Pain
Pain is an unpleasant experience associated with potential or real damage to the body. Protective function of pain : Pain is a protective reflex. It is a warning signal about a damage caused or an impending damage. When a pain is felt, the individual can just move away from the painful stimulus and thus it can be avoided.
Classification of pain : Depending on duration, pain can be broadly classified as acute pain, chronic pain and neuropathic pain
Acute pain : One common type of pain is acute pain, currently defined as pain lasting less than 3 to 6 months, or pain that is directly related to tissue damage. For example, pain caused by a small burn, small cut or by a small abscess.
Chronic pain : The term “chronic pain” is generally used to describe pain that lasts more than three to six months, or beyond the point of tissue healing.
There are at least two different types of chronic pain problems.
Chronic pain due to an identifiable pain generator (e.g. an injury). These conditions are due to a diagnosable anatomical problem.
Chronic pain with no identifiable pain generator (e.g. the injury has healed). This type of pain continues beyond the point of tissue healing and there is no clearly identifiable pain generator that explains the pain. It is often termed “chronic benign pain”.
Neuropathic pain : In most types of neuropathic pain, all signs of original injury are usually gone and the pain that one feels is unrelated to an observable injury or condition. With this type of pain, certain nerves continue to send pain messages to the brain even though there is no ongoing tissue damage.
Origin of pain : Pain may originate from various parts of the body and due to various causes. Depending on the site of origin, pain may be classified as.
1) Cutaneous pain
2) Visceral pain
3) Deep pain
1. Cutaneous Pain: It may be produced by (i.) pathological states of skin (ii) injury to skin (iii) release of chemical substances, which produce itching. In some cases, the painful area may extend beyond the damaged or diseased area.
2. Visceral pain: It occurs due to an altered physiology of an internal organ like kidney, liver, etc. Sometimes, sensation of pain is displaced from the affected area and felt at adjacent areas. It is called as referred pain, e.g. pain arising from liver as felt in the skin of right shoulder.
3. Deep pain: It arises from receptors of muscles, tendons and joints. e.g. powerful contraction of muscle may occlude blood supply to the muscle and this may cause pain. Like visceral pain, deep muscle pain can also be referred on surface of body.
Pathways of Pain
The sensory neurons that mediate pain sensation are known as 'nociceptors' They have endings or receptors in skin, muscles, joints and internal organs activated by pain. These nociceptors on activation by pain send the signals along the nerve fibers to the spinal cord. From there, the signals pass up the spinal cord and are transmitted to the brain stem. From there, the signals are ultimately transmitted to the thalamus where the center for pain (thalamic pain center) is present. Later the signals are transmitted to the cerebral cortex where the sensation of pain is registered.
Role of Cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme on pain
Pain, redness, heat and swelling, which are the markers of inflammation, follow the release of prostaglandins. Aspirin and similar non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) reduce prostaglandins by blocking an enzyme which helps to produce them, called cyclooxygenase (COX).
In recent years, some exciting studies are published that sheds light on how to more and safely combat arthritis. There are actually two COX enzymes in the body. They are COX-I and COX-II. COX-I is called the good COX enzyme, while COX-II has earned the unflattering name as the bad enzyme. COX-I is easily identifiable and is important in regulating cell function. COX-II, on the other hand, is generally undetectable in most tissues, but increases to high levels during acute inflammation. The COX-II enzyme is largely responsible for causing pain and inflammation. Injury, disease and trauma cause COX-II enzyme to produce prostaglandins, which cause pain and inflammation. In contrast to the COX-II enzyme, COX-I enzyme is responsible for protecting the body's stomach lining and kidneys. COX-I enzymes continually produce protective prostaglandins.
COX-I is essential for blood clotting and for protecting the stomach. COX-II is the key player in inflammation, pain, and fever. NSAIDs and other arthritis medication steeply decrease the body's production of both enzymes, thereby decreasing inflammation while at the same time causing harm to the stomach and its lining. The ideal situation would be to find a substance that inhibits only COX-II, but does not significantly affect COX-I.
Role of Noni in Pain
Studies in mice demonstrated that extracts from root of Noni (again, not rendered from the fruit) have some pain relieving and sedative activity.
Noni is a selective COX-II inhibitor
There are several other ways in which Noni may alleviate undesirable symptoms of arthritis. Pain is the number one complaint with arthritis.
Researchers at an independent research facility found that indeed Noni was a selective inhibitor of COX-2 enzyme. In addition, the Noni did no damage to the COX1 enzyme. When scientists compared the Noni COX2 inhibition ratio of prescription arthritis medications, they found that Noni compared “very favorably” to the prescription medications. Noni exhibited none of the negative side effects that the prescription medications cause. Next, researchers compared the Noni COX2 inhibition ratio to the COX2 inhibition ratio of NSAIDs. In this category, Noni far out-performed the over-the-counter medications. And again, Noni did not exhibit any of the negative side effects associated with NSAIDs.
Role of Scopoletin present in Noni in Pain/Arthritis
Another reason for Noni's pain fighting qualities stems from several of its constituents. Noni contains Scopoletin, which has anti-inflammatory effects. Scopoletin is needed in the body for smooth joint movement. It also produces anti-histamine effects. A laboratory in France conducted a study that showed mice, given a liquid form of Noni, increased pain tolerance as reflected by their reaction time to a hot plate. The researchers concluded that Noni helped the mice better deal with the pain from the hot plate.
NONI and Nitric Oxide
The basic concept that everybody needs to remember about Nitric oxide (NO) is that it is essential to body functions and needs to be a product by the body on a continuous basis. When Nitric oxide is not produced in amounts needed, malfunction of body systems and disease is a guaranteed result. Finding solutions that will help the body return to its proper production of Nitric oxide is a powerful key to unlock the secret of good health. Noni is the solution.
In 1998, three researches won the Nobel Prize in Medicine for discovering that Nitric oxide is a signaling molecule involved in “controlling the circulation of the blood, regulating activities of the brain, lungs, liver, kidneys, stomach and other organs. It acts in main tissues to regulate a seemingly limitless range of functions in the body” (Royal Society of British Science Writers, 1996).
Noni helps relieve pain, and it's a mediator in inflammation and rheumatism.
Recommended Dosage
Divine Noni Concentrate
5ml morning and 5ml evening for 3 days. Then
10ml morning and 10ml evening for next 3 days. Then
15ml morning and 15ml evening for next 8 months.
