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Treatment of Arthritis
Originally published in Natural Living Magazine Volume 1 - Issue 2What type of arthritis do you have?
Osteoarthritis affects 80 per cent of the population over 50 years of age and is 10 times more common in men than in women. Rheumatoid arthritis is more common in women and is usually associated with osteoporosis.
Osteoarthritis:
This is the most common form of arthritis and may affect everyone at some point in their life. This condition is due to the normal wear and tear that occurs in our joints as we age. The smooth joint cartilage that we are born with becomes rough and worn with age, causing a grating sound that may be heard when the joint moves (known as crepitus). This constant grinding of the joint causes inflammation, which is associated with swelling, pain and redness. As the condition worsens, bone spurs form around the joint and can be seen in the hand or foot as enlarged, hard and bony joints. The areas most commonly affected by osteoarthritis are the joints on the hands, feet, knees, hips, lower back and neck. The classic signs of osteoarthritis are morning stiffness which gets better as you move around during the morning, and joints which have dull, aching pain after prolonged use.Rheumatoid Arthritis:
This is the most crippling of the arthrotides and it causes severe deformities. It was once thought to be the result of being exposed to rheumatic fever as a child but it is now known to be an auto-immune disease. The disease results in a tissue called pannus growing into the joint which weakens the joint's ligaments and causes joint dislocation. Conventional medicine has had very poor results treating this condition because of their lack of focus on nutrition and the over use of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs).Diet Tips
The first step in treating arthritis is dietary change. You have to realize that your joints are filled with painful inflammatory fluid and they have to be cleaned out. First, drink lots of pure, filtered water to flush your body of impurities. Avoid the following substances as they can cause an increase in the inflammatory reaction occurring inside the joint as well as in the rest of the body: sugar, caffeine, saturated fat, potato, tomato, eggplant, peppers, tobacco and dairy products. You will want to increase the following items in your diet because they help to reduce the inflammatory reaction within the joint and other areas of the body: lots of fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein.Natural Therapies Against Arthritis
Evening Primrose Oil (E.F.A.s):
Evening Primrose Oil contains a balance of Omega 6 to Omega 3 oils which are critical to the production of prostaglandins. Those are hormone-like compounds which are derived from Essential Fatty Acids (E.F.A.s) and formed from Evening Primrose Oil. Evening Primrose Oil is important in the regulation of inflammation, pain and swelling, which is helpful in both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.Glucosamine Sulphate:
This substance, which is synthesized from glucose and a protein precursor, occurs naturally in the body. It also decreases with age just as the incidence of osteoarthritis increases. The main activity of the Glucosamine Sulphate in the joint is to stimulate cartilage formation. There are numerous double-blind studies that demonstrate that Glucosamine Sulphate is more effective than Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) in the treatment of osteoarthritis. While NSAIDs will initially provide quicker pain relief, the effect is short-lived and thus requires higher dosages with increased side effects. While Glucosamine Sulphate works slower, it has a longer, more powerful effect while helping to rebuild joint cartilage which is helpful in both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.Devil's Claw:
This herb has been shown to be effective in the treatment of osteoarthritis. It contains saponins which help to eliminate endotoxins from the joints. This action is helpful in treating osteoarthritis.Antioxidants:
A good daily antioxidant should be used to help prevent free radical pathology from occurring at the joint site. Antioxidants are helpful for both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.Conclusions
While arthritic conditions are common, it is important to work at trying to prevent these crippling diseases from getting worse and also to hopefully reverse their degenerative effects. It can be shown that natural therapies can help to heal the joint, whereas the use of NSAIDs such as acetylsalicylic acid or acetaminophen will actually cause a further breakdown of the joint cartilage and, in the long run, make the condition worse.By Dr. Daryl Robert Bourke, DC ND
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