OF  ALL  THINGS.

………………..

PHARMA -DRUG OPIOID CRISIS!! IT'S A PAIN [pun intended]

By Dr. Mercola

The HBO documentary “Warning: This Drug May Kill You,” details the devastating effect America’s pharma-driven opioid crisis is having on families and the victims themselves. The film, made by Perri Peltz and Sascha Weiss, features the perspectives of four families whose lives have been ripped apart as a result of opioid and heroin addiction.

Opioid and heroin addiction — which public health officials have described1 as being the worst drug crisis in American history — affects about 2.5 million Americans, nearly half a million of whom are addicted to heroin,2 a dangerous street drug that prescription pill addicts can quickly turn to because the cost is significantly less than that of prescription painkillers.

The term “opioid” is used to describe a class of drugs that includes the illegal drug heroin, as well as the legal prescription painkillers oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, morphine, fentanyl and others. Ironically, the silent but deadly opioid epidemic often starts with some of society’s most trusted professionals: doctors.

As noted in the film, a significant number of opioid addictions begin with a trip to the doctor’s office or a hospital as a result of an injury or medical problem for which addictive painkillers are carelessly prescribed. It seems no medical problem is too minor for powerful prescription painkillers to be prescribed.

This is depicted in the film, which details the story of a young woman from Beach Park, Illinois, who became addicted to OxyContin after being prescribed the medication for kidney stones. Not only are opioid pain medications (also called narcotic prescription painkillers) wildly overprescribed, but they are also often given without warning of the potential risks for addiction and/or resources to help deal with the possible risk of addiction.

Nearly 260 Million Opioid Prescriptions Are Written in the US Each Year

The number of opioid prescriptions has increased substantially over the last few decades. “In 2012, 259 million prescriptions were written for opioids, which is more than enough to give every American adult their own bottle of pills,” according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine.3

The result? Drug overdose is now our nation’s leading cause of accidental death. In 2015, accidental drug overdoses accounted for 52,404 deaths, with 20,101 of those deaths related to prescription pain relievers, and 12,990 linked to heroin. However, 80 percent of heroin users start out on prescription opioids.4

Despite the fact that Americans are dying at unprecedented rates due to Big Pharma’s prescription painkillers, the pharmaceutical industry is rarely named by the establishment media for its deadly role in the growing opioid epidemic.

Kidney Stone Pain Morphs Into Deadly Opioid Addiction for Unsuspecting Teen

Stephany Gay should have been getting her license and learning how to drive when she first became addicted to prescription painkillers. It all began when, at the tender age of 16, she started suffering from kidney stones and was prescribed OxyContin and Vicodin. It didn’t take long before Stephany, who had never done illegal drugs, developed a full-blown dependency on opioids.

The teen confided in her mom after realizing she had developed an addiction. Her mother urged her to see a doctor, but when she did she came home with another prescription: This time it was for Percocet. Stephany also got her younger sister, Ashley, addicted to opioids after offering her the medication for headaches and a better night’s sleep. Stephany’s doctor eventually stopped prescribing her opioids, causing the sisters to turn to heroin to get their fix. Stephany says:

“It made me feel like I could do anything. I felt like superwoman. I didn’t have anxiety. I didn’t feel depressed. I felt happy. I felt warm. I felt like it loved me and I loved it back. I felt like I had a relationship with heroin.”

The sisters snorted heroin for a year before experimenting with a needle. Soon after Stephany started injecting, she lost the three-bedroom home she owned and custody of her young daughter. Ashley, who once told her mother she was “too pretty to die,” overdosed on heroin and died alone in a hotel room.

Eighty Percent of Heroin Users Start With Prescription Opioids

Part two of the documentary, “Addicted to Pills,” details the heartbreaking story of a wife and mother of five children who became addicted to opioids after being prescribed the medication for a Cesarean section. Wynne Doyle, from Mill Valley, California, stopped getting out of bed just one and a half months after giving birth to her third child.

She became addicted fast, says Britt Doyle Sr., who later divorced his wife following years of addiction. Like many opioid addicts, Wynne went in and out of rehab multiple times, only to relapse again. The second rehab she entered was three times as costly as the first, says Britt Sr. But 28 days later his wife returned home with a “whole bunch of pills,” and her addiction started all over again, he says.

