Health Specialist » arthritis

Keith Woolley’s Natural Way to Beat Arthritis Pain.

Health Specialist — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:31:09 +0000

Celadrin or cetyl myristoleate – is one of a number of supplements taken by arthritis sufferers, but it really came into its own recently when the government withdrew popular painkillers like Vioxx from the market due to health concerns. This left many arthritis suffers with no option but to consider an operation to relieve their pain. An operation or a supplement like Celadrin? Many decided to try the less invasive option first.

Traditionally, doctors have not been keen to offer supplements to their patients, but many are increasingly coming to see that products like Celadrin may be a suitable alternative for those people who for some reason cannot – or choose not to – have an operation.

A scientist who was trying to understand why he couldnt induce arthritis into mice discovered Celadrin about a decade ago. It contains a blend of eight stable fatty acids that can easily penetrate cell membranes and by providing lubrication to the cell membranes and decreasing inflammation it supports joint health. In fact, research has shown that it definitely improves not only the range of motion in a joint affected by arthritis, but balance, strength and endurance were also improved.

Placebo-controlled studies in 2002 showed that the subjects were able to perform several day-to-day functions like climbing stairs and even simply walking that had been painfully difficult before. Some subjects were even able to return to jogging, an exercise that had been impossible for some time due to the pain and stiffness experienced from arthritis.

Knowledge can give you a real advantage. To make sure you’re fully informed about Celadrin, keep reading.

University bio-chemist Dr. Daniel Gallaher PhD, prescribes Celadrin for many of his patients and has had no side-effects reported. The pills may need to be taken for at least two months before improvement is noticed, though in some cases this time is considerably shorter. Some patients have noted a dramatic improvement within a few days of applying the lotion.

Daniel Hoeffal MD, advises his patients to take the product scientifically. That is, no more than one supplement at a time and stick to the instructions on the bottle. If several supplements are taken at once, there is no way of determining which was the one responsible for giving relief.

Celadrin comes in pill form and topical lotion and is quite affordable compared to some other supplements, with the pills costing about 12.00 a bottle and the lotion half that. It is available as a stand-alone product, or combined with other products such as Glucosamine

Always consult your health care professional before taking supplements, as some can interfere with the absorption of other medications, while others may change how internal organs function, cause blood pressure or clotting

Now might be a good time to write down the main points covered above. The act of putting it down on paper will help you remember what’s important about Celadrin.

Arthritis, Gout Rich Mans Knee Pain

Health Specialist — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 04:02:33 +0000

There are many causes of knee pain, such as overuse, obesity, arthritis or injury. However, there are two main causes of knee pain, they are arthritis and gout. If you are one of the millions of Americans suffering with knee pain or arthritis pain in the knee you may benefit from the many studies done on this subject. The three basic types of arthritis that may cause hip and knee pain osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis most commonly rheumatoid arthritis, and traumatic arthritis.

Autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus can cause knee pain. In children, chronic knee pain may be the first sign of rheumatoid arthritis or simply “growing pains”. Knee pain may result from trauma, overuse, internal derangement, osteoarthritis, or inflammatory arthritis. The differential diagnoses include inflammatory arthritis, bursitis or tendonitis, anterior knee pain and internal derangement.

Gout the another main reason for knee pains. Gout is a condition that causes sudden and severe attacks of pain, redness and swelling of joints. Gout is a condition has been well known for many centuries. Most often it affects a single joint in one episode, often the big toe. About 9 out of 10 affected individuals affected by gout are men over the age of 40. The peak age of attacks is 75 years, but it can occur in young individuals on rare occasions. Over one millions Americans have a gout attack each year.

Gout is due to accumulations of uric acid within the fluid of your joints. Uric acid is a waste product of many foods that we eat. In order to properly digest food, and rid our body of waste, we produce substances such as uric acid to transport waste material. Ultimately, uric acid is excreted via the kidneys in urine. However, when the transportation of uric acid is impaired, and uric acid accumulates in the blood stream, the condition called gout may result. The impairment of uric acid excretion is often due to a hereditary problem, but can also have other causes.

When the uric acid level becomes too high for an individual, painful attacks of gouty arthritis, or joint pain, can result. Other symptoms can include kidney stones, and, ultimately, kidney failure. It is interesting to note that the relationship between uric acid levels in the blood stream and gout is unclear. Some individuals with gout have normal or near normal blood levels of uric acid; other individuals have very high blood levels of uric acid with no symptoms of gout. It appears to be entirely dependent on the individual.

