There has been a lot of media coverage surrounding this over the counter medication lately for its many uses, but also some of its side effects. Due to the fact it is so widely used I want to take the time to explore why some people can benefit from it, and why others should stay clear.
Aspirin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) primarily used for pain relief but it is also an anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic (decreases the body temperature in the case of a high fever), anti-clotting agent and is recently being used for the prevention of some cancers.
Aspirin was originally derived from the plant Salix alba, otherwise known as white willow bark. The plant was used for its pain relieving properties many years prior to the formulation of ASA (acetylsalicylic acid or Aspirin). It isn’t uncommon for people to take an Aspirin for pain relief, but its most widely prescribed benefit is for those with cardiovascular disease. Many people with arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), high blood pressure, high cholesterol, history of myocardial infarction (heart attack) or other predisposing factors to either heart attack or stroke take aspirin as a prophylactic measure. Aspirin is beneficial in these cases because it stops the blood from clotting and therefore thins the blood.
Aspirin has also been shown to decrease the risk of colon, prostate, esophageal, lung cancer and women at risk for melanoma (a form of skin cancer). The method of action of cancer prevention is due to the fact that Aspirin inhibits a pathway in the body, which is normally responsible for inflammation and the development and growth of some tumors. By blocking this pathway, the body is more equipped to recognize cancer, decrease its growth factors and help to destroy it before it develops. The reason it has just been shown to be effective for colon cancer and melanoma specifically in women is complex, but largely due to the specific targeted pathways that are blocked in these cancers.
Before rushing out and self-prescribing Aspirin, let me give you the naturopathic perspective. Lets first discuss the side effects of Aspirin. It can cause inflammation of the gut as well as micro bleeds throughout the gastrointestinal system, it prolongs bleeding time (which is an issue for those already taking blood thinners or with various clotting abnormalities) and it can be a risk for those with respiratory complications or difficulty breathing. Aspirin shouldn’t be given to children or women in their third trimester of pregnancy and also those at risk or already diagnosed with macular degeneration, diabetes, gout, liver or kidney disease. Aspirin will also interfere with your body’s ability to regulate blood sugar, as well as the excretion of zinc, folic acid, potassium, sodium, iron and vitamin C.
It should also be noted that too much Aspirin could be toxic. What will it feel like if you take too much? Known as salicylism, excess aspirin can cause hyperventilation, headache, confusion, dizziness and other symptoms such as ringing in the ears.
If these side effects sound frightening to you, lets talk about alternatives. Naturopathic doctors have many options to treat and co-manage pain, cardiovascular disease, cancer, inflammation and infections leading to fever. Using therapies such as acupuncture, massage, rehabilitation, clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, supplementation, lifestyle counseling, homeopathy, intravenous therapy and various types of injections, we can naturally treat the root cause that has led you to pop that little white ASA pill!
The take home message is that before you start to weigh the benefits and risks of Aspirin, talk to your Naturopathic Doctor to see if it is the right drug for you and about alternative treatments for its use.
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