Natural Extract Puts Drugs For Knee Osteoarthritis To Shame!

Millions take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) daily for arthritis and related inflammatory conditions, but are completely unaware that far safer, and at least as effective, natural alternatives already exist -- and are as easily accessible and inexpensive as the spices found in your kitchen cupboard.

Human research on the health benefits of turmeric is sparse, mainly due to the lack of capital available to fund expensive clinical trials. Despite many decades of investigation as a lead drug compound, and the availability of thousands of preclinical studies indicating turmeric's therapeutic value, few yet realize that this common kitchen spice may provide a suitable drug alternative for common health conditions.

The latest human study to clinically confirm turmeric's medicinal value was published in the Indonesian Journal of Internal Medicine in April, 2012 and found the curcuminoid extract of turmeric was able to reduce inflammation in patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis.

Researchers compared the effect of a curcuminoid extract to the NSAID drug diclofenac sodium in reducing cycloxygenase -2  (COX-2) secretion by synovial fluid's monocytes in two, randomly divided, groups suffering with knee osteoarthritis.

The synovial fluid is an egg yolk-like liquid within the cavities of the synovial joints, which serves to reduce friction between articular cartilages during movement. In knee osteoarthritis, a condition that afflicts 1 in 2 people by the age of 85 years, the immune cells known as monocytes express increased inflammatory COX-2 enzyme activity within the synovial fluid.

In the study, subjects were given either 30 mg 3 times daily of turmeric extract (curcuminoid) or 25 mg 3 times daily of diclofenac sodium for 4 weeks. After the treatment period, aspiration of the joint as performed and the secretion of cycloxygenase-2 enzyme by synovial fluid's monocytes was evaluated.

Results were reported as follows:

In curcuminoid group the average scores were 1.84±0.37 and 1.15±0.28 respectively (p<0.001). In diclofenac group the average scores were 1.79±0.38 and 1.12±0.27 respectively (p<0.001). In curcuminoid group the decreasing score of cycloxygenase-2 secretion was 0.70±0.51 while in diclofenac group was 0.67±0.45. There was no significant difference in decreasing the score of cyclooxygenase enzyme secretion between both treatment groups (p=0.89).

In summary, both curcuminoid and diclofenac sodium were capable of significantly decreasing the secretion of the inflammatory COX-2 enzyme, with nearly identical potency.

Discussion

This is not the first human study to confirm turmeric is at least as effective as an NSAID drug in reducing the symptoms associated with knee osteoarthritis. A 2010 study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found 2,000 mg of turmeric extract was as effective as 800 mg of ibuprofen in reducing symptoms of pain and inflammation. - Sayer Ji

http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/turmeric-extract-puts-drugs-knee-osteoarthritis-shame?page=1

What is most remarkable about the more recent study is not that turmeric curcuminoids have potent anti-inflammatory properties – there are already hundreds of studies confirming its COX-2 reducing and otherwise anti-inflammatory effects - but rather how much safer they are relative to NSAID drugs like diclofenac, which like most pharmaceutical anti-inflammatory drugs have been linked to adverse health effects such as increased cardiac mortality, miscarriage and seizure.

One way to assess the relative toxicity of these two compounds is to compare the primary polyphenol in turmeric, curcumin, with diclofenac sodium through their respective Material Safety Data Sheets, which contain detailed information on the toxicity of these substances.

Diclofenac Sodium: The LD50 for mice is 95 mg/kg, meaning that it only takes 95 mg/kg of mouse to acutely kill 50% of an exposed group.

Curcumin: The LD50 for mice is >2,000 mg/kg, meaning that it would take more than 2,000  mg/kg of mouse to acutely kill 50% of an exposed group.

 

In order to get perspective on how toxic an LD50 of 95 mg/kg is, let's first calculate how much of this chemical it would take in milligrams to kill an average sized mouse. Mice are between 15-27 grams, depending on their age, strain and diet. If we take the average between the two, at 21 grams, our mouse would weigh 0.021 kilograms. This means that it only takes 1.9 milligrams to acutely kill 50% of the mice given such a dose.