Wynne’s addiction grew so intense that she would purposely injure herself in order to get more pills. “I watched her slam her hand in the car door one time, just so she could go to the emergency room,” said Britt Sr., adding that the doctors would always give his wife more pain medication. At one point, Wynne had shattered both of her wrists, but as soon as they healed she would hurt herself again just to get more pills. My wife became a “totally different person,” says Britt Sr. “It was like Jekyll and Hyde.”

Seven years into her addiction and on his wife’s 11th stint in rehab, Britt Sr. had finally had enough. He moved the children out of the house and filed for divorce. Sometime later, Wynne, suffering from kidney stones, was prescribed more painkillers. She had eight bottles filled to the top sitting on her nightstand when her children found their mother lifeless in her bed.

“When I saw the pills on her bedside table when she had passed, that was probably the most anger I could feel, ever, because she’s been to that hospital easily like 50 times,” said Britt Doyle Jr., Wynne’s daughter. “They’ve seen her there unconscious and had to like [sic] pump her stomach so many times. And yet she comes in there and they leave her with more?” she asks angrily.

Adolescents Are 33 Percent More Likely to Misuse Opioids as Young Adults

Part three of the documentary tells the story of Brendan Cole from Allendale, New Jersey. The teen was prescribed opioid painkillers after having a cyst surgically removed. Four years later he died of a heroin overdose. Before his death, Cole overdosed on heroin but was revived with Narcan after his dad woke in the middle of the night to find his son lying in an unnatural position on his bed.

His lips were turning blue and “we heard the air come out of his lungs when we moved him,” said his parents tearfully. Narcan, or naloxone, is an overdose-reversal drug. It’s made by Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, which began what appears to be a clear case of price gouging, raising the cost of Narcan by as much as 100 percent.

Cole recovered from the overdose, but the hospital failed to warn his family that patients revived with Narcan may experience intense cravings and withdrawal symptoms. As a result, no plan was put in place to help Cole overcome the cravings that would soon follow. The very next day, Cole overdosed again, and this time he could not be revived.

5In people with little drug experience, scientists theorize that “the initial experience of pain relief is pleasurable, and a safe initial experience with opioids may reduce perceived risk.”

Synthetic Opioids Sold Via ‘Dark Web’ Implicated in Growing Number of Overdose Deaths

In addition to prescription opioids, another threat looms: synthetic (and illegal) opioids sold through the dark web — the secret underbelly of the internet, initially created by American intelligence agencies for encrypted communication purposes. A recent piece by The New York Times6 sheds light on an emerging illicit drug trade involving dangerous synthetic opioids that are being shipped into the U.S. via small packages in the mail.

The report reveals “that most of the illicit supply of synthetic opioids is produced in labs in Asia and especially China, where many of the precursor chemicals are either legal or easier to procure.” The synthetic opioids are said to be so potent that they “have become the fastest-growing cause of the overdose epidemic, overtaking heroin in some areas,” reports the Times.

Synthetic opioids being shipped overseas include fentanyl, the infamous drug responsible for pop icon Prince’s death. Fentanyl is so potent that two milligrams is enough to kill and, unlike prescription pills, “enough fentanyl to get nearly 50,000 people high can fit in a standard first-class envelope,” the report warns.

Synthetic opioids obtained through the internet are responsible for the deaths of two teenagers from Park City, Utah. Grant Seaver and Ryan Ainsworth, both 13 years old, died after taking a synthetic opioid known as U-47700, or Pinky. The boys reportedly obtained the drug from another teen who purchased them on the dark web using bitcoin. While synthetic opioids account for a small portion of overall trafficked drugs, law enforcement says “that dark web markets have quickly assumed a more prominent and frightening role.”

Opioids Actually Alter Your Brain Structure

Studies also suggest that drugs for physical and emotional pain may change your brain. In a study by researchers at the University of Alabama, people with chronic low back pain received either morphine or a placebo daily for one month. Both groups experienced similar reductions in pain, but there was a major difference among those taking morphine — changes in the brain.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans showed the patients taking morphine had a 3 percent reduction in gray matter volume over the course of the study. The reductions occurred in regions of the brain that regulate emotions, cravings and pain response.7

Further, the morphine group had increases in gray matter volume in areas related to learning, memory and executive function. Lead study author Joanne Lin told Reuters,8 "Because we are seeing that opioids rapidly change the brain, our take-home message is that opioids should be reserved for cases when most other treatment options have failed."

