Arthritis Home Remedy - Arthritis Supplements

Arthritis

Arthritis is characterized by an inflammation and/or pain in a joint or joints. Joints of the body are found at the knees, wrists, elbows, fingers, toes, hips, and shoulders. The neck and back also have joints between the bones of the spine. Symptoms of chronic arthritis are pain, swelling, stiffness, and deformity of one or more joints. It may appear suddenly or come on gradually. Some people feel a sharp burning or grinding pain. Others compare the pain to a toothache. Moving the joint usually hurts, although sometimes there is only stiffness.

There are many different forms arthritis can take. However, here we will be discussing the most common forms: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. A degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis is related to the wear and tear of aging and involves deterioration of the cartilage at the ends of the bones. The once smooth surface of cartilage becomes rough, resulting in friction. The tendons, ligaments, and muscles holding the joint together become weaker, and the joint itself becomes deformed, painful, and stiff. There is usually some pain, but little or no swelling. Any disablement is usually minor. Osteoarthritis rarely develops before the age of forty. If afflicts 15.8 million Americans. It typically runs in families, but afflicts almost three times as many women as men.

Rheumatoid and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis are types of inflammatory arthritis that attack the synovial membranes surrounding the lubricating fluid in the joints. The cartilage and tissues in and around the joints and often the bone surfaces are destroyed. The body replaces this damaged tissue with scar tissue, causing the spaces between the joints to become narrow, to develop folds, and to fuse together. The entire body is affected instead of just one joint as in osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis creates stiffness, swelling, fatigue, anemia, weight loss, fever, and often crippling pain. It often occurs in people under forty years of age, including young children. Currently, 2.1 million Americans are afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis; twice as many women as men suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis affects 71,000 young Americans (aged eighteen and under); six times as many girls are afflicted with juvenile rheumatoid as boys.

The onset of rheumatoid arthritis is often associated with physical or emotional stress; however, poor nutrition or bacterial infection may also be the cause.

Other forms of arthritis include gout, ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Gout occurs more often in overweight people and those who indulge regularly in rich foods and alcohol. It typically attacks the smaller joints of the feet and hands, generally affecting the big toe. Deposits of crystallized uric acid salt in the joint cause swelling, redness, and a sensation of heat and extreme pain. Currently 1 million Americans are affected, with four times as many men suffering from gout as women.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) affects certain joints of the spine, which become inflamed, stiffen, become rigid, and then fuse together. If confined to the lower back, AS will cause virtually no limitation of movement. In some cases, however, the entire spine may become rigid and bent. If the joints between the ribs and spine are affected, it will cause sever breathing problems due to limited expansion of the chest wall. Postural deformities are common. Currently 318,000 Americans are afflicted; two and a half times as many men as women have AS.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a malfunction of the body's immune system. For reasons unknown, the body produces antibodies that act against itself. Although it mimics rheumatoid arthritis and results in painful and inflamed joints, SLE is not a crippling disease. Currently 131,000 Americans are afflicted; eight times as many women as men have this disorder.

SUPPLEMENT	SUGGESTED DOSAGE	COMMENTS
	NUTRIENTS
Essential
Primrose or salmon oil	2 capsules twice daily	Controls arthritis pain and inflammation
Superoxide dismutase (SOD)	As directed on label	A free radical destroyer. Injections have given excellent results. The sublingual form is also good, or try Cell Guard from Biotec Foods.
Very Important
Calcium plus magnesium	2,000 mg daily. 1,000 mg daily.	Chelate form is the most effective. Needed to prevent bone loss.
Coenzyme Q10	60 mg. daily.	Increases tissue oxygenation, which is needed to aid in repairing connective tissues.
Garlic tablets (Kyolic)	2 capsules 3 times daily with meals. Use this odorless garlic or 1 tsp. of oil	Inhibits the formation of free radicals, which can damage the joints.
Kelp	8 tablets daily.	A rich source of minerals.
Multienzymes	Take with meals.	Avoid brands containing hydrochloric acid (HCl) if ulcers are present.
Niacin (B3, niacinamide) plus vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)	100 mg 3 times daily	Increases blood flow by dilating small arteries.
Vitamin B complex with extra niacin (B3) plus B6(pyridoxine) and pantothenic acid (B5)	100 mg 3 times daily	Use hypoallergenic variety. PABA is good for swelling.
Vitamin B12 and folic acid	Take lozenges daily.	Needed for proper digestion, the formation of cells, and the production of myelin, the protective coating surrounding the nerves. Prevents nerve damage.
Vitamin C plus bioflavonoids	3,000-10,000 mg daily in divided doses. 500 mg daily	A powerful free radical destroyer.
Important
Germanium	200 mg daily.	A powerful antioxidant that also relieves pain.
Multienzymes Proteolytic enzymes	Take with meals. Take between meals	Bromelin enzymes help to stimulate production of prostaglandin. Also helps digestion of protein. Proteolytic enzymes protect the joints from free radical damage.
Helpful
DL-Phenylalanine	Take daily every other week.	Good for pain relief. Caution:Not for use if pregnant, have high blood pressure, or diabetic.
Gerovital H-3(GH-3)	As directed on label.	Drug from Rumania that has given good results.
Iron (Floradix formula)	As directed on label.	Floradix is a good source of iron. Omit if anemia is not present.
L-Cysteine	500 mg twice daily on an empty stomach.	A detoxifier essential for immune function. A sulfur source.
Multivitamin complex plus vitamin A and beta-carotene	10,000 IU daily.	All nutrients are needed to protect from free radical damage and to repair tissues and cartilage.
Silicon extract (horsetail)	As directed on label	Needed for calcium absorption and the connective tissues.
Vitamin E	400 IU daily.	A powerful antioxidant. Aids in mobilizing the joints.

If you have arthritis, the use of the following herbs can be beneficial; alfalfa leaves, black cohosh, brigham tea, celery seed, chaparral leaves, comfrey, devil's claw tea, feverfew, parsley tea, valerian root, and yucca extract. Feverfew is good for pain and soreness. Yucca extract has been used successfully at the Desert Arthritis Clinic.

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