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Natural Supplements for Arthritis Relief
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Natural Herbal Heat packs that work both hot and cold A couple of minutes in the microwave and you are on your way to relief Support for your hands and Knees A large range of braces and supports for your wrists and knees when you need additional support. Back braces back braces support the lumber region with compression and/or semi rigid panels Chiropractic Pillows Some pillows feel good others make you feel good. Improve bone strength Natural supplements to improve bone strength and joint health Massagers - Hand Held Massage tools that make giving a professional massage a snap. Give a longer more penetrating massage without tiring. |
Avocado/Soybean Unsaponifiables (ASU)
Jason Theodosakis, MD, author of The Arthritis Cure and champion of glucosamine chondroitin, believes ASU will have a major impact on treatment of Osteoarthritis. Sold in France by prescription under the name Piascledine 300, it's available in the U.S. without a prescription.
French studies of ASU, derived from avocado and soybean oils, show it can relieve Osteoarthritis arthritis pain, stimulate cartilage repair, and lower a patient's need for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to control arthritis pain.
A treatment for osteoarthritis, with very promising results in studies enrolling a total of several hundred people.
For example, in a double-blind trial, 260 individuals with arthritis of the knee were given either placebo or ASU with doses of 300 or 600 mg daily. The results over 3 months showed that use of ASU significantly improved arthritis symptoms as compared to placebo. There was no significant difference seen between the two doses tested.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is best known as a skin rejuvenator, for burns, cuts and similar damage. It has been used since early recorded history for its first-aid like properties. A member of the lily and onion family and it is related to garlic and asparagus. The earliest references to it were discovered with an Egyptian mummy dating back to 1550 BC. Alexander the Great used Aloe Vera to restore the health of his troops and Cleopatra relied on it to help preserve her legendary beauty. Animal studies show that drinking soothing Aloe Vera can reduce swelling and inflammation in arthritic joints. It is thought to be a stimulant to the immune system, a powerful anti- inflammatory, an analgesic and has the ability to speed up cell growth.
It is generally accepted that the most potent was Aloe Vera Barbadensis Miller. Be aware that most Aloe Vera compounds consist of the whole leaf, which contains the sap, and are often referred to as 'Bitter Aloes'. These have a purging effect on our systems and the body can only take small amounts. Aloe has been reported to be effective in checking arthritis when in its early stages.
Aloe Vera contains a large number of mucopolysaccharides (basic sugars) which are found in every cell in the body. Aloe Vera is one of the only known natural vegetarian sources of Vitamin B12, and it contains many minerals vital to the healthy function such as iron, manganese, calcium and zinc. Seven essential amino acids and fatty acids are also found in Aloe Vera.
Repairing damaged tissue by regenerating cells is a function at which Aloe Vera has been shown to be most successful. It not only relieves the painful symptoms but also helps to disperse damaged tissue – a type of detoxification process. Aloe Vera may be taken both internally as a juice or as a gel applied to the painful joint. Here Aloe Vera’s deep penetration may show benefit.
In treating arthritis it is suggested to ingest about 1/4 teaspoon of the Aloe’s mucilage (watery inside part) twice a day for about 3 weeks. Be careful to only take small amounts, Pure gel can be taken in virtually any reasonable quantity. Recently there have been a number of liquid Aloe Vera products or products incorporating Aloe Vera developed anticipating these benefits.
Boswellia Serrata (Boswellin)
Boswellin is probably best for Rheumatoid Arthritis, but due to its anti-inflammatory properties, it is also effective for Osteoarthritis. Boswellia Serrata inhibits pro-inflammatory mediators in the body, such as leukotrienes. Research indicates that long-term use of Boswellia, as opposed to NSAIDs, does not appear to cause irritation or ulceration of the stomach. This is the best reason for considering the use of Boswellin in the relief of chronic pain related to arthritis In a double-blind study of 30 people with osteoarthritis of the knee, researchers compared the herb boswellia against placebo. Participants received either boswellia or placebo for 8 weeks, and were then switched over to the opposite treatment for an additional 8 weeks. The results showed significantly greater improvement in knee arthritis pain, knee mobility, and walking distance with boswellia as compared to placebo.
Bromelaine
Bromelain is a crude extract from the pineapple that contains, among other components, various closely related proteinases, demonstrating, a wide range beneficial effects in lab and animal tests primarily anti-inflammatory, and reduction of blood clotting activities. Due to its efficacy after oral administration, its safety and lack of undesired side effects, bromelain has earned growing acceptance and compliance among patients.