Millions of Taxpayer Dollars Used for Opioid Prescriptions

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is a branch of the Department of Health and Human Services. CMS runs the Medicare program and monitors Medicaid programs run by the states. According to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), spending on opioids in the Medicare system, which is funded by U.S. tax dollars through Medicare trust funds, grew at a faster rate than spending for all drugs.

Data from the OIG shows that between 2006 and 2014, the number of Medicare recipients on opioids grew by 92 percent, compared to 68 percent for all drugs. Medicare recipients are also receiving multiple prescriptions for opioids for reasons other than cancer pain or terminal illness, the traditional uses for these strong medications.

Medicaid programs, supported by taxpayers but administered by states, also reveal excessive opioid use and probable fraud.9 In 2010, 359,368 Medicaid enrollees received an opioid prescription amounting to over 2 million prescriptions, and again suggesting many prescriptions per patient.10

While Medicaid programs likely provide generic combinations of the active ingredient in OxyContin, hydrocodone, to patients, which costs about $28 for a 120-day supply (compared with $632 for the brand name OxyContin),11 taxpayers are still paying at least $56 million for Medicaid opioid prescriptions. The cost of the opioid prescriptions does not take into consideration state-run drug treatment programs and services that are required if and when enrollees become addicted.

OxyContin Manufacturer Pays One of the Largest Pharma Settlements in US History

In December 2015, Purdue Pharmaceuticals, the maker of OxyContin, settled an ongoing lawsuit brought by the state of Kentucky for $24 million over presenting OxyContin as "nonaddictive."12 Purdue contended that the pill slowly releases the drug over 12 hours when swallowed, omitting the fact that, when crushed, OxyContin lost its time release protections and created an instant high.

"State officials said that led to a wave of addiction and increased medical costs across the state, particularly in eastern Kentucky where many injured coal miners were prescribed the drug," reported The Associated Press.

The 2015 settlement is similar to one Purdue agreed to in 2007 with the state of West Virginia, when it agreed to pay out $634 million because "fraudulent conduct caused a greater amount of OxyContin to be available for illegal use than otherwise would have been available."13 Despite the lawsuits, OxyContin remains on the market.

FDA Orders Drugmaker to Stop Selling Opioid Painkiller

Opioid manufacturer Endo Pharmaceuticals hasn’t been so lucky, however. In an unprecedented move by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), health officials have ordered Endo to remove the opioid painkiller Opana ER from the market due to the conclusion that “the drug’s risks outweigh its benefits,” reported CBS News.14

“It's the first time the FDA has asked a drugmaker to remove an opioid painkiller from the market,” CBS said. “The agency said it has seen a ‘significant shift’ from people crushing and snorting Opana ER to get high to injecting it.” If the drugmaker refuses to comply with the FDA’s request to pull the opioid from the market, the agency can begin a “formal process for rescinding its approval.”

Drug Companies Try to Cash in on Opioid Epidemic

While an increasing number of Americans suffer the devastating effects of opioid addiction, pharmaceutical companies are battling it out to become the top seller of addiction medications. As was highlighted in a recent NPR report,15 rather than working to make various effective treatments for opioid addiction more readily available to those who need it, the pharmaceutical industry is actively trying to stomp out its competitors by restricting access to important addiction medications.

One example of this includes the global biopharmaceutical company Alkermes and its non-opioid addiction medication, Vivitrol, a monthly injection that costs around $1,000. Alkermes, based in Waltham, Massachusetts, is working vigorously to promote its drug at the legislative level as a solution to our nation’s growing opioid epidemic — and while doing so (in some cases) is restricting access to other opioid addiction medications through policy that makes it harder for doctors to prescribe alternatives to Vivitrol.

“An investigation by NPR and Side Effects Public Media has found that in statehouses across the country, and in Congress, Alkermes is pushing Vivitrol while contributing to misconceptions and stigma about other medications used to treat opioid addiction,” NPR reports.

Experts disagree about which opioid addiction medications are most effective. Some argue opioid maintenance drugs like methadone and buprenorphine — both of which contain opioids — are fueling the opioid crisis due to their street value and the idea that offering them to addicts means replacing one opioid for another. Others argue that opioid maintenance medications relieve painful withdrawal symptoms and reduce or eliminate intense cravings.