Some individuals have a hereditary condition making them more susceptible to gout; other risk factors also contribute to having a gouty attack. Among these are obesity and sudden weight gain, abnormal kidney function, excessive intake of alcohol especially “binge” drinking, and certain types of cancer. Some medications, such as thiazide diuretics to control blood pressure, and foods that are rich in purines can lead to attacks. Purine-rich foods include organ meats e.g. liver, kidney, herring, anchovies, and to an extent, all meat products.

Tips On How To Relieve Your Arthritis Pain

Health Specialist — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:51:36 +0000

If a person experiences muscle pain and it continues for more than two to three days, there is a strong chance that he or she is suffering from arthritis. This chronic disease is a very common disorder, one that affects lots of people all around the world. The major symptom of arthritis is pain in the bone joints, but some arthritis sufferers may also feel pain in certain organs in the body.

The term Arthritis is actually a Latin word that means inflammation of joints. Arthritis causes inflammation of the joints due to damage to the cartilage. Patients suffering from arthritis could suffer from long-term joint damage, which could ultimately lead to disability from severe arthritis pain. Arthritic patients commonly feel pain in the early morning hours that slowly subsides as the day progresses.

There are more than 100 types of arthritis. Without a thorough examination the doctor will not be able to find which type of arthritis you are suffering from. Arthritis can stem from injuries and strains caused by sports, repetitive motion, overexertion etc. Arthritic diseases include rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, which are autoimmune diseases; septic arthritis, caused by joint infection; and the more common osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease that largely affects older people.

There are three stages of arthritis

The first stage of arthritis is swelling. The second stage is rapid division and growth of the cells. In the third stage the cells release specific enzymes, which erode the bone, causing the joint to lose its shape. It is then the arthritis pain becomes unbearable. Since this is a systemic disease, it can migrate and affect other body organs. So it is better to detect arthritis at its early stage before it spreads to other parts of the body. Arthritis can be treated with proper therapy and medication.

Treatment Arthritis treatment includes medicine, exercise, thermal modalities, joint protection and surgery.

Medicine there are several effective arthritis medications available in the market for proper arthritis treatment. Anti-inflammatory drugs are helpful in most cases. However you should consult a doctor before buying any medicine.

Exercise this helps strengthen muscles and joints plus increases blood circulation in those areas. Yoga is very therapeutic in reducing arthritis pain.

Rest rest provides good arthritis relief, as proper rest helps the body to conserve energy and allows the body to heal and reduce pain.

Thermal modalities cold and heat compresses give short-term relief to stiffness and pain.

Joint protection this allows the patient to move with minimal stress to the joints. Joint protections like knee supports, back belts are common arthritis relief products widely available on the market today.

Arthritis Cure

Health Specialist — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:46:00 +0000

The knowledge scientists do have sheds light on rheumatoid arthritis prevention strategies. Researchers know a myriad of ways a person may lower his or her risk, even if he or she has a genetic makeup that makes rheumatoid arthritis prevention more of a challenge.

If you have a relative with rheumatoid arthritis or if you want to slow down the progression of the autoimmune disease, consider devising your own rheumatoid arthritis prevention plan.

Since rheumatoid arthritis is not a contagious disease and cannot be transmitted from person to person, rheumatoid arthritis prevention thankfully does not depend on avoiding people with the disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis prevention is about common sense, staying physically fit, maintaining a stress-free and smoke-free environment as well as reducing strain on joints.

People who are obese put greater strain on their weight-bearing joints making rheumatoid arthritis prevention virtually impossible. Studies show obese people tend to eat more refined, processed foods a bad habit that does not mix with rheumatoid arthritis prevention.

As part of your own rheumatoid arthritis prevention plan drink more water. Water plays a major role in the lubrication of your joints. Furthermore, water makes up 70 percent of the cartilage in joints.

Next, as part of your rheumatoid arthritis prevention plan, adopt a healthy eating plan. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, salmon and nuts. Cut down on high-fats including red meats and take mineral and vitamin supplements.

People with rheumatoid arthritis as well as those interested in prevention, may want to reduce repetitive strain on their joints and muscles. Rotate tasks throughout the day since forceful motions may contribute to rheumatoid arthritis.

Just as its important to rotate work tasks on the job, its critical for rheumatoid arthritis prevention that you cross-train when you exercise. A sedentary lifestyle will not help a person with rheumatoid arthritis or aid in prevention, although it is important to rest more during flair-ups.

