Cure Your Achy Joints Naturally

[Teresa]

One out of every three of you suffers from chronic joint pain. If you're not "the one" now, odds are you soon will be...

Really, it's no wonder that the Arthritis Foundation tells us that arthritis is the most common chronic health problem in the U.S.... since 66 million suffer from it today.   All forms of arthritis share the common symptoms of severe pain, loss of range of motion, and a diminished quality of life.

And worse yet, it's that arthritis is the leading cause of disability...

It used to be said that there were two main types of arthritis — the bad inflammatory kind, and the not-so-bad degenerative kind. And that's been the prevailing theory for a long time, up until now...

Frightening new evidence now says that, with regard to inflammation, osteoarthritis is not so different from rheumatoid or other inflammatory arthritis as was previously believed...

Although lots of drugs  are prescribed to ease the pain of arthritis, supplements including plant extracts and vitamins can reduce inflammation within the joints.

Try the following special supplements to help give you some relief  from arthritis.


*Glucosamine-chondroitin sulfate
A number of large-scale, double-blind clinical studies have demonstrated the ability of these supplements to alleviate pain and aid joint reconstruction. Aging people seem to lose their ability to produce a sufficient amount of glucosamine, and there are no food sources available. Commercial sources of glucosamine are from the exoskeleton of certain shellfish. This allows cells in tissues to hold together. They are necessary for the construction and maintenance of virtually all connective tissues and lubricating fluids in the body.

Hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid  is a substance that attaches to collagen and elastin to form cartilage. HA not only helps keep the cartilage that cushions joints strong and flexible, but also helps increase supplies of joint-lubricating synovial fluid.

Research has shown hyaluronic acid to be an effective treatment for both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, particularly in its injectible form (the only form to date that has been approved for medical use by the FDA). In one study, over 80 percent of participants had significant relief of their painful arthritic symptoms immediately after treatment with HA injections. Pain relief lasted anywhere from nine to 12 months, after which time more injections were needed to maintain results.

Hyaluronic acid is present in every tissue of the body, and it performs many important functions. It helps deliver nutrients to and carry toxins from cells that do not have a blood supply, such as those found in cartilage; without adequate amounts of HA, the joints will become brittle and deteriorate.


*MSM
The generally recommended dosage is 1,500 to 6,000 mg of MSM per day. MSM is a natural form of sulfur found in living organisms. Its main benefits are a reduction of inflammation and the ability to penetrate many tissues, including joints. MSM can be introduced to the joint in three ways, orally (liquid or pill), topically (a gel applied directly onto the joint), or by physician injection.
I would recommend a mix of oral and topical application for best results. Some people achieve results in as little as a week, but most research indicates that MSM may take more time to reduce joint problems.

Collagen type II
Type II collagen is a major component in cartilage, and supplementation has demonstrated benefits in reducing pain and improving joint function.

Tart cherry extract
A number of studies have shown that concentrated extracts of tart cherries improve joint function and reduce pain.

Curcumin
Turmeric (Curcuma longa), is a traditional Indian curry spice. It is also used as a yellow food coloring and has been used in traditional medicine in India and Ancient Egypt for at least 6000 years. This is one of the most powerful natural anti-inflammatory substances known. Its effects are comparable to steroids, without the harmful effects.

Quercetin
This is also a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Quercetin is part of the coloring found in the skins of apples and red onions.  When combined with curcumin, you get a powerful anti-inflammatory effect because they each act on different inflammatory biochemical pathways. To get more quercetin, you can increase your intake of apples and red onions, which will improve your diet. If you need more therapeutic impact, quercetin is available in health food stores and online

Borage oil
Borage oil contains a high concentration of gamma-linolenic acid, which has significant anti inflammatory properties. It also moistens mucous membranes and the skin. It can also be found in black currant seed oil and evening primrose oil supplements. However, I don't know whether the effects of these three oils in the body, are the same. You might try taking 1.4–2.8 grams daily for at least two months.

Natural vitamin E (Unique-E)
Vitamin E, in natural form, has significant antiinflammatory effects.

Buffered vitamin C (calcium/magnesium ascorbate)
Vitamin C is not only a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, but it also strengthens the tissues and the ligaments surrounding the joint.

Vitamin/mineral supplement selenium
A recent study found that selenium was significantly depleted in the joints of people with arthritis, while copper levels increased. High iron levels were found in the damaged joints of osteoarthritis sufferers. Iron is a powerful generator of inflammation and free radicals.

