| Reader, For thousands of years, nature was our medicine. We healed ourselves using plants we harvested and animals we hunted.
But then somewhere along the way, these natural remedies were dismissed as "snake oil" – products with no medicinal value that were only intended to part you from your money.  Snake oil – derived from the Chinese water snake – was a rich source of healthy EPA fatty acids. | The real cures, we were told, were developed by scientists and came out of a lab.
But despite the "negative reputation" natural remedies have given by those who proclaim to know more, these therapies ARE real medicine.
Even snake oil.
For thousands of years, traditional Chinese healers used snake oil to treat painful joints and arthritis.
It was introduced to America by Chinese laborers who came here to build the first Transcontinental Railroad.
Of course, back then no one knew why this tonic – made from water snakes native to Asia – worked.
They just knew it did.
Today we know snake oil relieves joint pain because it contains the richest known source of the omega-3 fatty acid EPA.
Snake oil contains 20% EPA. That's more than salmon, mackerel, and walnuts.
EPA reduces inflammation and relieves aching joints by increasing blood levels of anti-inflammatory molecules called specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs).1
SPMs are a class of lipid molecules that play a crucial role in actively resolving inflammation rather than just suppressing it.
In one study, researchers gave EPA to 60 patients diagnosed with early-onset rheumatoid arthritis.
After three months, they reported 50% improvement in morning stiffness… 70% improvement in the number of tender joints… and a 75% reduction in the number of swollen joints.2
Only 13% of the placebo group noted any improvement.
Another study found that arthritis patients taking EPA not only reported significantly less pain – they were able to reduce their use of NSAIDS by 75%.3
And a large meta-analysis found that supplementing with EPA (along with DHA) helped to slow down cartilage degradation, a process that can contribute to joint damage in conditions like osteoarthritis.4
But relieving painful joints is far from the only benefit of this fatty acid. Additional benefits include: - Enhanced cardiovascular health. EPA is particularly effective at lowering blood triglyceride levels, which reduces the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. It can also help slow the development of arterial plaque, reduce the risk of abnormal heart rhythms, and lower blood pressure.5
- Better cognitive function. EPA, along with DHA, is crucial for brain development and function throughout life. Higher blood levels of EPA have been associated with less gray matter atrophy in older adults and slower cognitive decline.6
- Less depression and improved mood: Supplementing with EPA reduces symptoms of depression. It may also help prevent depression in certain at-risk populations.7
- Improve skin health. Through its anti-inflammatory and moisturizing properties, EPA helps protect and maintain your skin's natural moisture barrier, fight eczema and psoriasis, protect against skin cancer, and slow down skin aging.8
In fact, EPA is so powerful that Big Pharma cashed in with an expensive prescription EPA pill!
And that only reinforces what we already know – that the real serpent in the "snake oil" business is Big Pharma and their cronies in the FDA.
With a forked tongue, they lie to your face – in an effort to convince you that their dangerous drugs are the only safe treatment for whatever ails you.
I consider these for-profit "salesmen" far more dangerous than a so-called snake oil salesman.
Now don't get me wrong... I'm not trying to get you to take snake oil. You couldn't even if you wanted to!
But I don't recommend fish oil either. Get The Most Out Of Your Omega Oil Here's what I suggest: - Stop Taking Fish Oil. Most fish oil supplements come from fish that are harvested in polluted waters that contain chemicals like PCBs and heavy metals like mercury. This is worse than not taking a supplement in the first place.
- Take Calamari Oil Instead. Make sure your calamari oil comes from squid that live off the coast of South America in the pure waters of the South Pacific (illex argentinus).
- And Combine It With Krill. Krill are shrimp-like animals that don't live long enough to absorb large amounts of toxins — so they don't get contaminated. And their omega-3s are stored in phospholipid form instead of triglyceride. This helps it pass through cell membranes better.
- Check The Label. Make sure your omega-3 has at least 600 mg of DHA and 60 mg of EPA.
- Add In Some Astaxanthin. Astaxanthin also helps the oils permeate your tissues where it's needed, including crossing the blood-brain barrier.
And always take omega-3 fatty acids with a meal. This allows the fats to be properly digested.
To Your Good Health, 
Al Sears, MD, CNS
References: - Ji R. "Specialized Pro-resolving mediators as resolution pharmacology for the control of pain and itch." Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 2022 Sep 13;63:273–293.
- "The effect of omega-3 fatty acids in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis receiving DMARDS therapy: double-blind randomized controlled trial." Glob J Health Sci . 2015 Nov 3;8(7):18–25.
- Abdulrazaq M, et al. "Effect of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on arthritic pain: A systematic review." Nutrition. 2017;39-40:57-66.
- Chen F, et al. "Omega-3 fatty acids protect cartilage from acute injurie by reducing the mechanical sensitivity of chondrocytes." J Orthop Surg Res. 2024 Sep 28;19(1):591.
- Nassar M, et al. "The multidimensional benefits of eicosapentaenoic acid: from heart health to inflammatory control." Egyptian J Int Med. 2023;35(81):1-7.
- Muldoon M, et al. "Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and optimization of cognitive performance." Mil Med. 2014 Nov;179(11 0):95-105.
- Zhang C, et al. "Association between eicosapentaenoic acid consumption and the risk of depressive symptoms in US adults: Analyses from NHANES 2005–2018." J Affective Dis. 2024;354:62-67.
- Kim H, et al. "Photoprotective and anti-skin-aging effects of eicosapentaenoic acid in human skin in vivo." J Lipid Res.
2006 May;47(5):921-30. |
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