If you are a woman with rheumatoid arthritis, exercise has been shown to help in the prevention of more severe disabilities.

In one Danish study, exercise helped strengthen the bones of women with rheumatoid arthritis who are at high risk of developing the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis.

According to the study Dr. Ole Rintek Madsen of Bispebjerg University in Copenhagen, Denmark, women with rheumatoid arthritis whose thigh muscles were strongest also had thighbones that were denser. His findings shed new light on rheumatoid arthritis prevention, suggesting exercise could help preserve bone strength in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Another piece of the rheumatoid arthritis prevention pie has to do with psychological health. When it comes to prevention of any disease, the reduction of stress is paramount.

Consider meditating, listening to relaxation tapes, deep breathing exercises, visualization and yoga. Yoga is ideal for rheumatoid arthritis prevention because it is not only relaxing, but yoga postures may help with flexibility and range of motion of joints.

The prevention of rheumatoid arthritis is no easy task because there are no medications or lifestyle changes that are guaranteed in the prevention of rheumatoid arthritis. Typically, its after a person has been diagnosed with the disease that they take steps to control the disease.

At the same time, some prevention may be possible because researchers believe they have found certain links in terms of lowering the risk of getting rheumatoid arthritis.

One sure fire prevention measure is to stop smoking. Smoking was implicated as a possible cause of rheumatoid arthritis after several major studies including one published in the March 2000 issue of the Journal of Rheumatology.

Frederick Wolfe, M.D. studied both seropositive and seronegative rheumatoid arthritis patients. He found the rheumatoid factor values increase when correlated with duration of smoking. Also, results showed smokers are more often rheumatoid factor positive than nonsmokers, and the rheumatoid factor is associated with a more severe case of rheumatoid arthritis.

Finally, in creating your rheumatoid arthritis prevention plan, dont neglect the protection of your joints. Take advantage of technology and devices designed to make life easier for people because many tools may aid in rheumatoid arthritis prevention. If you are successful now in terms of your prevention strategies, you may never be forced to use canes, splints or rheumatoid arthritis coping tools.

Pain Management- Foods That Help Ease Pain

Health Specialist — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:58:54 +0000

Pain- something that no one wants to experience even once let alone daily and yet chronic pain is not uncommon. The Chronic Pain Association estimates that 50 million Americans endure chronic pain on a daily basis. Whether you suffer from Fibromyalgia Arthritis, or a Sports Injury, pain from the inflammatory response finds us and can make life miserable. Taking anti-inflammatory medications is the first defense against chronic or acute pain. Research shows if you want to add even more relief to your pain symptoms you can make some small changes to your diet.

Foods that have the greatest effect on the inflammatory process are fats. The predominant omega-6 fatty acids present in the American diet tend to promote inflammation while omega-3 fatty acids help to inhibit the inflammatory process. The omega 6 to omega-3 ratio in the Western diet is a high 161.8 leading some researchers to say the typical Western diet is a pro-inflammatory diet. No wonder we are in such pain! Even though omega-6 fatty acids are good for us and needed in the diet, we are eating far too many of them and not eating enough of the health-promoting omega-3s. Omega-6 fatty acids are found in beef, pork, chicken, whole milk dairy products, egg yolks, vegetable and seed oils, and packaged convenience foods- all staples of the American diet. The pain reducing Omega-3 fatty acids are found in cold water fish salmon, mackerel, halibut, and tuna, ground flax seeds, canola oil, and walnuts.

There is one more fatty acid to throw into the mix and that is omega-9. Not as much of an attention getting fatty acid but just as important to know about. These fatty acids are also involved in prohibiting the inflammation process bringing relief to its sufferers. Omega-9s are found in olive oil, avocados, pecans, almonds, peanuts, cashews, sesame oil, pistachio nuts and macadamia nuts. All those nuts you thought were off limits, not anymore. Just make sure you only eat 10 12 nuts for a serving size so you dont add to your waistline with these high calorie snacks.

Fruits and Vegetables- ah, here they are again. I wonder how long it will take us to realize they really are good for us. The antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables play a role in decreasing damage by free radicals which to you and I means it prevents the initiation of the inflammatory response nipping it in the bud. Whats the recommendation? The same as its always been, 5-8 servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Its not as tough as it seems. A serving size of fruit is the size of a tangerine or half of a banana while the serving size for vegetables is cup cooked and 1 cup raw. Add some berries to your cereal, some vegetable soup with lunch or sneak veggies into your scrambled eggs, add them wherever you can.

