Coral extract could soothe pain in Multiple sclerosis
The Nature Reviews Neurology 5, 522 (October 2009) has published some interesting findings on Coral
“Research from Taiwan indicates that capnellene (GB9), a compound extracted from the soft coral Capnella imbricata, could prove useful for treating neuropathy and neuropathic pain.”
When pain is the result of a disruption or alteration of nerve conduction, it is termed neurogenic or neuropathic. Pain caused by nerve damage can range from a mild prickling to severe burning, itching or aching and usually requires different treatment from musculoskeletal pain.
Pain management is approached medically, behaviourally, physically and in some cases, surgically. If it is treated with drugs it is always a balance of risk versus benefit. In other words, medication side effects need to be considered and continually evaluated in terms of their impact on a person’s quality of life.
Neuropathic pain responds variably to currently available drugs; painkillers, antidepressants and anti-epilepsy drugs often have no effect.
Usual medications
Carbamazepine (anticonvulsant): Side effects Drowsiness, Dizziness, Coordination difficulties
Phenytoin (anticonvulsant): Side effects Dizziness, Nausea, Insomnia, Uncontrollable eye movements, Coordination difficulties, Slurred speech, Confusion
Baclofen (muscle relaxant): Side effects Weakness, Drowsiness, Dizziness
Gabapentin (anticonvulsant) may also help: Side effects Dizziness, Coordination difficulties, Fatigue
Zhi-Hong Wen. said “Capnellene could be the first of a new generation of painkillers that are more effective than steroids or opiates and do not have their potential side effects or their addiction-forming properties,”
CB09 and its derivative GB10 have been looked at with two proinflammatory molecules which were reduced to almost control levels at the highest GB9 and GB10 concentrations tested.
“We are currently investigating the effects of GB9 and GB10 in other animal models of osteoarthritic pain, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson disease, as the compounds could also be potent therapeutic agents for a range of neuroinflammatory diseases,” says Wen.
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Twitter: kathAVFM
said:
How fantastic to have something more effective than steroids or opiates.
How long will it take for these drugs to appear? Are they a cure?
Twitter: kathAVFM
said:
I think we never know when they will appear as the trial process can take many years to be sure there is no ill effects. It’s still good news that this seems to be a “natural” solution
Hi KathAVFM
Years? That’s tooo long- I’m thinking in terms of days
. Do you think it is possible? Do you think it could be the long awaited cure? What about, neutrophin (NT3) Do you know this drug? It seems to help regrow neerve fibers.
By the way. I had a Magnetic Ressonance to my cervical (no contrast used), and my neuropathic pain seemed to increased? Have you done one?
Twitter: kathAVFM
said:
NT3 is a chemical naturally occurring in the brain. A recent study said
“It seems plausible that the immune cell-mediated import of neurotrophic factors into the central nervous system has functional consequences, with obvious implications for the therapy of multiple sclerosis and other neuroimmunological diseases.”
In other words, this too is under study and not currently released.
Of course it is always frustrating that a cure is not found quicker but if we did not have carefully controlled clinical trials that drugs which turn out to be dangerous could hit the market and cause a lot of pain, distress and even death.
Ok,
Thank you for the explanation. But what is your personal opinium? Do you think one of them could be the cure, or at least a kind of? From what you have read, do you have faith on one of them? Do you think the coral is the beste bet? Do you think we’re about to win this war againts neuropathic pain, this time, with less side effects?
PS: I hope this won’t turn out to be like the sea snail…
PS: I sent you an e-mail. Please answer it, ok? Here in Portugal there is little information/support about Neuropathic Pain.
Thank you
Or this also might be the cure:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/re.....165836.htm
Twitter: kathAVFM
said:
fascinating stuff but as usual it’s not a cure just a management process. It will only be a cure when we can be sure of the cause and sure that we have prevented it.
Twitter: kathAVFM
said:
I don’t think there will be any one cure I think we need to create a number of approaches. Have replied to your email