Federal health agencies and the American Society of Addiction Medicine agree that “opioid abstinence can be dangerous,” says NPR. While there are no studies comparing Vivitrol to methadone or buprenorphine, Alkermes touts Vivitrol as the more effective, opioid-free solution.

Alkermes has significantly increased its spending on federal lobbying, spending $4.4 million in 2016 compared to less than $200,000 in 2010. “Last year, Vivitrol's sales reached $209 million — up from just $30 million in 2011,” NPR reports, adding that Alkermes projects sales could reach $1 billion by 2021.

Treating Your Pain Without Drugs

While opioid painkillers may relieve pain temporarily, the addiction risks can quickly send you spiraling out of control down a dark and dangerous path. As shown in the film, many families touched by opioid addiction end up suffering for years before finally losing a loved one to addiction.

The good news is there are many natural alternatives to treating pain. It’s particularly important to avoid opioids when trying to address long-term chronic pain, as your body will create a tolerance to the drug. Over time, you may require greater doses at more frequent intervals to achieve the same pain relief. This is a recipe for disaster and could have lethal consequences. Following is information about non-drug remedies, dietary changes and bodywork interventions that can help you manage your pain.

Medical cannabis Medical marijuana has a long history as a natural analgesic and is now legal in 28 states. You can learn more about the laws in your state on medicalmarijuana.procon.org.16

Kratom Kratom (Mitragyna speciose) is a plant remedy that has become a popular opioid substitute.17 In August 2016, the DEA issued a notice saying it was planning to ban kratom, listing it as a Schedule 1 controlled substance. However, following massive outrage from kratom users who say opioids are their only alternative, the agency reversed its decision.18 Kratom is safer than an opioid for someone in serious and chronic pain. However, it’s important to recognize that it is a psychoactive substance and should be used carefully. There’s very little research showing how to use it safely and effectively, and it may have a very different effect from one person to the next. The other issue to address is that there are a number of different strains available with different effects. Also, while it may be useful for weaning people off opioids, kratom is in itself addictive. So, while it appears to be a far safer alternative to opioids, it’s still a powerful and potentially addictive substance. So please, do your own research before trying it.

Low-Dose Naltrexone (LDN) Naltrexone is an opiate antagonist, originally developed in the early 1960s for the treatment of opioid addiction. When taken at very low doses LDN, available only by prescription, triggers endorphin production, which can boost your immune function and ease pain.

Curcumin A primary therapeutic compound identified in the spice turmeric, curcumin has been shown in more than 50 clinical studies to have potent anti-inflammatory activity. Curcumin is hard to absorb, so best results are achieved with preparations designed to improve absorption. It is very safe and you can take two to three every hour if you need to.

Astaxanthin One of the most effective oil-soluble antioxidants known, astaxanthin has very potent anti-inflammatory properties. Higher doses are typically required for pain relief, and you may need 8 milligrams or more per day to achieve results.

Boswellia: Also known as boswellin or "Indian frankincense," this herb contains powerful anti-inflammatory properties, which have been prized for thousands of years. This is one of my personal favorites, as it worked well for many of my former rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Bromelain: This protein-digesting enzyme, found in pineapples, is a natural anti-inflammatory. It can be taken in supplement form, but eating fresh pineapple may also be helpful. Keep in mind most of the bromelain is found within the core of the pineapple, so consider eating some of the pulpy core when you consume the fruit.

Cayenne cream Also called capsaicin cream, this spice comes from dried hot peppers. It alleviates pain by depleting your body's supply of substance P, a chemical component of nerve cells that transmit pain signals to your brain.

Cetyl myristoleate (CMO) This oil, found in dairy butter and fish, acts as a joint lubricant and anti-inflammatory. I have used a topical preparation of CMO to relieve ganglion cysts and a mild case of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Evening primrose, black currant and borage oils These oils contain the fatty acid gamma-linolenic acid, which is useful for treating arthritic pain.

Ginger This herb is anti-inflammatory and offers pain relief and stomach-settling properties. Fresh ginger works well steeped in boiling water as a tea, or incorporated into fresh vegetable juice.

