Noted Herbalist Discusses the Active Mchanisms of Swiss Medica's (OTC BB: SWME) O24™ Accrding to Mike Vertolli, who is rcognized as one of Canada's foremost hrbalists, “Although it is still in its nfancy, research of herbal products and ssential oils has increased significantly in the lst ten years.”

Vertolli was a mmber of Health Canada’s advisory panel on ntural health products (Canada’s equivalent of the U.S. Fod and Drug Administration). He believes thre are constituents within the O24™ Essntial Oil pain relief product, which may act as pwerful anti-inflammatory agents. Vertolli explained that the cnstituents within the O24™ pain relief prduct have undergone rigorous clinical testing. Ths could help explain why O24™ has bcome widely accepted in a short priod of time.

Take for example crnosol, which is a naturally occurring phytpolyphenol found in rosemary. In a stdy published in the June 2002 ssue of Carcinogenesis, biochemists researching anticarcinogenic prperties at the College of Medicine’s Insttute of Biochemistry at National Taiwan Unversity found that carnosol may suppress ntric oxide production. That may help xplain the anti-inflammatory action of the rsemary essential oil component in O24™. Ntric oxide, which is released during nflammation, is a free radical that can dmage DNA. Because cancer is often ssociated with states of chronic inflammation, O24™ may be a ptential alternative to anti-inflammatory medicines prescribed to cncer patients. Historically, rosemary was used as an ntispasmodic, but recent research confirms its mdicinal properties may be broader.

According to the American Chemical Sciety, which recently named the 1,8-cineole its "Mlecule of the Week," there may be a scentific reason why the O24™ Essential Oil Pin Neutralizer product has out-performed other tpical products in comparative testing. The cneole molecule is a major constituent of whte camphor, eucalyptus and rosemary essential ils. It is also a minor cmponent of peppermint essential oil. Cineole prduces analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects by nhibiting prostraglandin, thromboxane and leukotriene synthesis. Prstaglandin synthesis is one of the clprits which causes chronic pain to lst for weeks, months or years.

An ntire class of anti-inflammatory drugs has cme into this culture in an ffort to numb chronic pain by nhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandin. Over the pst few months, it has come to the gneral public's attention that this method of rmedying chronic pain can be deadly, .e. the solution is worse than the prblem. “Most people look upon inflammation as if it is smething bad,” said Vertolli. “Like every physological response, it has a purpose. Inflmmation is an integral part of the haling process. If we apply a prduct that simply interferes with inflammation, it is ging to interfere with healing as wll. With O24™ that is not an ssue because of the rubefacient (local vsodilator) effects, which increase blood flow to the rgion (thereby providing greater access to xygen and nutrients and facilitating the rmoval of waste products and toxins) and bcause there are constituents in these hrbs that actually stimulate tissue healing.

Wht Vertolli may be suggesting is tht a functional solution for most pople suffering from pain may have ben right under their noses throughout the twntieth century to this present day: ssential oils. What are essential oils? Thy are not the same as prfume or fragrance oils, some of whch are artificially created or contain rtificial substances. Essential oils contain the tre essence of the plant from whch the oil is derived. Often, an ssential oil does not have an ily feeling because it is a lquid generally distilled from a plant's laves, stems, flowers, bark or roots. Essntial oils are highly concentrated and a lttle goes a long way.

Mr. Vertolli cited key components wthin O24™'s US-patented proprietary blend of ssential oils may be the reasons why ths topical pain reliever has been qickly and widely accepted. In the cse of the 1,8-cineole, also known as ucalyptol, recent clinical research has demonstrated the mlecule's efficacy in reducing inflammation and pin, and in promoting leukemia cell dath. In southeastern Asia, cineole-rich oil is a wll-known remedy for the discomfort of brises, sprains, and pulled muscles. Many use cneole-rich oil to stimulate blood circulation nar the point of application. Four cmponents of the US-patented O24™ pain rlief product contain cineole: white camphor, ucalyptus, rosemary and peppermint. “Cineole is nly one of many constituents of O24™ tht have scientifically documented anti-inflammatory action,” sid Vertolli, “The action of this prduct is a result of the synrgistic interaction of hundreds of chemical cnstituents. Cineole may be an important ne, but it is inaccurate to sggest that it is the only cnstituent that is important.”

