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My co-worker complained of chronic neck pain and her doctor prescribed a med and an iron pill. My mom uses Zyflamend in evening (with calcium and magnesium supplement in 60:40 ratio with Vit D, zinc and C) and iron rich food for lunch and avoided inflammatory foods such as red meat and eggplant.  I suggested a massage stroke (using the thumb in one downward motion from neck to back) and oil mixed with eucalyptus, tea tea oil and apricot oil.  A Fluradix liquid iron supplement with whole foods in the morning will also help, including raisins,liver,dark chocolate and blackstrap mollases.  A chronic pain is indicative of a deep rooted health issue that must be addressed at the core. There genes that affect how we absorb iron. Vit C rich foods and vinegar help in the absorption of iron (eaten in the morning and noon) and calcium (eaten in the evening because iron and calcium cancels each other).  I will always add probiotics and prebiotics in this health issue.

1. Avoid taking folic acid blocking or depleting drugs, such as birth control pills or Methyltrexate
2. Avoid taking proton pump inhibitors, like Prilosec or Prevacid or antacids, like Tums, which may block essential Vitamin B12 absorption
3. Have your homocysteine measured, which if elevated may indicate a problem with methylation or a deficiency of B12 or folate.  If your homocysteine is elevated, limit your intake ofmethionine-rich foods
4. Avoid eating processed foods, many of which have added synthetic folic acid.  Instead eat whole foods with no added chemicals or preservatives.
5. Get your daily intake of leafy greens, like spinach, kale, swiss chard or arugula, which are loaded with natural levels of folate that your body can more easily process.
6. Eat hormone-free, grass-fed beef, organic pastured butter or ghee, and eggs from free-range, non-GMO fed chickens.
7. Remove any mercury amalgams with a trained biologic dentist.  Avoid aluminum exposure in antiperspirants or cookware.  Avoiding heavy metal or other toxic exposure is important.
8. Make sure you supplementing with essential nutrients, like methyl-B12, methyl-folate, TMG, N-acetylcysteine, riboflavin, curcumin, fish oil, Vitamins C, D, E, and probiotics.  If you are double homozygous for MTHFR mutations, you should proceed very cautiously with methyl-B12 and methyl-folate supplementation as some people do not tolerate high doses.  Introduce nutrients one by one and watching for any adverse reactions.  Use extreme caution when supplementing with niacin, which can dampen methylation.
9. Make time for gentle detox regimens several times per week.  These could include infrared sauna, epsom salt baths, dry skin brushing, and regular exercise or sweating.

See MTHFR gene mutation, iron and neck pain