Although this doesnt count as a legitimate study, my mother, a long time arthritis sufferer decided to put some of these ideas into practice. She decided to take 2 tbsp. of ground flax seeds per day which she added to her oatmeal in the morning. She also added almonds regularly. That was it. No other changes and she found her arthritis pain markedly decreased. It goes to show that small nutrition changes can make a big impact on your health.

Now that you know the information, lets get practical. Here are 8 small diet changes you can make starting this week to decrease inflammation.

1. Replace chicken, pork or ground beef with salmon, mackerel, or halibut 2 times each week.
2. Use canola or olive oil in place of other vegetable oils for salad dressings and cooking.
3. Add walnuts, almonds, or pecans to salads.
4. Snack on an ounce of cashews or macadamia nuts with a piece of fruit.
5. Use sliced avocado in your sandwich in place of the cheese.
6. Use omega-3 fortified eggs can find at all local grocery stores look for the sentence fed with DHA and EHA.
7. Add 2 tbsp of ground flax seeds to your oatmeal or yogurt.
8. Add a side salad each night with dinner filling up with veggies during your meals will also help with weight management.

Using medications alone to manage your pain is difficult because most drugs eventually lose their effectiveness and can cause side effects. Take some small steps to add these dietary practices so you can have a more complete support system to alleviate pain.

2005, Meri Raffetto

How To Treat Arthritis Naturally

Health Specialist — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:48:48 +0000

There are three common types of arthritis. They include osteoarthritis the most common, affecting around 16 million Americans with an average age of 45. Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease DJD, usually attacks weight-bearing joints like the knees, hips, and ankles. It is also frequently found in the fingers, neck and back. Each of our joints is cushioned by cartilage. Osteoarthritis attacks that cartilage and gradually wears it down.

Another type of arthritis is known as rheumatoid arthritis. Extremely painful and inflammatory, it strikes the lining of the joints and leads to severe joint destruction. It attacks millions Americans, many in their younger years.

Psoriatic arthritis is not as well known as the previous two, but actually eats away at the joints and can also manifest as psoriasis lesions on the skin.

The term arthritis literally translates to “joint inflammation.” If you suffer from any of the different types of arthritis listed above, chances are you have taken drugs either prescription or over-the-counter to combat the pain, or tried alternative or “home” remedies.

If you haven’t yet tried “urtication,” it may offer some help. The term “urtication” comes from the botanical name, Urtica dioica and dates back some 2,000 years to biblical times. Urtica dioica is also known as stinging nettle. The treatment is to grasp the nettles in a gloved hand and swat the sore joints with the nettles. This may sound quite bizarre, but the practice has proven to be so effective for some sufferers of arthritis that they now maintain a nettle plant on their window sill.

Here are a few more natural herbs that are used by many people to treat arthritis

Black cohosh Also known as black snakeroot, bugbane, rattleroot, and squawroot. This herb is a relaxant as well as being extremely effective in easing painful menstrual cramps. It is also effective in the treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatic pain and nerve pain. In small doses, appetite and digestion are greatly improved and it can be very beneficial for the nervous system in general.

Bogbean Useful for treatment of rheumatism, osteo-arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Also has a stimulating effect on the colon.

Celery Seeds Use dried ripe fruits as an anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, diuretic or anti-spasmodic. Great for treating rheumatism, arthritis and gout.

Chapparal Useful in cases of acne, arthritis, chronic backache, warts and skin blotches. Also alleged to be one of the best cancer-fighting herbs.

Feverfew Use the leaves to treat migraine headaches, arthritis, dizziness or vertigo, and tinnitus ringing in the ears.

Nettle This is the herb we referred to earlier and is another one of those “universal” plants that is found all over the world. Rheumatism, arthritis, eczema, nosebleeds, high blood pressure are just a few applications. Nettles contain calcium, chlorine, iron, potassium, silicon, sodium and sulfur.

Saffron A natural form of hydrochloric acid, saffron helps arthritics get rid of the uric acid which holds onto the calcium deposited in the joints. Also reduces lactic acid build-up. Said to be good for measles, skin problems, scarlet fever and perspiration.

Yucca Hope for arthritics. The extract from the plant has been used with surprising success on arthritis and rheumatism sufferers.

No matter what natural remedies you choose please consult your physician to make certain that your course of treatment does not interfere with any other medications that your doctor has prescribed for your treatment.