Dietary Changes to Fight Inflammation and Manage Your Pain

Unfortunately, physicians often fall short when attempting to effectively treat chronic pain, resorting to the only treatment they know: prescription drugs. While these drugs may bring some temporary relief, they will do nothing to resolve the underlying causes of your pain. If you suffer from chronic pain, making the following changes to your diet may bring you some relief.

Consume more animal-based omega-3 fats. Similar to the effects of anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical drugs, omega-3 fats from fish and fish oils work to directly or indirectly modulate a number of cellular activities associated with inflammation. While drugs have a powerful ability to inhibit your body’s pain signals, omega-3s cause a gentle shift in cell signaling to bring about a lessened reactivity to pain. Eating healthy seafood like anchovies or sardines, which are low in environmental toxins, or taking a high-quality supplement such as krill oil are your best options for obtaining omega-3s. DHA and EPA, the omega-3 oils contained in krill oil, have been found in many animal and clinical studies to have anti-inflammatory properties, which are beneficial for pain relief.

Radically reduce your intake of processed foods. Processed foods not only contain chemical additives and excessive amounts of sugar, but also are loaded with damaging omega-6 fats. By eating these foods, especially fried foods, you upset your body’s ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty-acids, which triggers inflammation. Inflammation is a key factor in most pain.

Eliminate or radically reduce your consumption of grains and sugars. Avoiding grains and sugars, especially fructose, will lower your insulin and leptin levels. Elevated insulin and leptin levels are some of the most profound stimulators of inflammatory prostaglandin production, which contributes to pain. While healthy individuals are advised to keep their daily fructose consumption below 25 grams from all sources, you’ll want to limit your intake to 15 grams per day until your pain is reduced. Eating sugar increases your uric acid levels, which leads to chronic, low-level inflammation.

Optimize your production of vitamin D. As much as possible, regulate your vitamin D levels by regularly exposing large amounts of your skin to sunshine. If you cannot get sufficient sun exposure, taking an oral vitamin D3 supplement, along with vitamin K2 and magnesium, is highly advisable. Research by GrassrootsHealth suggests adults need about 8,000 IUs per day to achieve a serum level of 40 ng/ml, but you may need even more. It’s best to get your blood level tested to be sure you're safely within the therapeutic range.

Bodywork Methods That Reduce Pain

Due to the inherent risks of addiction and the other unpleasant side effects of prescription painkillers, I recommend you pursue one or more of the following bodywork methods before taking a narcotic for pain. Each one has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment for lasting pain relief and management.

•Acupuncture: According to The New York Times,19 an estimated 3 million American adults receive acupuncture annually, most often for the treatment of chronic pain. A study20 published in the Archives of Internal Medicine concluded acupuncture has a definite effect in reducing four types of chronic pain, including back and neck pain, chronic headache, osteoarthritis and shoulder pain — more so than standard pain treatment.

•Chiropractic adjustments: While previously used most often to treat back pain, chiropractic treatment addresses many other problems — including asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, headaches, migraines, musculoskeletal pain, neck pain and whiplash. According to a study21 published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, patients with neck pain who used a chiropractor and/or exercise were more than twice as likely to be pain-free in 12 weeks compared to those who took medication.

•Massage: Massage releases endorphins, which help induce relaxation, relieve pain and reduce levels of stress chemicals such as cortisol and noradrenaline. A systematic review and meta-analysis22 published in the journal Pain Medicine, included 60 high-quality and seven low-quality studies that looked into the use of massage for various types of pain, including bone and muscle, fibromyalgia, headache and spinal-cord pain.

The study revealed massage therapy relieves pain better than getting no treatment at all. When compared to other pain treatments like acupuncture and physical therapy, massage therapy still proved beneficial and had few side effects. In addition to relieving pain, massage therapy also improved anxiety and health-related quality of life.

•Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT): EFT continues to be one of the easiest and most effective ways to deal with acute and chronic pain. The technique is simple and can be applied in mere minutes, helping you to overcome all kinds of bodily aches and pains. A study23 published in Energy Psychology examined the levels of pain in a group of 50 people attending a three-day EFT workshop, and found their pain dropped by 43 percent during the workshop.

Six weeks later, their pain levels were reported to be 42 percent lower than before the workshop. As a result of applying EFT, participants felt they had an improved sense of control and ability to cope with their chronic pain. In the video featured below, EFT expert Julie Schiffman, teaches you how to use EFT to address chronic pain.