NATURAL HEALTH

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Naturopaths suggest taking 250 to 1,500 milligrams of pure bromelain a day, between meals, to treat inflammatory conditions such as CTS. Bromelain is available at many health food stores. Since I favor food sources, I prefer to get my bromelain from pineapple itself. Ginger and papaya also contain helpful proteolytic enzymes. You might enjoy a fruit salad of pineapple and papaya spiced with grated ginger and turmeric, two spices loaded with COX-2-inhibiting, anti-inflammatory compounds.

Red pepper (Capsicum, various species). Also known as cayenne, red pepper contains six pain-relieving compounds and seven that are anti-inflammatory. Especially noteworthy is capsaicin. Commercial salves containing capsaicin, such as Zostrix and Capzasin-P, are widely used to treat pain.

You might add several teaspoons of powdered cayenne to a quarter-cup of skin lotion and rub it on your wrists. You can make a capsaicin lotion by steeping five to 10 red peppers in 2 pints of rubbing alcohol for a few days. Wash your hands thoroughly in milk — water won't do the trick — after using any topical capsaicin treatment, as your don't want to get it in your eyes or on other sensitive parts. This powerful powder can cause irritation, so test it on a small area of skin before using it on a larger area. If you react to it, discontinue use.

I'd also add a few drops of lavender oil to the red-pepper salve. Lavender oil is a mainstay of aromatherapy, useful for treating inflammation and burns. Its aroma is quite relaxing, which helps when you're feeling the pain of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa). This flavorful spice contains curcumin, a potent anti-inflammatory chemical. Some studies suggest that curcumin is about half as effective as the pharmaceutical anti-inflammatory medication cortisone. Cortisone, though, is expensive and can have nasty side effects. Turmeric is much easier on the system and the pocketbook, and is a lot tastier.

Try using turmeric liberally on food, then taking some more in capsules available in health food stores. Add ground black pepper to food with the turmeric because compounds in black pepper increase the availability of the anti-inflammatory curcumin.

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale). In their excellent Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients, pharmacognosist (natural product pharmacist) Albert Leung and Arkansas herbalist Steven Foster explain that applying comfrey to the skin can help relieve pain, swelling and inflammation. This has been confirmed through laboratory studies as well. The active compounds are allantoin and rosmarinic acid.

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