Extrapolating to humans, an average 150 lb adult weighs 68.03 kilograms; it would only take 6462 milligrams, or 6.46 grams to kill 50% of the humans given the dose. This is less than the weight of three pennies (7.5 grams). Compare this to the LD50 of curcumin (2,000 mg/kg), where it would take more than 136,000 mgs (4.86 ounces) to kill 50% of the humans given it – and even this estimation is doubtful, since it is likely that it would simply be vomited up, or expelled through the gastrointestinal tract, and other organs of elimination, before reaching lethal levels in the body. Also, remember that it only took 90 mg a day in the aforementioned study to reduce inflammation as effectively as diclofenac sodium. The difference between the 90 mg required producing an effective response, and a (theoretical) 136,000 mg threshold for lethal toxicity, is four orders of magnitude.

In practical terms, the chance of you hurting yourself with a drug like diclofenac sodium - ironically, in an attempt to reduce pain - as compared to a simple kitchen spice like turmeric, is infinitely higher. Consider too, that there are over 100 known adverse health effects associated with this chemical class of drugs, whereas turmeric (and curcumin) has been linked to over 600 beneficial ones -- not exactly a hard choice to make, when it comes to risk-benefit analysis. - Sayer JiJi, Founder of Greenmed

Efficacy and safety of Curcuma domestica extracts in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Int J Mol Med. 2010 May;25(5):729-34. PMID: 19678780

Note:  The information provided here is not intended to sell anything, nor designed to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease, and is provided to bring awareness and for your medical caregiver to consider natural alternatives. - Andrew Subieta

905.660.8810

Bio-Structural Integration™

Every cell in our body works synergistically together to maintain homeostasis. When one system is disturbed the other cannot function properly. In my method of Bio-Structural Integration™, I address the dysfunction at every level. Within one treatment I use Cranial Osteopathy to release central nervous system lesions. After that I use an Osteopathic Muscle Energy Technique to correct the joints, followed by Myofascial Release of connective tissue. Neuromuscular Massage is implemented to reduce muscular tension, and electrotherapy helps to interrupt the pain cycle. All of the above is done within a 1 hour treatment.

After the structure is realigned I recommend BioFlex Low Light Laser Therapy (LLLT) to deal with inflammation. Healing is now stimulated at the cellular level. This session may take 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on the condition being treated and the protocol selected. Elimination of inflammatory process assists in structural stabilization of the joints. As a result, muscles and ligaments relax; fascia releases its tension, flexibility increases bringing back normal range of motion and reduction of pain.

The program of rehabilitation could be up to 5 weeks long and provides more than 90% of success in bringing back a pain free life. If you have tried every possible known therapy and still have pain, you should not give up!  Surgery should be the last resort!  During many years of practice I developed protocols for numerous difficult-to-treat conditions. Ask us about osteoarthritis. 

Here are some of the conditions we treat at Osteoklinika:

• Low back and Neck Pain
• Migraines and Headaches
• Shoulder, Elbow, Hip, Knee, Angle and Foot Pain
• Sciatica
• Temporal - Mandibular (Jaw) Pain
• Motor Vehicle Accidents
• Repetitive Strain Injuries
• Constipation
• Incontinence
• Neurological Disorders
• Chronic Ear Infections
• Post-Concussion Syndrome and Head Trauma
• Genitourinary Problems
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Tendinitis and Bursitis
• Dermal Ulcers
• Dermatological conditions
• Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
• Piriformis Syndrome
• Patella-Femoral Syndrome and Chondromalacia Patella
• Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Frozen Shoulder

"Bio-Structural Integration™ sets the new standard of rehabilitation that is unique, effective and provides a quick relief from pain." - Andrew Subieta

Before you consider surgery or drugs;or if you are still experiencing pain more than 6 months after surgery, for more information about inflammation and pain, Andrew Subieta can be reached at Osteoklinika Pain Management & Rehabilitation 905.660.8810. Also, please check our website at www.osteoklinika.com for learn more about our unique, trademarked process called  Bio-Structural Integration™, or our Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter pages.   

