James David Adams
University of Southern California School of Pharmacy, USA
Title: Proper pain treatment with plant derived medicines
Biography
Biography: James David Adams
Abstract
Pain can best be treated in the skin, such as with cold, heat, acupuncture and plant derived liniments. The pain cycle starts in the skin with transient receptor potential cation channels on sensory afferent neurons. These cation channels are the most abundant pain sensors in the body and are most abundant in the skin. They are regulated by prostaglandins, resolvins, endocannabinoids and perhaps other lipid derived endogenous compounds. Prostaglandins are largely made by cyclooxygenase-2 that is induced in the skin during chronic pain conditions. Plant derived medicines are available that can be applied directly to the skin. The talk will discuss plant medicines that come from California Indian traditional healing practices. These medicines contain monoterpenoids that inhibit transient receptor potential cation channels and sesquiterpenes that inhibit cyclooxygenase-2. In general, monoterpenoids and sesquiterpenes cross the skin. Pain is inhibited by application of small amounts of these medicines where they are needed. This provides superior pain relief than oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) or oral opioids. These oral agents are used in large amounts and cause toxicity to internal organs. NSAIDs cause 100,000 ulcers in the US every year and at least 10,000 deaths. They also increase heart attacks and strokes. Opioids cause 14,000 deaths in the US every year from respiratory depression and seizures. The use of plant derived liniments has the potential to save many lives every year.