Natural Arthritis Remedies

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Natural Arthritis Remedies

 

 

 

 

Feeling a bit creaky, achy, or stiff in the joints? You could have

rheumatism, bursitis, or tendinitis, which are often mistaken for

arthritis. But if you're over the age of 50, you may be one of the

16 million Americans (mostly women) who do indeed suffer from the

pain of osteoarthritis.

New natural supplements continue to show results in relieving the

symptoms--and possibly

slowing the cartilage disintegration--at the root of this ailment.

 

Here's a rundown of WholeHealthMD's leading supplement

recommendations for osteoarthritis. Most cause far less stomach

irritation than aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen, the NSAIDs doctors

typically prescribe for osteoarthritis. But talk with your doctor

before giving up conventional treatments.

 

Allow at least a month to see results. These supplements can be used

long-term and with conventional pain relievers.

 

Call the doctor if joint pain is accompanied by a fever, which may

signal infectious arthritis and require immediate medical attention.

If pain and stiffness develop quickly, it may be a sign of

rheumatoid arthritis, a potentially more serious arthritic

condition.

 

 

MSM

Methylsulfonylmethane is a newly popular sulfur compound that

appears to inhibit pain impulses along nerve fibers, acting as an

analgesic and anti-inflammatory. Although few controlled studies

have been done in humans, MSM has eased the pain associated with

osteoarthritis in many people who use it regularly.

 

Is MSM safe? Few studies on the supplement have been done. We asked

Ronald M. Laurence, M.D., Ph.D., assistant clinical professor at

UCLA School of Medicine and author of a book on MSM (The Miracle of

MSM, Putnam's, 1999). " In the thousands of patients I have treated

who took 2,000 mg and more of MSM daily for many months and years, I

haven't heard of any serious complaints to date, " Dr. Laurence

says. " In fact, I feel comfortable telling people that MSM is safer

than water. Remember, though, MSM is a biologically active substance

and can sometimes produce side effects, such as skin rash or minor

gastrointestinal upset, in some people.

 

If you're on anticoagulants,

you should check with your doctor before taking MSM, because it can

occasionally have a blood-thinning effect. "

 

Are some forms of MSM more effective than others?

Using MSM cream in addition to the oral supplement also works well

for some people.

Rub MSM cream on the arthritic area four or five times a day for

best results. I suggest adding 1 teaspoon of MSM powder to the cream

to make it even more potent. "

 

Suggested dose: 750 mg 3 times a day, Take with food to minimize

digestive upset.

 

Niacinamide

This form of vitamin B3 has been shown to be particularly effective

in treating knee pain. A double-blind study confirmed that it begins

to work within 12 weeks.

 

Suggested dose: 1,000 mg 3 times a day. Take with food to minimize

digestive upset. Physician monitoring is necessary during treatment;

daily doses of more than 3,000 mg can cause liver damage and other

serious side effects.

 

Cayenne Cream

Capsaicin (what makes chili peppers hot) is the key ingredient in

cayenne cream. It brings pain relief by creating a temporary

diversionary pain that masks the real one, and it inhibits

production of substance P, a chemical involved in sending pain

messages to the brain.

 

Suggested dose: Apply topical cream to affected joints several times

a day. Don't ingest the cream. Use it topically along with any of

the oral supplements. Buy cream standardized to contain 0.025% to

0.075% capsaicin. Initial applications may produce a burning

sensation.

 

Boswellia

Laboratory studies indicate that the herb boswellia, used in the

traditional medicine of India, blocks the activity of hormonelike

chemicals (such as leukotrienes) and of immune cells involved in the

inflammation of arthritis.

 

Suggested dose: 1 pill 3 times a day. Take with food to minimize

digestive upset. Buy pills standardized to contain 150 mg boswellic

acid.

 

SAMe

A form of the amino acid methionine, SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine,

pronounced " sammy " ) has produced anti-inflammatory effects similar

to ibuprofen's and has been shown to rebuild cartilage. It can be

quite expensive, however.

 

Suggested dose: 400 mg twice a day for two weeks, then 200 mg twice

a day as maintenance. Take one hour before meals for maximal

absorption.

 

Should not be taken by those with manic-depressive illness.

 

 

 

Vitamins C, D, and E

 

A number of studies suggest that taking at least 500 mg a day of the

antioxidant vitamin C or 400 IU or more of vitamins D or E may help

delay or prevent osteoarthritis. More vitamin D is not always

better, however: In high doses (more than 1,000 IU a day), vitamin D

can sometimes be toxic.

 

 

For More Information

See our healing path on Arthritis, our feature article The SAMe

Solution, MSM, Niacinamide,

Cayenne, Boswellia, SAMe, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Vitamin E.

 

 

 

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