Bio-Structural Integration™: Arthritis

Research says that healthy joints not only could save your hips, knees and back from painful arthritis, it could save your life by avoiding premature death!

If is the knee or hip osteoarthritis – the common joint destroyer that plagues one in four by middle age – can raise your risk for an early death by 55 percent, boosting your odds of dying from heart disease by 71 percent, of deadly cancers by 32 percent, of lethal breathing problems by 29 percent and of fatal dementia by a whopping 99 percent.

Sitting and lying down are big reasons things go really bad when parts of your skeleton start acting up. Sure, if your knees or hips are howling, or your back’s in spasm, your first instinct is to stay still.

That’s OK for a few days while the pain backs off, but after that, staying still only triggers a “cycle of inactivity” in which you sit so long you get stiff, and when you do move, your joints feel worse, so you sit some more. You gain weight because you’re not burning calories and the extra weight stresses your knees, hips and spine.

Regularly taking certain pain-relievers increases your risk for heart attacks and strokes. And, finally, the joint damage done by osteoarthritis can cause smoldering, body-wide inflammation that fuels cancer, dementia, diabetes and heart disease.

So don’t live with joint pain. Here are a few tips for staying off the inactive list:

Don’t shrug off small ouches. If your family members have osteoarthritis, take it seriously. Arthritis isn't just the result of high-school football or cheer leading injuries. Genetics play a role. The sooner you start to prevent trouble, the healthier your joints and, now, the longer your life will be.

You Have to Move!  

Get a move on. Stretches, strength training and joint-friendly activities such as swimming or riding an exercise bike can make a huge difference, whether you’re in small trouble or serious straits. Simply building up your quadraceps – the powerful muscles in the front of your thighs – can significantly reduce knee pain. A gentle yoga routine that’s modified to suit your joints will likely help, too.



Lose weight.

Every excess pound you shed takes four pounds of pressure off your knees. On a one-mile walk, that translates to 4,800 fewer pounds that your knees have to support. Your hips and back benefit too!




Eat against inflammation. Many foods help stifle joint-damaging, heart-threatening inflammation.

Some of the best anti-inflammatory foods:

- berries
- ginger
- avocado
- walnuts
- salmon
- trout

The potent inflammation fighters in many of them are omega-3s.

It is a matter of life and death!

How Does Arthritis Affect You?

• 4.5 million, or 1 in 6 Canadians, aged 15 years and older report having some form of arthritis.
• Two thirds of those affected with arthritis are women.
• Arthritis costs the Canadian economy more than 33 billion annually.
• Among all the causes of disability in Canada, arthritis ranks first among women and second among men.

Note:  Conventional therapies focus on pharmaceuticals which serve to mask symptoms and often have adverse effects. Problems with arthritic medications such as Vioxx, documented in The New England Journal of Medicine, have led many sufferers to seek safer alternatives. We recommend Low Light Laser Therapy at Osteoklinika.  

Add caption

We can help you - we have a proven track record for dealing with pain management and rehabilitation.  For more information, Andrew Subieta and the clinic staff can be reached at Osteoklinika Pain Management & Rehabilitation 905.660.8810.  Also, please check our website  www.osteoklinika.com for more information about Bio-Structural Integration™ at Osteoklinika!  #osteoklinika #nopain #Vaughan

Bio-Structural Integration™: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a disorder of nerves. It happens when the nerve running from the forearm till the palm of the hand gets damaged, is pressed or squeezed. It has specific symptoms attached to it. It causes the feeling of numbness in the sufferers hand along with other occurrences of pain and tingling. Often the repetitive movement of hands over a long period of time causes this disorder. It is a very painful disorder and is often unbearable. But there are various ways to treat this disorder in an effective manner. 

