Synergistic Nutrients for Pain Relief, Recovery, & Improved Mood
Contributed by Terry Talks Nutrition
Many nutrients deliver safe and effective options for pain relief, mental well-being, and overall vitality. But I think that two of the most helpful are the palmitoylethanolamide, also known as PEA, and the enzyme serrati peptidase.
Working together, these nutrients influence multiple pathways in the body and mind for an impressive range of positive effects, including Relief of acute and chronic pain. Better physical recovery from injuries, intensive workouts, and surgery. Reduced systemic inflammation. Strengthened immune response. Improved mood, focus, and cognition. Stop Inflammation and Pain.
Many nutrients can reduce pain, improve mood, and inhibit inflammation throughout the brain and body. But two that I highly recommend are palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and serrati peptidase. Working as a team, they can stop inflammation and pain, enhance your state of mind, and help you recover faster from workouts, surgery, and injuries.
A Must for Mind and Body
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is found in egg yolks and other foods and can be synthesized in the body from palmitic acid, found in meats, cheeses, and butter. Research shows this endocannabinoid-like nutrient has incredible potential to address muscle pain and recovery, arthritis symptoms, mobility, cognitive health, and mental plasticity, plus a multitude of other concerns including allergic and respiratory symptoms, and the lingering effects of COVID-19 or fibromyalgia.
Pain and Inflammation
Because of the anti-inflammatory actions of PEA, researchers have investigated its ability to relieve pain in a variety of conditions, including sciatica, osteoarthritis, neuropathy, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain, just to name a few. So, if you want to stay active, recover faster, remain physically strong, and age with vitality, I think it’s one of the best nutrients to add to your regimen.
In a clinical study of individuals with sciatic nerve compression, a cause of chronic lower back pain, PEA at two dosage levels, 300 mg and 600 mg daily, was compared to a placebo for three weeks. By the end of that test period, the higher dosage of PEA at 600 mg daily was a clear winner, reducing pain significantly.
There is clinical work showing that PEA may be useful for maintaining lean muscle mass and protein synthesis as we get older, all while reducing pain. And, unlike prescription or over-the-counter drugs, it doesn’t interfere with muscle maintenance or injure the liver or stomach.
Plus, in scientific research on osteoarthritis, PEA lowered levels of inflammatory markers, slowed damage to cartilage, and reduced knee swelling.
For chronic idiopathic axonal polyneuropathy (CIAP), a slow moving form of neuropathy that causes a “pins and needles” sensation and greatly affects mobility, PEA is an effective intervention. One clinic reported using PEA at relatively high doses of 1,200 mg per day for two weeks to reduce pain by 30 to 50 percent, and in some cases, PEA reduced pain by 50 percent in just one week. They also found that PEA could be recommended alongside standard pain relievers or as a stand-alone medicine.
The discomfort and lack of jaw mobility of TMJ makes eating and speaking difficult, causes intense headaches and stress, and creates a feedback loop of yet even more occurrences of TMJ. For relief, many people simply use over-the-counter drugs like ibuprofen, but that takes a toll on the kidneys and stomach lining. Fortunately, a clinical study found PEA relieved pain more effectively than ibuprofen and improved maximum jaw opening, showing it relaxed muscles in the jaw better than the drug.
Cognitive and Mood
While PEA isn’t quite classified as an endocannabinoid when synthesized in the body, it does help preserve levels of anandamide, one of the key endocannabinoids responsible for positive mood, focus, and cognition.
In a placebo-controlled, double-blind study, individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) were divided into two groups: one receiving 600 mg of PEA plus citalopram (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor commonly prescribed for depression) or a placebo (a substance that has no therapeutic effect, used as a control in testing new therapies) plus citalopram. The combination with PEA was effective even within the first two weeks, and by the end of the six-week study, 100 percent of the participants in the combined PEA and drug group saw a reduction in their symptoms versus 74 percent of those in the placebo and drug group.
PEA has also been investigated for its ability to relieve symptoms and restore the sense of smell in those suffering from long COVID. In part, this is because of the actions PEA has on mast cell release (as seen in allergy triggers) and its ability to shift microglial cells—immune cells in the central nervous system—from a pro-inflammatory to an anti-inflammatory mode. The result is less inflammatory damage to the olfactory bulb and the nerve and brain signals that recognize smells.
Scientific studies have found that PEA preserves brain cells, stops oxidative stress, improves motor skills, and enhances cognition in models of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke.
A Nutrient Team You Need
PEA and serratiopeptidase will help you get the most from your days, mentally and physically. Start adding them to your regimen, and you’ll see better results from your workouts, smoother recovery from injuries, and benefits for your state of mind.
When in doubt, always consult your physician or healthcare practitioner. This article is intended to provide you with information to maintain your health.