PEA (palmitoylethanolamide) is finally available in a truly effective cream, along with myrrh, frankincense, shea butter and aloe. The 100ml bottle will last a long time at about 1ml per pump. Our test users report healing with plaque and palmoplantar psoriasis, lichen sclerosis, and small wounds and scratches that had not healed up over time.

PEA has been known for decades, but even with a few encouraging trials, it never really caught on. Laboratory data produced conflicting results and the available formulations varied so widely that it was hard even to find a believable amount of anecdotal data. Most of the products didn't live up to their manufacturers' hype, and PEA languished in semi-obscurity except for a few compounding pharmacies that made it up when requested.

Then Vitalitus, a Mars, Pennsylvania, company, entered the arena. They are currently the only US company to manufacture a PEA product from start to finish, in a NSF/GMP certified facility and with laboratory-verified quality control at each step. In addition to being a high-quality manufacturer, the folks are Vitalitus are just good people. The company has partnered with RSDSA (an American non-profit organization supporting those with CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) or RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy). PEA has been in use in the CRPS community at least since 1995, with high rates of pleased users and good results.

Laboratory trials indicate multiple areas where PEA produces benefits. One of them is is a more rapid re-ossification of unions (where bone ends come together after a fracture). Another is that it inhibits a range of pro-inflammatory compounds, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1ß. It is also known to reduce mast cell activity. Mast cells release various inflammatory compounds, but they are also involved in the production COX-2, one of the inflammatory compounds targeted by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Those drugs can cause gastric ulcers in regular use, and thus much research has been devoted to developing compounds with similar benefits, but without the gastrointestinal side effects. PEA appears to be one of those.

Finally, in one of those serendipitous instances that benefit us all, PEA and turmeric work really well together. So if you’re using golden paste for its help with arthritis, psoriasis and other pain and inflammation-related problems, you’ll find that Soothamide helps many problems topically as well.