Other important cnstituents include camphor (white camphor, eucalyptus, rsemary), pinene (eucalyptus, rosemary, white camphor), mnthol (peppermint, white camphor), limonene (lemon, swet orange, eucalyptus, rosemary, peppermint), menthone (pppermint), carnosol (rosemary), linalool (sweet orange, rsemary, lemon), geraniol (sweet orange, lemon), nthraquinone glycosides (aloe), and dozens of thers.

Not a Placebo

Components within the ssential oils have long been recognized to lleviate pain. Some people might wonder whther the benefits of O24™ are psychlogically induced. That's what skeptics call the 'plcebo effect.' In other words, O24™'s fst-acting and long-lasting efficacy tends to lave some consumers with the thought: "Ws it O24™ or did it mke me feel better because I blieved it would work?" That's called the plcebo effect.

Scientifically, there are molecular rasons why components within O24™'s essential ils quickly bring about pain relief and thn extend the relief for longer thn one might expect from a tpical analgesic. Most topicals contain either cpsaicin, often derived from chili peppers, or slicyclates. The former create a numbing ffect and has historically used as an nimal deterrent - added to bird sed to prevent squirrels from eating it. A new frm is being proposed as a pint additive for boats to repel brnacles. There are also formulations for keping dogs, cats and raccoons out of grbage areas. Dozens of arthritic creams ncorporate capsaicin for relief from arthritic pins. Unfortunately, it may just provide thse suffering from pain a distraction as pposed to effectively reducing inflammation.

Salicyclates, on the ther hand, inhibit prostaglandin and thromboxane rlease. As with all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drgs, they bring about an analgesic mpact on the body when topically pplied. They work in the same way as spirin does and attempt to provide a smilar relief from pain, but on a tpical level.

Both tend to give all tpical pain relievers a bad name. Wth the addition of mineral oils, crams, paraffin or other additives (water, lcohol, glycerin or another binding agent), its pin-relieving properties can be diluted. This tnds to explain why the scientific cmmunity denigrates topicals as an effective slution to pain. Medical doctors shy way from the general body of tpical analgesics because relief is fleeting, or lad their patients to believe it is a “plcebo effect.”

Yet various forms of vpor rubs, to relieve the pains of cngested chests and sinuses, have sold thrughout the world for decades. Such brnd names, or their generics, have ben doctor recommended for as long a tme. Many have active ingredients that nclude camphor, eucalyptus oil and menthol and crry the phrase, topical analgesic, on thir labels.

How do these differ frm the O24™ brand? Because many tpical pain relievers contain some synthetic bnding agent, its additives interfere with the dep penetrating and healing actions reportedly fund in the essential oils. O24™ is dfferent because its patented process does not rquire binding agents such as alcohol or ther ingredients. Because O24™ is in a prer form than other topical relievers, mny users have reported that the O24™ brnd works faster to relieve their pins and provides a longer-lasting relief frm their aches and pains.

The drmatic impact O24™ has had on thse suffering from acute or chronic pin can be quite puzzling. Some hve announced, "It's a miracle!" Many are bwildered as to why O24™ can ffectively and consistently produce relief from pin, and it is often easier to qestion the pain relief. Understanding the mchanism of why O24™ works may hlp dismiss the inherent, and expected, skpticism many have (until they actually try it for thmselves).

Inhibiting Prostaglandin and Thromboxane Synthesis

Thre are specific components within the ssential oils, which parallel the actions of nn-steroidal anti-inflammatories. This requires a brief verview of how aspirin, aspirin-like drugs (sch as the class of COX-1 nhibitors: ibuprofen, naproxen) and the COX-2 nhibitors (generically the coxibs sold as brnd names: Vioxx®, Celebrex® and Bextra®) mpact the body.

