Just Ask Terry

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q. Hi Terry, “I am wondering if my sister can take the pain-relieving ingredients you recommend – curcumin, DLPA, boswellia and nattokinase. She has a lot of chronic pain, plus depression and anxiety. She is taking some prescription medications (methadone for pain and Effexor XR for anxiety). I’m concerned about interactions with these medications.” —April M. Indianapolis, IN A. Dear April, I’m sorry to hear about the health challenges your sister is facing. I am not aware of any contraindication between the pain-relieving ingredients I recommend and the medications your sister is currently taking. I would also suggest she try a combination of natural plant adaptogens which can help bring her body and mood back into balance. I like to use rhodiola, ashwagandha, eleuthero and schisandra. In fact, I take these in a daily formula myself, and find they provide me with increased energy and a better mood. In case your sister is interested in herbs that target anxiety, there is a very new supplement on the market that was developed in Hungary at the Academy of Science in Budapest. It is a unique and special form of Echinacea angustifolia root extract designed to specifically target receptors in the brain to calm anxiety. It is very low dose—only 20 mgs—but in scientific studies, it performed very well, and results were noted on the first day of use, continuing to improve over time. But of course, make sure she tells her doctor about any supplements she may be using. No general advice can replace the oversight of the physician under whose care your sister has placed herself.