The history of pain relievers goes back to ancient times. Salicylic acid, found in the leaves of the myrtle tree, was used to relieve pain in Sumer, Ancient Greece, and Egypt. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, used willow bark as a pain reliever.
18th century powder obtained from the bark of the willow tree; It was used as a medicine in cases of pain, fever and inflammation. The first medicine in the modern sense is aspirin, which is also made from willow bark. It has been put on the market by synthesizing a pure acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) molecule. So how do painkillers dating back so long in human history manage to relieve pain?
The functioning of the pain mechanism is quite complex.
When there is a problem in the cells in any part of our body, we cannot be instantly aware of this problem. Because it happens at the cellular level. Our body then releases “arachidonic acid”, making us aware of the problem.
Arachidonic acid binds to enzymes called cyclooxygenza (COX) in cells and provides prostaglandins to form. In this way, pain receptors become aware of the situation. These receptors are present between the spinal cord and skin, in muscles, in some internal organs and in our teeth. Receptors very quickly transmit this information to our brain. In other words, this chain of reactions and interactions occurs before we feel pain.
So how do painkillers relieve pain?
Simple pain relievers such as aspirin limit the production of a chemical called “prostaglandin” by contacting the aching area. In this way, the nerve endings cannot send a pain signal to our brain or the intensity of the sent signal decreases.
We stated that before the onset of pain, arachidonic acid is secreted in the cells and they bind with cyclooxygenase enzymes to form prostaglandins. The active sites of cyclooxygenase enzymes are highly compatible with arachidonic acid, like a key-lock. Painkillers intervene and block the connection and prevent the transmission of pain signals to our brain.
Medicines spread throughout the body, not focused on a specific point.
If they could go to certain points, it would be sufficient to take a much lower dose of medication. In this way, the side effects of the drugs were also significantly reduced. It is also worth remembering that painkillers do not solve the root cause of the pain. It just temporarily stops our brain from perceiving pain. Therefore, it is very important to treat the source of the pain.
Sources: 1, 2
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