Heat and pain relief

If you've had your fair share of sore, aching muscles over the years, I'm sure you know how soothing heat can be. For years doctors thought that heat simply offered those in pain comfort or increased the blood flow to the painful area, but a recent study conducted by researchers at University College London showed that there's a lot more to it than that.

Based on the results of this study, it looks like heat works just like pharmaceuticals in stopping pain: by blocking the pain molecules. When the researchers used DNA technology to monitor heat and pain receptors in cells, they realized that heat molecules actually have the ability to block pain molecules. According to Dr. Liz Bell of the Physiological Society, "[This research] will be important in developing a better generation of effective pain-killing drugs."

Since we know from the last e-Tip that even short-term use of Tylenol could harm the liver, it's nice to know that heat is a safe, effective alternative to over-the-counter or prescription pain medications.

Source: "Heat therapy works as effective painkiller, researchers discover," NewsTarget.com, 7/5/06

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