The Cheaper Arthritis Treatment Improve Your Diet To Prevent Or Cure Arthritis

Health Specialist — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:41:30 +0000

Arthritis is often associated with people in their 50s or older. But nowadays, more and more younger people are showing signs of this joint-related disease. What exactly are the causes of joint inflammation and what are the best arthritis treatment? Inflammation of the joints can result from previous injuries, like tibial plateau fracture, which affects certain sensitive cartilages and muscle tissues. A person can also develop joint swelling and pain if two or more of his or her family members have gout or any related illness. Needless to say, age is also one of the most significant factors in determining the onset of swelling of the joints. As a person gets older, his or her bones tend to be weaker and more fragile as one of the results of the natural laws of aging. But this doesn’t necessarily mean teenagers or the twenty-somethings can be complacent. There are cases of brittle joints among younger age brackets because of extraneous determinants like weight and existing illness.

It is understandable that obese or overweight persons have greater tendencies of exhausting or wearing out their bones. Since weight is identified as a factor in causing joint inflammation, doctors suggest arthritis treatment can be in the form of improving one’s diet. There are specific diets, like meals heavy in unsaturated fat and cholesterol, that make a person even more susceptible in experiencing joint pain and swelling. On the other hand, foods rich in certain minerals and vitamins are one’s best ally in preventing early signs of bone inflammation. Choose foods with high nutritional value and specifically contain Vitamins K and E, which promote healthier bones. To alleviate inflammation, a person should boost his or her intake of vitamins B12 and B6. If beneficial minerals like zinc and copper are not usually found on your daily meal plan, take health supplements that offer these specific nutrients.

There are also certain medications supposedly aimed at combating arthritis. Some of these drugs don’t come without hazardous side effects so it is still best to follow natural remedies to prevent or cure joint inflammation. Arthritis treatment need not cost someone a fortune. The safest and surest way is still through sticking to a healthy diet, or even particular exercise routines, or whatever a doctor advised a patient to do. One should not wait to get older before he starts to take care of his bones and joints. A person may not realize the importance of bone health until he experiences the premature tell-tale signs of joint swelling and inflammation.

Inflammation The New Medical Bad Guy

Health Specialist — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:55:15 +0000

According to the latest medical theory, chronic inflammation is the root cause of almost every disease suffered by human beings.

Thats right. Many doctors believe persistent, low-level inflammation paves the way for chronic disease, including those we usually experience late in life, e.g. arthritis, heart and kidney disease, and cancer.

As a part of our immune response system, inflammation occurs when the body is fighting germs that enter the body through a variety of ways, e.g. injury or inhalation. When you experience redness, swelling, heat, infection, and pain from a variety of ailments, its a sign of inflammation. Normally, the inflammation goes away when the body has conquered the infection or injury, but if the body fails to shut off the inflammation process, a more serious condition can occur.

It is generally recognized that heart attacks occur when the blood vessels become clogged with plaque what we usually refer to as the bad LDL cholesterol that is deposited on the vessel walls. This bad cholesterol also gets embedded inside arteries and our immune system “attacks” it. Persistent inflammation in the arteries can eventually cause plaque to burst. Now many doctors use a simple blood test for inflammation called CRP short for C-reactive Protein to help assess a person’s cardiac risk. CRP is an index of inflammation in the arteries and the CRP increases as inflammation increases. For example, test have shown that middle aged men with high CRP levels in their blood were three times more likely to suffer a heart attack in the next 6 years than men with normal levels. Medical experts say that a CRP of 3.0 mgL or higher triples your heart attack risk. People with CRP less than 0.5 mgL rarely have heart attacks.

The good news is that we can do something to reduce the risks of persistent inflammation, including losing weight, exercising regularly, and eating the right foods. According to the Center for Human Nutrition at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, some foods can cause inflammation while others can decrease it. Diets that are rich in fruits and vegetables, and foods that offer lots of Omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, and walnuts are best. Further, a diet of such foods has been shown to be instrumental in weight reduction, and lowering CRP and insulin resistance.

You can also take prescription or over-the-counter NSAIDs non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Vioxx, Celebrex, and Bextra, which reduce inflammation but can have dangerous side effects. While these drugs are effective COX-2 inhibitors, the life-threatening side effects from prolonged uninterrupted use such as gastro-intestinal hemorrhage and kidney and liver failure make them both dangerous and controversial. One has only to read the literature produced by the companies manufacturing these drugs to know how dangerous they are. In fact, in the United States in the year 2000, more people died from the complications of NSAIDs than died from AIDS! Further, Vioxx was recently withdrawn from the marketplace because it caused heart attacks.

