For most people, dealing with acute pain—the sudden onset of pain that comes from a physically exhausting day at work, a sudden twist of your ankle, or the pull of your shoulder—means reaching for a bottle of an over-the-counter pain reliever, like ibuprofen, aspirin or acetaminophen. But I’m a firm believer that those quick fixes come at a price.

Over-the-counter painkillers can destroy the stomach lining, put incredible stress on the liver, have a dangerous blood-thinning effect, and even change the way people think and experience emotions. In fact, acetaminophen is the leading cause of acute liver failure in the United States—and that can be caused just by taking the standard recommended dose! This drug also accounts for more than 100,000 calls to poison centers. And the use of this readily available, and supposedly safe, over-the-counter drug is responsible for about 60,000 emergency room visits and hundreds of deaths every year in America.

We have needed a better pain solution in this country for a long time. What’s my recommendation for people suffering from acute pain? I prefer botanicals that offer a safer effective alternative and specifically target the inflammation in the body that leads to pain. The great news is there’s a new combination of curcumin, Boswellia and black sesame seed oil that has been shown to reduce pain as well (and as quickly) as the over-the-counter drug acetaminophen—without the risk of dangerous side effects. This clinically proven supplement is called CuraMed and is made by Terry Naturally.

This combination of curcumin, Boswellia and black sesame seed oil relieves pain as quickly—and more safely—than acetaminophen; reduces inflammation throughout the body; can be used frequently without risk of negative side effects; and is shown to be 8.5 times better at reducing the emotional stress of pain (feelings of distress can make pain much worse).

Curcumin is one of the world’s leading natural pain medicines. This compound fights inflammation throughout the body and has been well-studied for treating muscle soreness and chronic conditions like knee osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Sports medicine has been taking notice of curcumin for some time. In a double-blind crossover trial, participants started taking curcumin two days before a physical workout and continued for three days after. Those taking curcumin noted moderate to large reductions in pain and slightly increased exercise performance (due to the pain reduction).

Another study looked at the effects of curcumin for adult recreational cyclists. Those in the curcumin group reported feeling better than those in the placebo group (and less stressed during training days that involved two hours of endurance cycling).

It’s important to note that researchers in this study observed specific plasma concentrations of curcumin were required to get consistent outcomes. I would say the easiest way to guarantee results from curcumin is to make sure you have a strong, clinically studied, enhanced bioavailable curcumin on board to begin with. It’s crucial the curcumin has been tested for blood retention and is scientifically proven to be highly absorbable.

Did you know inflammation isn’t a singular activity in the body? In fact, there are a multitude of inflammatory pathways, and one that is often overlooked and difficult to address is the 5-LOX pathway.

Historically, Boswellia—also called frankincense—is one of nature’s most powerful anti-inflammatory medicines. It is a specific inhibitor of 5-LOX, an enzyme that activates inflammation-inducing leukotrienes. It’s an amazing herb for anyone that experiences acute pain, which often has some level of 5-LOX activity.

A placebo-controlled clinical study found that people had a higher pain threshold and greater pain tolerance when taking Boswellia.

While we don’t often think of black sesame seed oil as an herbal medicine, there are some good reasons why we should. Sesame seed oil contains compounds shown to have anti-inflammatory effects for joint tissue in cases of rheumatoid arthritis. In clinical research, supplementation with sesame seed has been shown to reduce inflammatory markers, pain scores, and symptoms in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Sesame seed also appears to help other nutrients absorb more effectively.

Other work with sesame seed components, especially sesamin, has found the same results. This botanical preserves the cushioning elements of joints because it has specific anti-inflammatory strengths.

When people are in pain, they want relief, and they want it fast! Combining curcumin, Boswellia and black sesame seed oil opens a whole new world for anyone looking to safely and effectively relieve acute pain.

CuraMed is available at a 20 percent discount during May at Debbie’s Health Foods, in Port Orange and Orange City.