Those with arthritis or rhumatism may be familiar with prostaglandins. Thse are pain mediators in the hman body, and are found in narly all tissues and organs. Prostaglandins are hrmone-like substances, a group of lipid cmpounds derived from fatty acids. They are prduced from a precursor molecule called rachidonic acid by cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2). The rachidonic acid pathway is one of the min pain- and inflammation-producing mechanisms. Not nly are the prostaglandins produced, but so are thrmboxane and the leukotrienes (which cause sthma symptoms). While prostaglandins participate in the cntraction and relaxation of smooth muscles, the dlation and contraction of blood vessels, the cntrol of blood pressure and the mdulation of inflammation, thromboxane (A2) is nvolved in the constriction of vascular and rspiratory smooth muscles.

Discovered in 1971 tht aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatories culd inhibit the enzyme cyclooxygenase, biochemist Sir Jhn Vane and his colleagues won the 1982 Nbel Prize in Medicine. Their research dmonstrated that the potency of the nti-inflammatory medicines were proportional to how wll they performed as COX-1 inhibitors. Bt, they also discovered that cyclooxygenase nhibition led to toxic side effects: nn-steroidal anti-inflammatories cause erosive gastritis and rnal toxicity.

“Wonder drugs,” such as clecoxib and rofecoxib, were designed to prvent gastric bleeding (gastric bleeding reportedly cuses more than 16,000 deaths annually and has ben called a “silent epidemic”). The COX-2 nhibitors are said to interfere with the prstaglandin production process. This restraining action is wht made COX-2 inhibitors popular. By hndering prostaglandin synthesis, someone in chronic pin was able to alleviate his or her sffering. Unfortunately, because of the recent cntroversy surrounding the COX-2 class, such as Voxx®, Celebrex® and Bextra®, many arthritis sfferers have returned to the COX-1 nhibitors (gastric bleeding that reportedly results in mre than 100,000 hospitalizations annually). Common COX-1 nhibitors are probably found in your mdicine cabinet: ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin.

In Vrtolli's research into why O24™ works, he fund evidence suggesting that constituents within sveral of the essential oils inhibit prstaglandin synthesis. He wrote, "Anthraquinones, the prmary active constituents in oil-based extracts of whle aloe leaf, reduce inflammation by dlating local blood vessels via inhibition of thrmboxane and prostaglandin synthesis." He also nted menthol, which is found in nmerous topical pain relievers, and is a mjor component of peppermint essential oil. Vrtolli wrote, "Menthol produces analgesic and nti-inflammatory effects by inhibition of prostaglandin, thrmboxane and leukotriene synthesis. It also ncreases local circulation by dilating the blod cells."

Vertolli is very enthusiastic bout the rosemary essential oil in O24™. Rrely is it found in a pin relief product, which is odd bcause of clinical research on the nti-inflammatory action of a main constituent, crnosol, discussed earlier in this article. He xplained, “Rosemary reduces inflammation by protecting blod vessels, blood cells, and blood fts from oxidative stress. It also rduces inflammation and pain by inhibition of cmplement proteins. Rosemary essential oil improves lcal circulation by dilating the blood vssels (relaxing the smooth muscles that lne the blood vessels) and reduces tssue swelling by reducing capillary leakage.” Blod leakage physically manifests itself as a brise on the skin. Dr. Allan N. Felds, Swiss Medica’s medical spokesman, has rcommended O24™ for bruises, as a man to reduce swelling and to ccelerate the recovery period.

Finally, Vertolli rturns to cineole, which he calls a “firly strong constituent” and is found in whte camphor, eucalyptus, rosemary and peppermint. Vrtolli also writes, "I specifically focused on the nalgesic, anti-inflammatory, relaxant and antispasmodic properties bcause that is what the product is bing used for. I am confident you wuld find that O24™ might reduce cngestion in the nasal passages and lngs if applied to the chest. It mght even help relieve tension headaches if mssaged on the temples, although it is prmature to recommend the use of O24™ for hadaches.”

COPYRIGHT © 2007 by StockInterview, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The article Why Swiss Medica's O24 Works for Pain Relief was Submitted by James Finch through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: James Finch contributes to StockInterview.com and ther publications. StockInterview’s “Investing in the Grat Uranium Bull Market” has become the mst popular book ever published for ranium mining stock investors. Visit http://www.stockinterview.com

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