Pineapple contains bromelaine, which is a fairly potent enzyme used by naturopathic medicine types for anti-inflammatory effects. It's properties are destroyed by heat so processed canned juice does not have an effect. Bromelain is a protein-digesting enzyme. It reduces inflammation and swelling. This substance found in pineapple is supposed to relieve arthritis pain and swelling in Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis and improve mobility. It is widely used in German sports medicine with some other enzymes, following soft tissue injury and there is some data to suggest this decreases healing time. The bromelaine helps to decrease the walling off of inflammation by digesting it, making injured tissue more available to natural healing properties within the body. Inflammation is set into motion immediately at the site of injury. It's similar to the mechanism wherein a slightly elevated fever helps the immune system work better.
Published in the Alternative Medicine Journal. 2004 Bromelain, was shown to have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties and may provide a safer alternative or complementary treatment for osteoarthritis. All previous trials, which have been uncontrolled or comparative studies, indicate its potential use for the treatment of osteoarthritis. This paper reviewed the mechanism of its therapeutic actions, those clinical trials that have assessed its use in osteoarthritis to date, as well as considering the safety implications of this supplement for osteoarthritis and reviewing the evidence to date regarding the dosage for treating this condition. The data available at present indicate the need for trials to establish the efficacy and optimum dosage for bromelain and the need for adequate prospective adverse event monitoring in such chronic conditions as osteoarthritis
In a study published in Phytomedicine in 2002, Researchers found that there was preliminary clinical evidence to support the contention that the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of bromelain help to reduce symptoms of osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis. Their study investigated the effects of bromelain on mild acute knee pain of less than 3 months duration in otherwise healthy adults. The study was an open, dose-ranging postal study in volunteers who had been recruited through newspaper and magazine articles. Seventy seven subjects completed the study and dosed at 200 and 400 mg. In both treatment groups, all WOMAC symptom dimension scores were significantly reduced compared with baseline. In addition, improvements in total symptom score, the stiffness and physical function dimensions were significantly greater in the high-dose (400 mg per day) compared with the low-dose group. They concluded that bromelain may be effective in ameliorating physical symptoms and improving general well-being in otherwise healthy adults suffering from mild knee pain.
The claim that bromelain cannot be effective after oral administration is definitely refuted at this time. One study of a bromelain supplement containing the enzymes rutin and trypsin relieved arthritis pain and improved function in 73 people with knee Osteoarthritis. The effect was similar to taking an NSAID. Bromelaine may be as effective as the NSAIDS, for arthritis pain reduction. It may also help with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Use over time may also help with connective tissue disorders. It also appears to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Cayenne Cream
One of the most popular natural over the counter topical pain relief ingredient is capsaicin. Capsaicin comes from Cayenne peppers and is responsible for their spicy effect. The Capsaicin is also the ingredient that causes a burning sensation when it comes in contact with skin. This inhibits the body’s production of substance P which is heavily involved the relaying signals of arthritis pain to the brain. The effect of this can be cumulative so apply the cream two to three times per day for at least one week before making a decision as to whether or not the cream is helping to reduce arthritis arthritis pain.
Devil's Claw
Native to southern Africa, devil's claw is named for the miniature hooks that cover its fruit. For thousands of years, the Khoisan peoples of the Kalahari Desert have used devil's claw root in remedies to treat pain and complications of pregnancy and in topical ointments to heal sores, boils, and other skin problems. It was introduced to Europe from Africa in the early 1900s. Since then dried roots have been used to restore appetite, relieve heartburn, and reduce pain and inflammation. In fact, mounting evidence suggests that devil's claw root may help relieve pain and inflammation in people with arthritis and other painful disorders, but how it reduces pain and swelling is not well understood yet.
Osteoarthritis
Several studies have found that taking devil's claw for several months substantially reduces pain and improves physical functioning in people with osteoarthritis. An early study in Germany reported that devil's claw had anti-inflammatory effects. In a larger, well-designed 4-month study with 122 participants with knee and hip osteoarthritis, devil's claw root powder reduced pain and improved functional ability as effectively as standard doses of a leading medication for osteoarthritis. The participants who received devil's claw also experienced fewer side effects and required fewer pain-reducing medications.
Recently double-blind studies involving a total of over 300 people suggest that the herb devil's claw can ease the pain related to various types of arthritis.
Gelatin
Help with raw cartilage replenishing with this cheap source. Used in caning and general cooking.
Ginger
Ginger is an antioxidant that acts as an inflammatory with no major side effects. Ginger is probably best known for its ability to ease motion and morning sickness as well as drug-induced and postoperative nausea. Ginger is believed to reduce joint arthritis pain and inflammation in people with Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis, and protect the stomach from gastrointestinal effects of NSAIDs.
When taken in standardized extract form, ginger may additionally lower the level of the body's natural arthritis pain-causing compounds called prostaglandins. Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms may also respond to treatment with ginger, either in massage oil or standardized extract form. In a study of seven women with rheumatoid arthritis, reduced joint swelling and arthritis pain were reported following a daily regimen of up to 1 gram of powdered ginger or 5 to 50 grams of fresh ginger.
