SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
SOOTHING PAIN THE NATURAL WAY Drugs targeting enzyme that turns off effects of lipid signaling molecules may provide relief AMANDA YARNELL, C&EN WASHINGTON
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O COPE WITH PAIN, OUR CENTRAL
nervous system releases a painsuppressing amidated lipid called anandamide. A recent flurry of promising research suggests that the metabolism of this molecule may be central to a completely new, natural ap proach to relieving chronic and acute pain. Produced on demand when the body feels pain, anandamide blunts the sensa tion by binding to the body's cannabinoid receptor. When the anandamide's work is
