What your pain might be trying to tell you
Pain is a vital, complex, protective mechanism, telling your body something is wrong and needs attention, and exists to protect the body from danger and harm. There are two main types of pain: acute pain, the normal response to an injury that is usually sudden and short-lived, and chronic pain that continues beyond the time expected for healing. When pain becomes chronic, it can severely impact day-to-day functions, wellbeing and quality of life. Common causes of chronic pain include mild arthritis, musculoskeletal ailments, nerve pain and surgery.
Pain and inflammation: partners in crime?
Inflammation is the body’s natural immune response to injury or infection and can be either short-term or ongoing. While short-term inflammation supports healing, long-term or chronic inflammation can become a source of persistent pain and is linked to many ongoing health conditions. Chronic inflammation is often driven by elevated levels of pro-inflammatory markers in the body, which can sensitise nerves and worsen the pain response over time.
Food as a foundation for pain support
An anti-inflammatory diet is one of the best ways to combat these pro-inflammatory markers and keep them, and your pain levels, under control. Quite simply, an anti-inflammatory diet is high in omega-3s which can be found in fatty fish like salmon, and low in inflammatory foods such as gluten, dairy and refined sugars. The Mediterranean diet is a great example of an anti-inflammatory diet.
The many faces of pain
It is important to consider; not all pain is the same. It can be:
- Acute
- Chronic
- Inflammatory
- Neuropathic
- Menstrual
- Musculoskeletal
The diverse way pain presents itself also calls for targeted and specific support.
Building a flare-up friendly pain-support toolkit
Management strategies work best when well matched to the person and situation.
- Magnesium. If your pain tends to show up around your period, this mineral is for you. Magnesium can be a great nutrient for relieving menstruation pain and reducing the symptoms of premenstrual tension (PMT). Found in a well-absorbed, organic form in Herbs of Gold Magnesium Citrate 900, magnesium can also be useful for supporting the health of the nervous system and reducing the occurrence of mild migraines.
- Curcumin. Known for its vibrant yellow colour and soothing properties, curcumin (from turmeric) has been shown to support joint health and ease symptoms of mild osteoarthritis. Herbs of Gold Bio Curcumin 5400 is a high-dose, well-absorbed curcumin supplement, providing 200mg of Meriva® curcumin daily, equivalent to 16.5g of fresh Turmeric.
- Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA). PEA is a naturally occurring fatty acid compound that helps the body regulate pain and inflammation, especially when it comes to nerve-related discomfort. Clinical research shows PEA relieves symptoms of mild joint and nerve pain, including mild osteoarthritis. In one Australian study, people taking 600mg of PEA daily for 8 weeks experienced a significant reduction in mild knee pain and stiffness and improved physical function[1]. Consider Herbs of Gold Pain Relief PEA Forte
When pain hurts more than the body – understanding the emotional toll of chronic pain
Chronic pain doesn’t just affect the body - it can wear on the mind, emotions and sense of self. Over time, living with persistent pain can lead to frustration, sleep disruption, low motivation and social withdrawal. It’s not uncommon to feel isolated especially when pain is invisible to others.
While physical symptoms may be the most obvious, the emotional impact of ongoing pain can be just as significant. That’s why a whole-person approach to pain management, one that includes emotional wellbeing, rest, movement and self-compassion is essential. For extra support, you can consider Herbs of Gold Saffron Mood Balance, which contains Affron®, clinically trialled Saffron extract to support mood and emotional balance[2].
[1] Steels, E., Venkatesh, R., Steels, E., Vitetta, G., & Vitetta, L. (2019). A double-blind randomised placebo-controlled study assessing safety, tolerability and efficacy of palmitoylethanolamide for symptoms of knee osteoarthritis. Inflammopharmacology, 27(3), 475-485.
[2] 1 Kell, G., Rao, A., Beccaria, G., Clayton, P., Inarejos-García, A. M., & Prodanov, M. (2017). affron® a novel Saffron extract (Crocus sativus L.) […] mood in healthy adults over 4 weeks in a double-blind, parallel, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 33, 58–64.