Inflammation is one of the bad guys. You need to get it under control, but dont jump from the frying pan into the fire by treating your condition with a badder guy. Eat right, exercise regularly, have your blood work done once a year, and listen to your doctors advice. May I also suggest you find a natural food supplement to treat your inflammation, rather than just reaching for the pill bottle?

Bruce Bailey, Ph.D.

Arthritic Diets

Health Specialist — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:20:12 +0000

Doctors have known for a long time that diet affects gout, a specific type of arthritic condition, however the jury remained out for a long time on other common types of arthritis such as rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. However, overall dietary health is important and does come into play.

Being overweight can affect certain arthritic conditions, forcing some joints to carry more of a load. This added weight stresses the joints, causing overuse or more wear to components, and pain, especially in the knees. So making sure arthritic sufferers eat god foods and get help from healthcare providers to create and follow a well-balanced dietary plan is advised.

To begin, here is a look at some vitamins, minerals, nutrients foods and some herbal applications to consider.

VITAMINS

Vitamin B5 When grouped and tanked together, B vitamins work at their peak. They, and B5 specifically, are good for reducing swelling.

Vitamin B3 This vitamin reduces tissue swelling and dilates small arteries, increasing blood flow. Note that Vitamin B3 is NOT advised for persons with high blood pressure, gout or sliver disorders.

Vitamin B6 Another B that reduces tissue swelling.

Vitamin B12 This vitamin aids in multiple functions. It helps with cell formation, digestion, myelin production, nerve protection.

Vitamin C – This vitamin acts as an anti-inflammatory, relieving pain, and rids the body of free radicals.

Vitamin E This is a strong antioxidant that protects joints from free radicals while increases joint flexibility.

Vitamin K This vitamin assists with mineral deposit into the bone matrix.

MINERALS

Boron This trace mineral aids in bone health.

Calcium This is a much-needed mineral for bone health.

Magnesium Magnesium helps keep calcium in balance within the system.

Zinc This mineral is necessary for bone growth, but is often lacking in arthritic patients.

Manganese Manganese is also necessary for bone growth. However, do not ingest manganese with calcium because they can work against each other.

Copper Copper helps to strengthen connective tissue.

Germanium This antioxidant helps with pain relief.

Sulfur A lack of sulfur can result in deterioration of ligaments, cartilage, collagen and tendons.

NUTRIENT COMBOS

Chondroitin Sulfate This lubrication in joints, joint fluid and connective tissue, can be found in the sea cucumber.

Gelatin Help with raw cartilage replenishing with this cheap source.

Glucosamine Sulfate This combo is necessary for tendon, ligament, bone, cartilage, and synovial joint fluid formation.

Quercetin This helps with inflammation reduction.

Type II Collagen Use this for growth and repair of joints, articular cartilage and connective tissue.

Arthritic Diets And Nutritional Healing

There are many factors to consider with regards to arthritic diets and nutritional healing, and each factor may not apply to each individual. For example, certain people are allergic to specific foods, and these allergies can indeed worsen arthritic conditions. Ingesting foods that contain sodium nitrate or tartrazine can inflame rheumatoid arthritis, while ingesting foods containing a substance called hydrazine can contribute to systemic lupus erythematosus, an arthritic condition connected to lupus.

There is a rare type of arthritis called Behcet’s Disease, and eating black walnuts can cause flare-ups in people with this rare condition. So as you see, there is a variety of arthritic conditions and along with them a variety of foods that may trigger them. The best way to approach the situation is to examine each arthritic condition and tailor ones approach based upon the specifics.

The term arthritis covers over 100 different diseases and conditions. Since it would be impossible to cover all of them in a work such as this, we will look at the most common conditions rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and gout. There is a prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis sufferers that have an abnormally low blood zinc level. Several independent studies have been conducted where rheumatoid arthritis patients have been given increased doses of zinc and showed marginal improvement, yet the tests were not extensive enough to be conclusive.

The effects of copper on rheumatoid arthritis have been studied for a long time, and although results vary there seems to be some case for using copper to improve the condition, although this therapy has been dismissed by most of the medical profession as relatively ineffective. Copper therapy is not discouraged however when approached from food sources, and may work on some individuals. It is suggested that if you do attempt copper therapy, that copper-rich foods are utilized instead of copper supplements, because copper supplements can cause side effects which include change in sense of taste and smell, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, abnormal blood clots, increased joint pain, chills, anemia and kidney problems, and excess copper can cause cirrhosis of the liver in patients prone to Wilsons Disease.