A 6-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 247 individuals with osteoarthritis of the knee evaluated a combination herbal product containing ginger and the Asian spice galanga (Alpinia galanga). The results showed that participants in the ginger/galanga group improved to a significantly greater extent than those receiving placebo. However, despite news reports claiming that this study proves ginger effective for osteoarthritis, it only provides information on the effectiveness of the herbal combination. The two double-blind studies performed on ginger alone were small, and produced contradictory results.
Some commonly recommended dosages for ginger usage
- For rheumatoid arthritis: Take 100 mg three times a day or drink up to four cups of ginger tea daily.
- For chronic arthritis pain: Either take 100 mg three times daily or blend a few drops of ginger, lavender, and birch oils with 1 tablespoon of a neutral oil (such as almond oil), and gently massage the mixture into the affected areas.
Green Tea
Another promising line of research indicates that the polyphenolic compounds in green tea may be effective in treating and preventing rheumatoid arthritis. Research using electron spin resonance has shown that the polyphenols are very effective scavengers for free radicals and thus probably act to prevent oxidative damage, which is a known precursor of degenerative disease.
Studies funded by the Arthritis Foundation showed a significant decrease in the incidence of Rheumatoid Arthritis and a reduction in the severity of the disease when the polyphenolic compounds, which have antioxidant properties, were given to mice in their water. If you want to try out the remedy for yourself, three to four cups of green tea a day will supply an amount roughly equivalent to the tested levels.
Nettle leaf
Stinging nettle, Taken orally or applied to the skin, stinging nettle is supposed to reduce the arthritis pain and inflammation of Osteoarthritis. One of the more unusual treatments is “Urtication”, this term comes from the botanical name, Urtica dioica of the Stinging nettle and dates back some 2,000 years to biblical times. 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.
Some studies show that patients can lower their dosages of NSAIDs by taking stinging nettle in extract form. Two small studies showed stinging nettle applied topically reduced arthritis pain for people with hip Osteoarthritis and thumb joint arthritis pain.
Nettles can reduce a patient’s need for NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) by up to 70 percent.
Pomegranate extract helps protect against arthritis
Pomegranate fruit extracts have been shown to block enzymes that contribute to cartilage degradation in osteoarthritis, a condition that currently has few avenues for treatment. The September 2005 Journal of Nutrition published the findings of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine researchers that an extract derived from pomegranate fruit can block enzymes that contribute to osteoarthritis. The study is the first to show the ability of the fruit to slow cartilage deterioration. Professor of medicine Tariq M Haqqi PhD and colleagues examined the effect of a pomegranate extract on interleukin-1b in arthritis-afflicted cartilage samples. Interleukin-1b is a protein that causes an overproduction of inflammatory molecules that include matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), enzymes that have been implicated in cartilage re-absorption.
Writing in the Journal of Nutrition, Tariq M. Haqqi and colleagues said the findings suggest that consumption of pomegranate fruit extract “may help in protecting cartilage from the effects of IL-1b by suppressing cartilage degradation in osteoarthritis”. The findings, although still at a preliminary stage and not yet proven in humans, are likely to encourage further consumption of pomegranate juice in the UK, where sales have rocketed in the last year thanks to media coverage of its antioxidant content. Further research will be needed to determine the absorption rate of pomegranate fruit extracts in the joints and to confirm in animals whether the fruit extract promotes cartilage repair. However the findings offer significant hope for the huge and growing numbers of people affected by arthritis.
Dr Haqqui stated that "Arthritis is one of the foremost diseases for which patients seek herbal or traditional medicine treatments . . . Careful use of supplements and herbal medicines during early stages of disease or treatment may be made to limit the disease progression."
He added that pomegranate "has been revered through the ages for its medicinal properties. Studies in animal models of cancer suggest that pomegranate fruit extract consumption may be anti-carcinogenic, whereas studies in mice and humans indicate that it may also have a potential therapeutic and chemo-preventive adjuvant effect in cardiovascular disorders."
The authors conclude that in addition to helping to prevent osteoarthritis from worsening, pomegranate "may also be a useful nutritive supplement for maintaining joint integrity and function." Plans are being made to test pomegranate in an animal model of osteoarthritis and to find if the fruit is also effective against rheumatoid arthritis.
Quercetin – This helps with inflammation reduction
Quercetin belongs to a group of plant pigments called flavonoids that are largely responsible for the colors of many fruits, flowers, and vegetables. Flavonoids, such as quercetin, provide many health-promoting benefits. They act as antihistamines (which are useful in reducing allergy symptoms) and help reduce inflammation associated with various forms of arthritis. Quercetin also works as an antioxidant by attacking damaging particles in the body known as free radicals. These particles occur naturally in the body but can damage cell membranes, interact with genetic material, and possibly contribute to the aging process as well as the development of a number of conditions including heart disease and cancer. Antioxidants such as quercetin can neutralize free radicals and may reduce or even help prevent some of the damage they cause.
