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6. Nutritional Supplements
Vitamins, herbs and minerals can be as powerful as pharmaceutical drugs when it comes to pain relief, and there are a few particularly useful compounds for arthritis patients. S-Adenosylmethionine – better known as SAM-e – is a synthetic form of a naturally occurring chemical found in all cells, and it can work just as well as NSAIDs on inflammatory pain.
There are also several plant compounds that have proven pain-relieving abilities without many side effects, such as capsaicin (the heat-producing compound in chili peppers), curcumin (a chemical in turmeric) and boswellia serrata (also known as Indian frankincense). It’s never a good idea to start supplementing without first consulting with your doctor, so be sure to get their opinion before you proceed.
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