Garlic use may lead to new treatments for painful muscle disorders Hurts so good If you've ever eaten raw garlic you know it has quite a bite. Now researchers know why: Garlic has been found to excite pain-sensing neurons in our mouths. Scientists say this newfound knowledge may help explain why garlic has been associated with lowering blood pressure and could someday lead to new treatments for arthritis and painful muscle disorders. Researchers say their work supports the finding that garlic is capable of causing blood vessels to dilate or widen, which explains garlic's role in lowering blood pressure. Here's how: A chemical compound in garlic called allicin stimulates neurons, or nerve cells, by activating a pain receptor called TRPA1. When this happens, the pain neurons release a chemical, causing blood vessels to dilate -- and also triggering inflammation. This understanding of how nerves work can help scientists learn more about how arthritis and some muscular problems develop. There are compounds in chili peppers and in hot mustard plants like wasabi that also initiate the same response, suggesting that these also could lower blood pressure. But there's just one catch to this new information. Allicin is available in abundance in raw garlic, but not when it is baked. So although you may love the milder taste that roasted garlic produces, a separate study found that baking garlic eliminated its ability to stimulate TRPA1. **************************************************** Q: My son has eczema on his elbows, knees, and sometimes his hands. Since he already has problems with it now, I am dreading the winter months when I am told his problem will likely get worse. I am hesitant to use the steroid cream that he was prescribed. Is there anything else that will bring him relief? JVW: There is a natural skin cream that you can try that has had some success -- vitamin B12 in a cream form. It will help relieve the itching that can drive a person to distraction, and will also heal the skin. It is available over the counter or it can be ordered on the internet. Your son should also be evaluated by a nutritionally oriented physician who can diagnose the cause of the eczema and develop a treatment plan that may be able to eliminate the problem over time. Remember, good skin comes from what goes in your body, not what you slather on the outside. Getting professional advice could bring a long-term solution. Meanwhile, he may be able to get some temporary relief with the B12 cream. **************************************************** What is...TRPA1? TRPA1 is the name for a specific transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channel located in the mouth and tongue. TRP channels are a class of molecules on the surface of specialized neurons that detect heat, cold, and pain. These ion channels are also embedded in the skin. When the TRPA1 channels in the mouth are activated by allicin, a sulfur-based chemical compound of raw garlic, the channels open, allowing positively charged calcium ions outside the nerve cells to rush in, sending a signal to the brain through the spinal column. The brain processes the information, sensing pain. Yours in good health, Amanda Ross Editorial Director Nutrition & Healing  Sources: Bautista DM., et al. "Pungent products from garlic activate the sensory ion channel TRPA1," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2005; 102(34):12,248-12,252

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