The carpal tunnel is a narrow space in the wrist. It contains wrist bones and a ligament (transverse carpal ligament) across the wrist where the palm and forearm meet. Tendons and the median nerve pass through this space to your hand. The median nerve supplies feeling and some movement to part of the hand. It is usually caused when an illness or other problem makes the carpal tunnel space too small. This puts pressure on the median nerve and causes pain, tingling, and other symptoms.

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when a combination of health conditions and activities puts pressure on the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel in your wrist. This pressure leads to symptoms because the median nerve supplies feeling and some movement to part of the hand. So anything that decreases the amount of space in the carpal tunnel increases the amount of tissue in the tunnel or increases the sensitivity of the median nerve can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.

Common Symptoms:

Tingling or numbness - you may experience tingling and numbness in your fingers or hand, especially your thumb and index, middle or ring fingers, but not your little finger. This sensation often occurs while holding a steering wheel, phone or newspaper or, commonly, waking you from sleeping. The sensation may extend from your wrist up your arm.  Many people "shake out" their hands to try to relieve their symptoms. As the disorder progresses, the numb feeling may become constant.

Weakness - you may experience weakness in your hand and a tendency to drop objects. This may be due to the numbness in your hand or weakness of the thumb's pinching muscles controlled by the median nerve.

Can't Sleep at Night - you may experience a loss of sleep due to a different sensations.

Things that may contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome

Conditions or illnesses that can cause or contribute to arm pain or swelling in the joints and soft tissues in the arm, or to reduced blood flow to the hands. These include:

• obesity
• rheumatoid arthritis
• gout
• diabetes
• lupus
• hypothyroidism
• Repeated hand and wrist movements - can cause the membranes surrounding the tendons to swell (tenosynovitis).  (Computer, mousing, etc.)
• Broken wrist bones, dislocated bones, new bone growth from healing bones, or bone spurs - can take up space in the carpal tunnel and put more pressure on the median nerve.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common work-related condition. It can be caused by work that requires:

1. Forceful or repetitive hand movements
2. Hand-arm vibration
3. Working for long periods in the same or awkward positions

Carpal tunnel syndrome is even more likely if you have these work-related issues along with other health conditions.

Other Treatments for Carpal Tunnel

In some cases the cause of carpal tunnel syndrome cannot be found, but it can be treated! It important that you know you have choices.  Carpal tunnel syndrome should be treated as early as possible after you begin to experience symptoms.

Tip:  If you are a regular computer user, switch your mouse or pad hand!  It only takes a few times to get used to it and that will give your affected hand a real break and could even lead to healing!

Take Breaks and Apply Cold

Some people with mild symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome can ease their discomfort by taking more frequent breaks to rest their hands, avoiding activities that worsen symptoms. 

Apply cold packs to reduce occasional swelling

If these techniques don't offer relief within a few weeks, additional treatment options include wrist splinting and medical convention suggests medications and surgery.

Splinting and other conservative treatments are more likely to help you if you've had only mild to moderate symptoms for less than 10 months.

Natural Remedies - Inflammation

Vitamin B6 and Lipoic Acid can help reduce inflammation or swelling. You should reduce or eliminate saturated fats and fried foods. Large amounts of alcohol, caffeine or tobacco also contribute to risk factors associated with Carpal Tunnel. Avoid foods containing yellow (hydrazine) dyes and boost your intake of whole grains, nuts, seeds and vegetables. If you suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, find out if you are Vitamin B6 deficient. You can get B6 through a variety of foods including sweet potatoes, avocados, brown rice, sunflower seeds, chick peas, pork, beef, chicken, turkey, potatoes, barley, bananas, mangoes. Most foods contain only about a mg of B6 per serving. It may take several weeks, even up to a few months, before you notice a change. 