Check with your doctor to be sure you are not prone to storing excess copper in your body. There is an extensive choice of foods you can enjoy in order to increase your copper intake lamb; pork; pheasant quail; duck; goose; squid; salmon; organ meats including liver, heart, kidney, brain; shellfish including oysters, scallops, shrimp, lobster, clams, and crab; meat gelatin; soy protein meat substitutes; tofu; nuts and seeds; chocolate milk; soy milk; cocoa are just a few of the foods that are rich in copper.

As for foods to avoid when suffering with rheumatoid arthritis, many nutritionists and naturopaths suggest avoiding dairy products all together, as they seem to exacerbate rheumatoid arthritis flare-ups. Because of the risk in overdosing, one should be discouraged from taking doses of vitamins that are higher than recommended without a physicians direction. Some vitamins and minerals can actually worsen certain conditions, and the concentration that can be attained through vitamins can be dangerous. It is much better to approach any desired increase in vitamin or mineral intake through food therapy.

There has been some success with the food supplements glucosamine and chondroitin in relieving symptoms of pain and stiffness for some persons with osteoarthritis. These supplements can be found in pharmacies and health food stores, however the purity of the products or the dose of the active ingredients cannot be specified because the FDA does not monitor these supplements. The National Institutes of Health is studying glucosamine and chondroitin, so more should be known about the effectiveness of these products for osteoarthritis in the near future. Patients with osteoarthritis taking blood-thinners should be careful taking chondroitin as it can increase the blood-thinning and cause excessive bleeding.

Fish oil supplements have been shown to have some anti-inflammation properties and increasing the dietary fish intake andor fish oil capsules omega 3 capsules can sometimes reduce inflammation of arthritis. With osteoarthritis there is also the concern with deterioration of cartilage; therefore those with osteoarthritis should avoid large doses of Vitamin-A, since there is some evidence that it contributes to cartilage deterioration.

In the case of fibromyalgia, although clinical proof is once again sparse, there is a great deal of personal experiences of improvement of this condition when certain dietary practices are followed. Eliminating wheat, dairy, citrus, sugar, Aspertame, alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco seem to be universal in those that have had success with treating the illness through dietary means. According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, author of The Total Health Program, nine of ten sufferers of fibromyalgia are female, and 76 of those who followed suggested dietary rules experienced a significant reduction in pain.

The thing to keep in mind with fibromyalgia is that, unlike the other common arthritis ailments, it is more of a syndrome than a disease, and much of it can be reversed. Making corrections to diet as well as reducing stress and getting plenty of rest can lead to a full recovery.

Arthritis Treatments- The Natural Way

Health Specialist — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:52:27 +0000

There are actually three common types of arthritis. The treatments which you will need will depend on the type, so please read carefully. The main type is Osteoarthritis which is the most common, affecting around 16 million Americans with an average age of 45. It usually will attack weight bearing joints like knees, hips, and ankles but has been found in the fingers, neck and spine. Each of our joints is cushioned by cartilage, a very dense, sponge-like substance. Osteoarthritis attacks that cartilage and gradually wears it down.

Another type of arthritis is Rheumatoid Arthritis. Extremely painful and inflammatory, it strikes the lining of the joints and actually attacks two million Americans in their twenties.

Psoriatic Arthritis is not as well known as the previous two, but actually eats away at the joints and can also manifest as psoriasis on the skin.

The term Arthritis literally translates to “joint inflammation.” If you suffer from any of the different types of Arthritis listed above, chances are you have taken drugs to combat the effects or tried other “home remedies.” If you haven’t yet tried “Urtication,” it might be helpful. The term “Urtication” comes from the botanical name, Urtica dioica and dates back some 2,000 years to biblical times. Urtica dioica is “Stinging Nettle. The treatment is to grasp the nettles in a gloved hand and swat the sore joints with the nettles. This may seem bizarre, but the practice has proven to be so effective for some sufferers of arthritis that they now maintain a nettle plant on their window sill.
Many arthritis sufferers have tried unusual and rather nasty ‘cures’ for their disease like enduring bee-stings or covering themselves in cow-manure. The benefits must have been rather less spectacular than the cures or else everyone else would have done the same.

