Anyone who's ever experienced recurrent or persistent pain knows how difficult it can be to find effective treatments. Traditional remedies -- pain medications, heating or icing methods, physical therapy, even surgery -- don't work for everyone. Some people with pain seek alternative medicine, natural-health options for alleviating pain. One such option is the use of flax oil.
Why Flax Oil?
Flax oil -- also called flaxseed oil -- is the oil from flax plant seeds. Rich in essential fatty acids, flaxseed oil is generally taken as a nutritional supplement, in capsule or liquid form. According to MayoClinic.com, flaxseed oil contains the fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA. ALA is a pre-cursor to the more widely publicized omega-3 fatty acids, which are unsaturated fats also found in fish oil and are essential to good health.
Health Benefits of Omega-3s
Omega-3 fatty acids provide numerous health benefits. In addition to the well-known benefits of helping reduce cholesterol, lower high blood pressure, prevent heart disease and maintain brain health, omega-3 fatty acids may also provide pain relief. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that omega-3s calm inflammation in the body, reducing the joint pain of arthritis. While this suggests that flaxseed oil is a good natural source of pain relief, more research is needed to fully understand how effective flaxseed oil is for treating various types of pain.
Safety and Dosing
Flaxseed oil may cause negative side effects in some users. It also interacts with particular medications. Individuals taking blood-thinning medications or drugs to lower blood sugar should not take flaxseed oil, for example, due to potentially dangerous complications. Check with your doctor before taking flaxseed oil to treat pain or any other condition. Your doctor can also advise you regarding an appropriate dosage of flax oil to provide pain relief. Proper dosages vary, depending on how much omega-3 fatty acid you already consume in your diet.
Considerations
Pain -- and pain relief -- is complicated, and different pain-sufferers benefit from different interventions. If you experience chronic pain, you may require various approaches to pain relief, with flax oil supplementation as just one part of your treatment. Consult your physician for comprehensive evaluation of your pain and discussion of a multi-pronged treatment plan.
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