One of the weaknesses in the nutritional supplement world has been the lack of effective pain-relieving agents. With the opioid addiction epidemic and the known dangers of over-the-counter drugs such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, there is a tremendous need for safe and effective natural pain relievers.
A real breakthrough in the integrative and holistic medical world is a natural substance known as palmitoylethanolamide (PEA). PEA is a naturally occurring fatty acid derivative made in the body and found in small amounts in foods such as soy lecithin, egg yolk, and peanut meal. This naturally occurring substance is a game changer for the treatment of pain and inflammation. As the journal Nutrients reports, PEA is:
*A broad-spectrum analgesic
*Anti-inflammatory
*Neuroprotective
Show Me The Studies
In terms of the quality of pain relief, it has been shown to reduce acute pain, inflammatory pain, and nerve-related pain. A 2023 review of 11 studies in which patients had various types of pain (muscles, joints, neurological, gynecological, digestive) found that PEA provided significant pain-relieving effects.
A 2021 randomized, double-blind study compared 350 mg of Levagen™ to a placebo for two weeks to reduce adult joint pain. Pain scores were significantly reduced in the Levagen™ group compared to the placebo.
A 2019 randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study was completed in adults with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis. 111 participants received Levagen™ 300 mg, 600 mg, or placebo each day. There was significant pain and anxiety improvement in the Levagen ™ groups.
Eight clinical trials involving 1366 patients demonstrated that PEA is a safe and effective treatment for sciatic pain, low back pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Moreover, a study of 636 patients with sciatica found that supplementation of PEA for three weeks resulted in a 60% reduction in pain.
The type of Levagen PEA I use in my PEA+Turmeric Wellness has a 5% increase in absorption compared to regular PEA. A specific technology disperses the fat-soluble compounds in a water environment, resulting in superior absorption in the small intestine.
The International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences reports: “The safety profile of PEA has been well researched for over 50 years and evidence suggests that doses up to 1,200 mg/day have no harmful effects.”
To enhance the pain-relieving effects of PEA, I added a form of Meriva turmeric that has a 29-times higher absorption than regular turmeric. This form of turmeric has been shown to reduce exercise-related discomfort, muscle soreness, osteoarthritis pain, and stiffness.
Also, the purest form of MSM, OptiMSM, is used to reduce inflammation and preserve connective tissue and cartilage.
The use of PEA, along with other studied natural agents, has been a game changer in helping patients with acute and chronic inflammation. I use this product to help patients manage chronic muscle and joint pain, as well as pain that is the result of autoimmune-related inflammation. And unlike common pain medications, PEA does not damage the liver, kidneys, brain, and digestive tract. One study showed that PEA helps to heal leaky gut. Work with your healthcare practitioners to use a variety of natural methods to resolve pain issues, along with pain-fighting agents such as PEA.
Briskey, D., Roche, G., & Rao, A. (2021). The effect of a dispersible palmitoylethanolamide (Levagen+) compared to a placebo for reducing joint pain in an adult population – a randomised, double-blind study. International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences, 10(1), 9. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20211001.12
Cuomo, J., Appendino, G., Dern, A. S., Schneider, E., McKinnon, T. P., Brown, M. J., Togni, S., & Dixon, B. M. (2011). Comparative absorption of a standardized curcuminoid mixture and its lecithin formulation. Journal of Natural Products, 74(4), 664–669. https://doi.org/10.1021/np1007262
Keppel Hesselink, J. M., & Kopsky, D. J. (2015). Palmitoylethanolamide, a neutraceutical, in nerve compression syndromes: efficacy and safety in sciatic pain and carpal tunnel syndrome. Journal of Pain Research, 8, 729–734. https://doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S93106
Lang-Illievich, K., Klivinyi, C., Rumpold-Seitlinger, G., Dorn, C., & Bornemann-Cimenti, H. (2022). The Effect of Palmitoylethanolamide on Pain Intensity, Central and Peripheral Sensitization, and Pain Modulation in Healthy Volunteers-A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial. Nutrients, 14(19), 4084. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14194084
Steels, E., Venkatesh, R., Steels, E., Vitetta, G., & Vitetta, L. (2019a). A double-blind randomized placebo controlled study assessing safety, tolerability and efficacy of palmitoylethanolamide for symptoms of knee osteoarthritis. Inflammopharmacology, 27(3), 475–485. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-019-00582-9