Supplementing your diet with Vitamin B6 is thought to be the most effective natural remedy for Carpal Tunnel especially in the early stages of this problem. B6 reduces swelling. 


Do not take any vitamin supplement without consulting a naturopath or doctor. Taking more than 100 mg of B6 could be dangerous because the pyroxidine could cause neurological problems. You don’t want to trade one malady for another. Foods such as pineapples contain a vitamin called bromelianm, an enzyme that can help reduce tissue swelling.  

Do exercises. There are various types of exercises for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome which provide absolute comfort.

Learn about the variety of herbs that are useful for CTS.

Non-surgical therapy

If the condition is diagnosed early, non-surgical methods may help improve carpal tunnel syndrome. Methods may include:

• Wrist splinting - a splint that holds your wrist still while you sleep can help relieve nighttime symptoms of tingling and numbness. (Nighttime splinting may be a good option if you're pregnant and have carpal tunnel syndrome.)
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) - NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) may help relieve pain from carpal tunnel syndrome in the short term.
• Corticosteroids. Your doctor may inject your carpal tunnel with a corticosteroid such as cortisone to relieve your pain. Corticosteroids decrease inflammation and swelling, which relieves pressure on the median nerve. Oral corticosteroids aren't considered as effective as corticosteroid injections for treating carpal tunnel syndrome.

There isn't evidence, however, that these drugs improve carpal tunnel syndrome.

If carpal tunnel syndrome results from an inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, then treating the arthritis may reduce symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, but this hasn't been proved.

Surgery

If your symptoms are severe or persist after trying non-surgical therapy, surgery is recommended by the medical community and in extreme cases, might be the most appropriate option.

The goal of carpal tunnel surgery is to relieve pressure on your median nerve by cutting the ligament pressing on the nerve.The surgery may be performed with two different techniques.Discuss the risks and benefits of each technique with your surgeon before surgery. Surgery risks may include incomplete release of the ligament, wound infections, scar formation, and nerve or vascular injuries. The final results of endoscopic and open surgery are similar.

Endoscopic surgery. In endoscopic surgery, your surgeon uses a telescope-like device with a tiny camera attached to it (endoscope) to see inside your carpal tunnel and cut the ligament through one or two small incisions in your hand or wrist.

Endoscopic surgery may result in less pain than does open surgery in the first few days or weeks after surgery.

Open surgery. In open surgery, your surgeon makes a larger incision in the palm of your hand over the carpal tunnel and cuts through the ligament to free the nerve. This procedure may also be conducted using a smaller incision, which may reduce the risk of complications.

During the healing process after the surgery, the ligament tissues gradually grow back together while allowing more room for the nerve than existed before.

Soreness or weakness may take from several weeks to a few months to resolve after surgery. If your symptoms were very severe before surgery, symptoms may not go away completely after surgery.

Bio-Structural Integration™ and Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

A faster and non-invasive, non-surgical, drug-free method is available at Osteoklinika; we have had continued success with our patients at all stages of carpal tunnel.   

Every cell in our body works synergistically together to maintain homeostasis. When one system is disturbed the other cannot function properly. In my method of Bio-Structural Integration™, I address the dysfunction at every level. Within one treatment I use Cranial Osteopathy to release central nervous system lesions. After that I use an Osteopathic Muscle Energy Technique to correct the joints, followed by Myofascial Release of connective tissue. Neuromuscular Massage is implemented to reduce muscular tension, and electrotherapy helps to interrupt the pain cycle. All of the above is done within a 1 hour treatment. After the structure is realigned I recommend BioFlex Low Light Laser Therapy (LLLT) to deal with inflammation. Healing is now stimulated at the cellular level. This session may take 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on the condition being treated and the protocol selected. Elimination of inflammatory process assists in structural stabilization of the joints. As a result, muscles and ligaments relax; fascia releases its tension, flexibility increases bringing back normal range of motion and reduction of pain.

