Two pints of beer can cut pain by a quarter

Two pints of beer are better than paracetamol for pain relief and can cut discomfort by a quarter, a study involving 404 participants by the University of Greenwich has shown.

Medical researchers said blood alcohol content of approximately .08 per cent produced ‘a small elevation of pain threshold’ and a ‘moderate to large reduction in pain intensity ratings’.

They added: ‘Findings suggest that alcohol is an effective analgesic that delivers clinically-relevant reductions in ratings of pain intensity, which could explain alcohol misuse in those with persistent pain despite its potential consequences for long-term health.’

The analysis, published in The Journal of Pain, observed 18 studies involving 404 participants who were experiencing chronic pain.

The studies provided alcohol versus no-alcohol comparisons for 13 tests of pain threshold.

Now the experts are planning to find out if alcohol either lowers anxiety of pain, which then reduces the perception of discomfort, or if it numbs the sensation of pain by affecting the brain receptors.

Dr Trevor Thompson, who headed the study at London’s Greenwich University, told The Sun: ‘[Alcohol] can be compared to opioid drugs such as codeine and the effect is more powerful than paracetamol.

‘If we can make a drug without the harmful side- effects then we could have something that is potentially better than what is out there at the moment.’

But Rosanna O’Connor, director of Alcohol and Drugs at Public Health England, added: ‘Drinking too much will cause you more problems in the long run. It’s better to see your GP.’

Source: Two pints of beer can cut pain by a quarter | Daily Mail Online