Seventy million NSAID prescriptions a year are written in the United States and more than 30 billion over-the-counter NSAID tablets are sold per year, producing what lead author M. Michael Wolfe, M.D., of Boston Medical Center, and colleagues called "substantial morbidity and mortality." Roughly 16,500 people taking NSAIDS for rheumatoid arthritis or osteoporosis died in 1997 from gastrointestinal toxic effects of NSAIDS (the number rose to 20,000 last year). This is about the same number who die each year from AIDS complications, triple the number who die from asthma, and four times the number who die from cervical cancer. At least 103,000 hospitalizations a year are reported from serious gastrointestinal complications of NSAIDS. Direct costs exceed $2 billion.

Pain relief is big business for the pharmaceutical companies. Every few months there is a newly minted NSAID on the market, announced with expensive adds on its ability to relieve arthritis pain. And yet one fifth of all suspected adverse drug reactions reported to the FDA are linked to NSAIDs.

Initially these drugs will take care of your pain, and this makes them seem like a real solution. However, their side effects include gastrointestinal upset and bleeding, kidney and liver damage, and water and sodium retention.

The worse side effect of NSAIDs is seldom mentioned: They actually block the body's ability to produce cartilage and increase the destruction of cartilage lining the ends of the bone. In a study of 186 arthritis patients, physicians in Norway studied the x-rays of 294 arthritic hips. Fifty-eight of the patients were taking the NSAID Indocin, and 128 were not taking NSAIDs. Those on Indocin had far more rapid hip destruction than the non-medicated group.

The biggest problem is people taking NSAIDs are unaware of the potential hazards. One study found that nearly 75 percent of people who took NSAIDs regularly were either unaware of or not concerned about the possible gastrointestinal complications.

MSM 2000 is an excellent alternative to NSAIDs in relieving arthritic pain. Actor James Colburn credits MSM for returning him to the career he loves. Once totally incapacitated with arthritis, Mr. Colburn started taking MSM and soon was on his way to recovery. Today James Colburn is very outspoken for the healing benefit of MSM. I recommend three caplets taken twice per day for ten days. Then try one to two caplets twice per day.

Water is one way of alleviating pain, drink two to three quarts of water everyday. F. Batmanghelidj, M.D., says that simple water can alleviate much of the pain people suffer today. If dehydration and pain have been present for a while, then relief will occur only after the body has had an increased intake of water for several weeks.

Relieve is an arthritis formula that uses glucosamine hydrochloride to effectively treat osteoarthritis. Glucosamine is not an analgesic or anti-inflammatory per se, rather, it appears to exert beneficial effect on the disease process. Another ingredient in Relieve is shark cartilage. The current medical literature contains much scientific evidence that shark cartilage is tremendously effective in treatment in many degenerative and inflammatory conditions. I recommend 6 caplets per day in a divided dose for 10 days. Thereafter, 2 per day, or as needed.

Ease is a topical analgesic spray. The main ingredient is a proven salicylate. Ease effectively combines the analgesic power of aspirin with the humectant properties of Emu Oil and Aloe Vera, and MSM to produce pain killing and anti-inflammatory action superior to any other external product. Apply several sprays to the painful area liberally. Massage until dry. Repeat application immediately one or two times.

If after reading this report, one insists on taking NSAIDs, then I recommend taking MSM 2000 before taking your doseage of a NSAID. MSM will coat the stomach lining and prevent gastrointestinal complications. In fact, it is a good idea to take MSM before taking any prescribed drug.

All the products listed above, with the exception of water, can be purchased through ForMor International by going to the catalog section on the web site. Remember not to drink tap water because…that's a life saving report for another time.