Magnesium
Magnesium supplementation has been shown to reduce inflammation, while a deficiency increases it. A survey found that magnesium is one of the most common mineral deficiencies seen, with 75% of the population lacking it. Chronic illness and many medications worsen magnesium loss.

Stinging nettle extract
This plant extract has been shown to have powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Recent studies have found it to be very protective of the brain as well. It is often included in natural supplements used to treat chronic prostate problems for the same reason.

These are just some of the supplements that will help you control your arthritis pain.

WD40 is also good home product to keep in the truck with you when you are out somewhere and need a quick pain spray. it does help. has DMSO in it and I have many clients who use it and swear by it.. on their elbows and knees in the fields.  It stinks.. but who cares if it works.. LOL
There is lots of ointments on the market too that will temporarily relieve the ache in joints when rubbed on. I have several that I keep to use on clients mixed with my creams that mix and use. Most of the good ones have to have MSM in it and I use straight Eucalyptus too.
Remember that anything pure and good is very expensive.. but then it doesn't take a lot of it either to do the job. Don't be fooled by a product that has lots of additives and is cheap. If you do..In that case.. generally what you'll be  buying is lots of campher/menthol related hand cream. 

[Judy Harder]

Boy, Teresa,

I know all about Arthur itis and all the other auto-immune diseases.
Primarily I have Fibromyalgia.......which is a form of muscle arthritis and
I have been told I have rhemotoid, and osteoarthritis and poly-arthritis and
restless legs syndrome and I know there is one more, but at this moment I can't remember

I know, it is I can't remember Sh***t and maybe due to arthritis. LOL...nah this is OLD AGE.
I have been in pain since I was about 50 and maybe before that.

I have control of it now. It took a long time to find what works and what doesn't.
The biggest help was the huge weight loss I had (due to cancer therapy)  (I lost 80 pounds) and keeping
my legs and body moving.

The more I sit the more problems I have. So, I walk when the weather lets me and try to stay busy.

Each one of us has to search to find what helps and it does change with time.
I went almost a year without taking anything...........just an Aleve once a day and most of the
pain was controllable.........weather is a huge factor in it.
This winter has been a "booger" for me. I never warmed up at all and spent the time with a hot rice
bag on my lap and a throw over my legs. (I really love sitting in the sun and letting it warm me) I am very ready for
Spring and Summer.!!

Thanks for the list of other things I can try.
Also found that a good reflex ologist is a good thing, too.
Just lost the person (think she moved) who would come to Longton and work on
me and while on the table my body would just purr........then when I stood up it would start all over again.

But, for that half hour, I felt good.

[Teresa]

I can't remember now who approached me about taking a day, setting up in someones home and coming to Longton to do massages all day. I considered it, but haven't given it any more thought until you talked of it now.Then it jogged my memory..

Massage and reflexology is wonderful for so many things. I work on lots of people who have Fibromyalgia.. and have had good success in relieving their pain, allowing them the freedom to once again, be able to do normal activities.", But as with anything that is chronic, it takes consistent "keeping at it".
My clients start with massages every week for a month or 2 ( different with each)  then we cut to 2 times a week every month for awhile and then from there as they need it.  But there is sufficient success that proves massage works.

[MarineMom]

A lot of those things my parents and I have tried, my mother has Osteo, my father and I have Rheumatoid and unfortunately most of them seem to have no effect at all on RA, although Calcium and Glucosamine did seem to help my mother somewhat. When I was in the early stages of RA some of those things did cover up the pain of RA but the disease still continued to destroy the joints, (but at least it did not hurt so much while it was happening  ). The bad thing was that I delayed treatment while I was taking those other things and my RA is now worse than my father who went for treatment when he was still in the early stages

[Teresa]

I'm so sorry to hear about your pain. I so wish people didn't have to hurt. Natural homeopathic medicines ,(vitamins and herbs) take sometimes 3 weeks before you notice any difference. And on some people the amount of relief isn't enough so they have to go to a prescription.. I take herbal stuff, but I have to have a prescription also. And I can't clone myself for massage or believe me, I'd be on my own table 2 times a week. 

Here is a good list of Arthritis Medicines that you have to have a Doctors prescription for.

Link:
http://arthritis.about.com/od/arthritisdrugs/Arthritis_Drugs_Arthritis_Medications_Arthritis_Medicines.htm

[MarineMom]

Here is a good list of Arthritis Medicines that you have to have a Doctors prescription for.

Good link, lots of info, some days it seems like I am taking all of the drugs on that list but its actually only half of them