One arthritis cure suggests that half a glass of raw potato juice followed by chewing two or three juniper berries will do the trick! While this may be so, many doctors and scientists researching arthritis have studied the benefits of taking nutritional substances like vitamins. In fact, studies have shown that people with arthritis are mostly deficient in the B group of vitamins, though whether this is due to the disease or to the fact that taking aspirin depletes the body’s stores of this vitamin is not clear.
Vitamin C, E and beta-carotenes are powerful antioxidants that help to neutralize free radicals. These oxygen-reactive free radical molecules are thought to contribute significantly to disease and tissue damage. It has been found that cells from damaged knee cartilage can release great amounts of free radicals. In fact, studies have shown that those who have a high Vitamin C intake have a two-thirds reduction in the risk of further damage to their knees. Well-known scientist Dr. Linus Pauling recommends 18 grams of V-C per day as an arthritis preventative measure.

Osteoarthritis can cause thinning of the bones, and so can prednisone, often given to treat it. It makes sense then to increase the amount of Vitamin D and calcium, both of which are bone-builders. As far back as 1974, British scientists found that lack of vitamin D contributed to bone fractures in the elderly with arthritis. Lack of sunlight and an unhealthy diet both contributed to the lack. The recommended daily dose of Vitamin D is 400 IU or 600 IU if for those over the age of 60. A daily dose of 1200 IU is the limit as this vitamin is toxic if too much is taken.

Vitamin E is also an antioxidant; working in a similar way to vitamin C. Studies in Germany have proven that it can help to reduce pain. Good sources of this vitamin can be found in wheat germ, sunflower seed, corn oil, legumes and whole grains.

While some people swear by the arthritis cure that their copper bracelet brought, there is no scientific link to copper as being an aid to arthritis. In fact the opposite is true. Those with RA often have higher levels of copper in their blood. Too much copper can make you sick.

Selenium deficiency can cause a particular type of arthritis called Kashin-Bek disease, but it is more common where the soil is deficient in selenium, though sufferers of RA have less in their blood than others. Fish, organ meats, whole grains, nuts and beans will provide selenium.

Zinc may help reduce pain, stiffness and swelling. Some trials showed this was true, though others gave conflicting results. Oysters, cheese and tofu are all good sources of zinc.

The pain of arthritis can also be relieved by hot-packs, deliberately focusing on something else like pleasant music, humor, gentle exercise and losing weight.

Here are a few more herbs that are used effectively for the treatment of arthritis

Black Cohosh
Also known as Black Snakeroot, Bugbane, Rattleroot, Rattleweed, Squawroot. The dried root is the part used. This is a powerful relaxant as well as being extremely effective with easing painful menstrual cramps. Ovarian cramps will be relieved as well as bringing on a delayed menstrual cycle. It is also effective in the treatment of arthritis, osteo-arthritis, rheumatic pain and neurological pan. In small doses, appetite and digestion are greatly improved and is very beneficial for the nervous system in general.

Bogbean
Useful for treatment of rheumatism, osteo-arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Also has a stimulating effect on the walls of the colon and digestive juices.

Celery Seeds
Use dried ripe fruits to use as an anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, diuretic or anti-spasmodic. Great for treating rheumatism, arthritis and gout.

Chapparal
Very useful in cases of acne, arthritis, chronic backache, skin conditions of warts and blotches. Also one of the best cancer herbs.

Feverfew
Use the leaves to treat migraine headaches, arthritis, dizziness and tinnitus.

Nettle
The is the herb we referred to earlier and is another one of those “universal” plants. They are found all over the world and they strengthen the entire body. Rheumatism, arthritis, eczema, nosebleeds, arteries, lessen blood pressure are just a few applications. Nettles contain calcium, chlorine, iron, potassium, silicon, sodium and sulphur.

Saffron
A natural hydrochloric acid utilizes sugar of fruits and oils, thus helping arthritics get rid of the uric acid which holds the calcium deposited in the joints. Also reduces lactic acid build up. Good for measles, skin, scarlet fever and perspiration.

Yucca
Hope for arthritics. The extract from the plant has been used with surprising success on arthritis and rheumatism sufferers.

All of the herbs mentioned here should be available at your local health food store along with suggestions on how to prepare them for use. Some applications will be to ingest in teas while others may facilitate creating a topical treatment.
No matter what natural remedies you choose please consult your physician to make certain that your course of treatment does not interfere with medications that your doctor subscribes for your treatment.
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