what categories of pain does PEA seem to help with in studies/reports?
The study below suggests that PEA is more effective than ibuprofen for TMJ pain. (I understand TMJ pain is a combination of muscle and joint pain.) It often includes tenderness of your jaw, aching pain in and around your ear, pain while chewing, aching facial pain and headaches.
[[Palmitoylethanolamide versus a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug in the treatment of temporomandibular joint inflammatory pain - PubMed]]
Results:Pain decrease after 2 weeks of treatment was significantly higher in group A (PEA) than in group B (ibuprofen); maximum range of motion improved more in group A (PEA) than in group B (ibuprofen).
This study confirms its efficacy as a broad-spectrum analgesic:
[[The Effect of Palmitoylethanolamide on Pain Intensity, Central and Peripheral Sensitization, and Pain Modulation in Healthy Volunteers-A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial - PubMed]]
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is marketed as a "dietary food for special medical purposes". Its broad-spectrum analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects make PEA an interesting substance in pain management. Our study investigated the mode of action of PEA using an established pain model, Repetitive heat pain was significantly decreased, and the cold pain tolerance was significantly prolonged after the PEA treatment. The pressure pain tolerance and the conditioned pain modulation were increased after the PEA treatment. The wind-up ratio and the average distance of allodynia were significantly decreased after the PEA treatment. The heat pain tolerance was significantly higher after the PEA treatment. The present study has demonstrated that PEA has clinically relevant analgesic properties, acting on both peripheral and central mechanisms as well as in pain modulation.
I have asked a few veterinarians about it, and PEA has quickly gained a reputation for working well for joint pain in dogs. I use it for my dog and it helps.
The anecdotal story that first made me sit up and pay serious attention to PEA was a phone call (actually multiple phone calls) I had with a FitEyes member who suffered from spinal cord damage due to an accident. He was confined to a wheelchair. For years after his accident he had been prescribed the strongest narcotics and other prescription pain medications but he was still left with some pain and the side effects of those medications made it impossible for him to work. He had been a brilliant engineer (to the level of being world famous). Once he started PEA he was able to get off of all the prescription pain medication and PEA was even more effective. Because of this, his quality of life was about a thousand percent better and he was able to resume working. He said the narcotics had practically ruined his life, but PEA gave him better pain relief with no side effects. He used 6 capsules / day of PEA.
I have heard literally hundreds of other amazing stories about PEA from FitEyes members over the years.
Often one has to take it for two months before the effects on pain are evident. In the above case, he told me that it took about 8 weeks before he noticed the effects of PEA on his pain.
One thing to keep in mind, however, is that PEA does not block out pain. It does not work like narcotics or other pain medications.
Here are some relevant links to research publications:
Adding melatonin to PEA is an option I have not tried, but it looks interesting:
Melatonin synergizes with the antinociceptive effect of N-palmitoylethanolamide and paracetamol - PubMed
This search brings up 21 results:
palmitoylethanolamide pain management - Search Results - PubMed
This search brings up 116 results:
palmitoylethanolamide pain - Search Results - PubMed
[[Palmitoylethanolamide versus a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug in the treatment of temporomandibular joint inflammatory pain - PubMed]]: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22558609/
[[The Effect of Palmitoylethanolamide on Pain Intensity, Central and Peripheral Sensitization, and Pain Modulation in Healthy Volunteers-A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial - PubMed]]: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36235736/