The program of rehabilitation could be up to 5 weeks long and provides more than 90% of success in bringing back a pain free life. If you have tried every possible known therapy and still have pain, you should not give up!  Surgery should be the last resort!  During many years of practice I developed protocols for numerous difficult-to-treat conditions.

This is not limited to carpal tunnel syndrome!

Here are some of the conditions we treat at Osteoklinika:

• Low back and Neck Pain
• Migraines and Headaches
• Shoulder, Elbow, Hip, Knee, Angle and Foot Pain
• Sciatica
• Temporal - Mandibular (Jaw) Pain
• Motor Vehicle Accidents
• Repetitive Strain Injuries
• Constipation
• Incontinence
• Neurological Disorders
• Chronic Ear Infections
• Post-Concussion Syndrome and Head Trauma
• Genitourinary Problems
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Tendinitis and Bursitis
• Dermal Ulcers
• Dermatological conditions
• Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
• Piriformis Syndrome
• Patella-Femoral Syndrome and Chondromalacia Patella
• Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Frozen Shoulder

"Bio-Structural Integration™ sets the new standard of rehabilitation that is unique, effective and provides a quick relief from pain." - Andrew Subieta

I can’t thank you enough for having helped me with the chronic pain I was experiencing in my arms and shoulders due to a medical mishap that occurred about six years ago. With the first visit to your clinic early this year, you were not only able to relieve most of the pain but you also allowed me to regain movement in my arms, which is something I was not able to do in years. I was completely shocked that after seeing numerous doctors and being put on several different types of medication, you were able to help me without the use of drugs and without many visits.

In June of 2014, I visited with you again with regard to a different matter. After being advised by one of the top neurologists at Mount Sinai Hospital that I had an acute case of carpal tunnel and that I would require surgery as soon as possible, you immediately took action again and with a few treatments by you and your associate Osteopath, combined with some laser therapy treatments, I was able to cancel my surgery date and stop taking the painkillers prescribed to me by the doctors I had seen at Markham Stouffville Hospital and at Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital.

Today, I am happy to report that I have regained almost 95% of the feeling back in my fingers and wrists and I have been able to remain surgery free.

I am not quite sure how you do what you do but I consider you somewhat of a miracle worker. I have recommended you to several people I know who have been suffering with various ailments (i.e. severe back, arm and foot pain) and they have all been extremely happy with the results you have given them.

Thank you again for everything you have done for me. I don’t think I could be living the quality of life I am living now without your outstanding and wonderful work." – Dolores | Toronto, Ontario

We provide professional osteopathic care; relieving pain, reducing stiffness and increasing mobility, so you may feel better as soon as possible.  Please call us to book your consultation at 905.660.8810. - Andrew Subieta, M.Sc., R.M.T., C.L.T. andrew@osteoklinika.com 

Also, please check our website at www.osteoklinika.com for more information about Bio-Structural Integration™, or our Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter pages.

Your Brain Becomes Addicted to Caffeine – Curbing or Quitting

Have you tried to quit your morning coffee? Within 24 hours of quitting the drug, your withdrawal symptoms begin. Initially, they’re subtle: The first thing you notice is that you feel mentally foggy, and lack alertness. Your muscles are fatigued, even when you haven’t done anything strenuous, and you notice that you’re more irritable than usual.

Over time, an unmistakable throbbing headache sets in, making it difficult to concentrate on anything. Eventually, as your body protests having the drug taken away, you might even feel dull muscle pains, nausea and other flu-like symptoms.

It is a Drug

This isn’t heroin, tobacco or even alcohol withdrawal. We’re talking about quitting caffeine, a substance consumed so widely (more than 80% of North American adults drink it daily) and in such mundane settings (say, at an office meeting or in your car) that we often forget it’s a drug — and by far the world’s most popular psychoactive one.