According to laboratory and animal studies, quercetin has anti-inflammatory properties. In test tubes, for example, quercetin inhibits the type of inflammation that can occur in the joints of those with arthritis. In addition, there are reports of people with rheumatoid arthritis who experienced an improvement in their symptoms when they switched from a typical Western diet to a vegan diet with lots of uncooked berries, fruits, vegetables, nuts, roots, seeds, and sprouts containing, amongst other antioxidants, quercetin.
Shark cartilage
Ground-up cartilage from Pacific Ocean sharks is supposed to relieve the inflammation and arthritis pain of arthritis. Animal and lab studies are promising, but there are no human studies to support claims. Researchers also think it may promote regrowth of cartilage.
Turmeric
Turmeric (Curcuma longa), a plant related to ginger, is the herb that gives curry its brassy golden color. Turmeric is proven to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-tumor properties. In one animal trial, a turmeric compound was almost as potent as cortisone in treating acute inflammation. This supplement is used in traditional Chinese and Indian Aruyvedic medicine to relieve arthritis pain, stiffness, and inflammation of Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis. A small study that combined turmeric, boswellia, and zinc showed decreased arthritis pain in Osteoarthritis. Two studies using a combination of turmeric, boswellia, ginger, and aswangandha relieved arthritis pain and inflammation in Rheumatoid Arthritis. Its effectiveness alone is unknown.
White Willow (Salix species) (bark):
The bark of the stately white willow tree (Salix alba) has been used in China for centuries as a medicine because of its ability to relieve arthritis pain and to lower fevers. Early settlers in America found Native Americans gathering bark from indigenous willow trees for similar purposes. The active ingredient in white willow is salicin, which the body converts into salicylic acid. The first aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) was made from a different herb containing salicin—meadowsweet—but works in essentially the same way. All aspirin is now chemically synthesized. It's not surprising, then, that white willow bark is often called "herbal aspirin". Although white willow is the species of willow tree most commonly used for medicinal purposes, other salicin-rich species are employed as well, including crack willow (Salix fragilis), purple willow (Salix purpurea), and violet willow (Salix daphnoides). These all may be sold under the label of willow bark.
The herb white willow contains the aspirin-like substance salicin. A 2-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 78 individuals with arthritis found evidence that willow extracts can relieve osteoarthritis arthritis pain.
Aspirin and related anti-inflammatory drugs are notorious for irritating or damaging the stomach. However willow appears to be gentler in this regard.
Health Benefits
The salicylic acid in white willow bark lowers the body's levels of prostaglandins, hormonelike compounds that can cause aches, arthritis pain, and inflammation. While white willow bark takes longer to begin acting than aspirin, its effect may last longer. And, unlike aspirin, it doesn't cause stomach bleeding or other known adverse effects. White willow bark may help to relieve acute and chronic arthritis pain, including arthritis arthritis pain, headache, back and neck arthritis pain, muscle aches, and menstrual cramps. The effectiveness of white willow bark for easing these and other types of discomforts results from its power to lower prostaglandin levels. Some arthritis sufferers taking white willow bark have experienced reduced swelling and inflammation, and have eventually achieved increased mobility in the back, knees, hips, and other joints.
Yucca
According to the study “Yucca plant saponin in the management of arthritis” (J Appl Nutr 1975;27:45–50) there is evidence that Yucca can aid in Osteo and Rheumatoid arthritis. Yucca may work by blocking the release of intestinal toxins that inhibit normal formation of cartilage.
A Few General Usage Ideas
Ginger, starflower and evening primrose all favor the synthesis of anti-inflammatory prostaglandins and may help reduce inflammation related to arthritis.
For rheumatoid arthritis: One small cup of ginger, cat's claw and celery-seed herbal tea three times a day. Also add ginger and celery seeds to your meals, they go well with curries and Thai foods. Or you could try one teaspoon of powdered devil's claw root to a cup of water, then simmer the mixture for 15 minutes. Drink a cup of this tea three times a day, but avoid it if you have ulcers or if you are pregnant.
For gout: Try buchu, nettle or coriander tea. Nettle and coriander assist the kidney's in uric acid removal and are their anti-inflammatory properties can help ease arthritic arthritis pain.
Take aloe vera capsules and juice for both arthritis and rheumatism.
Add two or three dandelion roots to one quart of water and boil in a covered pot for one hour. Drink a cup of this mixture three times a day before meals.
The following sections cover many of the potential routes to the relief of arthritic symptoms from Acupuncture to Zinc.
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