Over 40 million people in America, both young and old, suffer from the chronic pain and inflammation that come with arthritis. A debilitating inflammatory disease that causes stiffening, loss of movement, and pain in the joints, arthritis is the leading cause of disability among Americans older than age 15, affecting nearly one in three adults.
Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the two most common arthritic conditions. Osteoarthritis, which affects approximately 21 million people in the U.S., involves the degeneration of cartilage and bone and the resultant familiar pain and stiffness in certain joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic, or full body, problem with inflammation that primarily attacks the joints. In this disease, the immune system forms antibodies against and mounts an attack on the bone, cartilage, and joints. The swelling that is often seen in arthritic joints is a result of the thickening of the membrane around the bones, an increase in fluid on the joint, actual enlargement of the bones, or a mixture of all of these factors.
Causes of Arthritis
Arthritis is thought to be caused by a number of factors, heredity being only one possibility. Another contributing factor in the development of this disease can be a long term deficiency in certain vitamins and minerals, such as phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, manganese, and vitamins E and C. While athletes are a risk for arthritis through continued damage to the joints, a sedentary person who is chronically overweight is actually at a greater risk. Lastly, diet has a large impact on the development of arthritis and many other chronic diseases. When a person’s diet causes their body pH to be overly acidic for most of their life, the acidic system is very susceptible to inflammatory conditions such as arthritis.
Common drug therapy for these conditions start with acetaminophen-based pain relievers such as Tylenol and over-the-counter anti-inflammatories such as Aleve, but can also extend into prescription strength COX-2 inhibitor drugs, which are non-steroidal anti-inflammatories. All of these drugs are associated with dangerous side effects ranging from peptic ulcers to kidney failure.
Safe, Natural Remedies for Relief
There are, however, much safer natural options that can greatly reduce the symptoms of arthritis and halt its progression. Systemic, or proteolic, enzymes are a very common and effective natural therapy for arthritis because of their ability to reduce internal inflammation. These enzymes control the amount of fibrin and other debris that the blood deposits into joints, thus reducing inflammation. Because of this action, systemic enzymes are also useful in the prevention of blood clots and multiple other inflammatory conditions, even the healing of injuries.
Collagen is also used to help with the stiffness and immobility of joints because of its ability to rehydrate them. Many collagen supplements will also come with some form of dried animal cartilage, usually from chickens, which works quite well at restoring joint cartilage and the general rebuilding of connective tissue.
Ginger, which contains anti-inflammatory compounds called gingerols, has been proven to provide relief from pain and improvement in mobility when regularly consumed by arthritis sufferers. Some other adaptagenic herbs which have anti-inflammatory properties are ashwagandha, Asian ginseng, cordyceps, holy basil, licorice, and rhodiola.
Fish oil supplements can also help to reduce the pain, swelling, and stiffness of arthritis, especially rheumatoid arthritis. At 6,000 milligrams per day, studies have shown the good fats in fish oil to be very beneficial to joints. Cayenne and olive oil are two other food supplements with proven anti-inflammatory effects, which can be helpful.
Arthritis and pH
One of the most important things to remember in dealing with arthritis is the body pH. Working to reduce an acidic condition can turn arthritis around for many people. The body can be alkalized by eating more fruits and vegetables and reducing red meat, sugar, white flour, and caffeine in the diet. Green supplements, such as wheat grass and spirulina, are also helpful. Another way to alkalize the body is by drinking alkaline water, which can be made with a special filter or purchased by the gallon. Water can also be made alkaline with the use of a supplement in the form of liquid drops.
Sources:
Winston, David. Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief.
McCully, Kilmer S. The Homocysteine Revolution.
Balch, Phyllis A. Prescription for Nutritional Healing. 4th Edition.
Shannon Spears - I am a former High School English teacher, who turned to natural methods to solve my own life-altering health issues. I am now pursuing a ...
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