Caffeine Addiction:  A Mental Disorder

Like many drugs, caffeine is chemically addictive, a fact that scientists established

in 1994. Last  May, with the publication of the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), caffeine withdrawal was finally included as a mental disorder for the first time — even though its merits for inclusion are symptoms that regular coffee-drinkers have long known well from the times they’ve gone off it for a day or more.

Why, exactly, is caffeine addictive? The reason stems from the way the drug affects the human brain, producing the alert feeling that caffeine drinkers crave.

Soon after you drink (or eat) something containing caffeine, it’s absorbed through the small intestine and dissolved into the bloodstream. Because the chemical is both water and fat-soluble (meaning that it can dissolve in water-based solutions — think blood — as well as fat-based substances, such as our cell (membranes), it’s able to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and enter the brain.

Structurally, caffeine closely resembles a molecule that’s naturally present in our brain, called adenosine (which is a by-product of many cellular processes, including cellular respiration) — so much so, in fact, that caffeine can fit neatly into our brain cells’ receptors for adenosine, effectively blocking them off. Normally, the adenosine produced over time locks into these receptors and produces a feeling of tiredness.

When caffeine molecules are blocking those receptors, they prevent this from occurring, thereby generating a sense of alertness and energy for a few hours.

Additionally, some of the brain’s own natural stimulants (such as dopamine) work more effectively when the adenosine receptors are blocked, and all the surplus adenosine floating around in the brain cues the adrenal glands to secrete adrenaline, another stimulant.

Buzzed

For this reason, caffeine isn’t technically a stimulant on its own, says Stephen R. Braun, the author or Buzz: the Science and Lore of Alcohol and Caffeine, but a stimulant enabler: a substance that lets our natural stimulants run wild. Ingesting caffeine, he writes, is akin to “putting a block of wood under one of the brain’s primary brake pedals.” This block stays in place for anywhere from four to six hours, depending on the person’s age, size and other factors, until the caffeine is eventually metabolized by the body.

Brain Chemistry Will Change

In people who take advantage of this process on a daily basis (i.e. coffee/tea, soda or energy drink addicts), the brain’s chemistry and physical characteristics actually change over time as a result. The most notable change is that brain cells grow more adenosine receptors, which is the brain’s attempt to maintain equilibrium in the face of a constant onslaught of caffeine, with its adenosine receptors so regularly plugged (studies indicate that the brain also responds by decreasing the number of receptors for norepinephrine, a stimulant). This explains why regular coffee drinkers build up a tolerance over time —because you have more adenosine receptors, it takes more caffeine to block a significant proportion of them and achieve the desired effect.

This also explains why suddenly giving up caffeine entirely can trigger a range of withdrawal effects. The underlying chemistry is complex and not fully understood, but the principle is that your brain is used to operating in one set of conditions (with an artificially-inflated number of adenosine receptors, and a decreased number of norepinephrine receptors) that depend upon regular ingestion of caffeine. Suddenly, without the drug, the altered brain chemistry causes all sorts of problems, including the dreaded caffeine withdrawal headache.

If you drink more than 4 cups of coffee per day, such as more than 500 to 600 mg a day – you may experience side effects such as:

•        Insomnia
•        Nervousness
•        Restlessness
•        Irritability
•        Stomach upset
•        Fast heartbeat
•        Muscle tremors

Magnesium Deficiency

“Magnesium is the most critical mineral required for electrical stability of every cell in the body. A magnesium deficiency may be responsible for more diseases than any other nutrient.” - Dr. Norman Shealy

After oxygen, water, and basic food, Magnesium may be the most important element needed by our bodies, vitally important yet hardly known. It is more important than calcium, potassium or sodium and regulates all three of them. Millions suffer daily from magnesium deficiency without even knowing it!

Coffee, sodas and black tea can lead to a magnesium deficiency due to both the caffeine and acid content! This can cause a host of problems with regard to your health, i.e. kidney stones, pain management and inflammation.

Maybe you don’t have immediate or long-term health consequences in mind but are tired of being dependent on caffeine to get going or stay going during the day. It’s not an empowering feeling to wake up thinking about getting your “fix” and knowing you’ll suffer a monster headache if you don’t get it.

Sleep Deprivation

Most adults need seven to eight hours of sleep each night. But caffeine can interfere with this much-needed sleep. Chronically losing sleep — whether it's from work, travel, stress or too much caffeine — results in sleep deprivation. Sleep loss is cumulative, and even small nightly decreases can add up and disturb your daytime alertness and performance.

Using caffeine to mask sleep deprivation can create an unwelcome cycle. For example, you may drink caffeinated beverages because you have trouble staying awake during the day. But the caffeine keeps you from falling asleep at night, shortening the length of time you sleep.

Giving Up Coffee

The good news is that, compared to many drug addictions, the effects are relatively short-term. To kick the thing, you only need to get through about 7-12 days of symptoms without drinking any caffeine. During that period, your brain will naturally decrease the number of adenosine receptors on each cell, responding to the sudden lack of caffeine ingestion. If you can make it that long without a cup of “joe” or a “spot of tea”, the levels of adenosine receptors in your brain reset to their baseline levels, and your addiction will be broken.

You won’t miss the jitters, energy crashes, teeth stains, dehydration, and nervous irritability!

Energy Drinks Have Caffeine

If you need to break your addiction to caffeine, here’s how to do it with minimal discomfort . 

Know your “why.” Why do you want to curb your caffeine intake?  Everyone I know who drinks coffee say “they say coffee is good for you, right? Antioxidants and all that?” 

Truth:  Up to 400 mg per day is regarded as safe for most healthy adults. That translates to about 4 cups (8 oz sized) of brewed coffee, 10 cans of cola or two “energy shot” drinks.  (Adolescents should be limited to 100 mg of caffeine a day.)

 I  drink _____  cups per day and my favourite cup holds ____ oz of coffee.

For some, a single cup of drip coffee causes increased sweating, nervousness, mood changes, and a caffeine crash!

Curbing Caffeine Intake

To change your caffeine habit more gradually: 

Keep tabs. Start paying attention to how much caffeine you're getting from foods and beverages. It’s usually more than you think so read the labels carefully! Even then, your estimate may be a little low because not all foods or drinks list caffeine. Chocolate, which has a small amount, doesn't.

Cut back. But do it gradually. For example, drink one fewer can of soda or drink a smaller cup of coffee each day. Or avoid drinking caffeinated beverages late in the day. This will help your body get used to the lower levels of caffeine and lessen potential withdrawal effects.

Go decaf. Most decaffeinated beverages look and taste the same as their caffeinated counterparts.

Shorten the brew time or go herbal. When making tea, brew it for less time. This cuts down on its caffeine content. Or choose herbal teas that don't have caffeine.

Check the bottle. Some over-the-counter pain relievers contain caffeine — as much as 130 mg of caffeine in one dose. Look for caffeine-free pain relievers instead.

Caution on Caffeine Consumption

Although the recent research and evidence is shifting toward a more favourable view of coffee's effect on our health, it is not based on cause and effect but on links for which there could be other explanations: it could be that regular coffee drinkers have something else in common, that studies have yet to discover, to account for the effect on health.

As usual, it is always up to you to manage your caffeine intake.  Mark Twain once said,

 “Too much of anything is not good”

and that goes for caffeine too!

At Osteoklinika:
We provide professional osteopathic care; relieving pain, reducing stiffness and increasing mobility, so you may feel better as soon as possible.  Please call us to book your consultation at 905.660.8810. - Andrew Subieta, M.Sc., R.M.T., C.L.T. andrew@osteoklinika.com 

Also, please check our website at www.osteoklinika.com for more information about Bio-Structural Integration™, or our Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter pages.