Doc Christopher on Arthritis and Gout

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VITAMIN C (citric acid) AND ARTHRITIS

 

Several studies have been done on the connection between Vitamin C and

 

arthritis. Richard Lucas in his book, Nature's Medicines reports that in a

 

hospital treating chronic diseases of the elderly, pain of arthritis was

 

decreased within one month by the addition of 8 ounces of orange juice to

 

the daily diet. In another study it was found that arthritis sufferers were

 

relieved of gouty symptoms by drinking canned cherry juice. Because many

 

people eat meat, they have a build-up of uric acid in the system which tends

 

to create these symptoms. Blood uric acid dropped as a result of taking 1/2

 

lb. of fresh or canned cherries a day.

 

Many of our herbs contain Vitamin C. One of the highest is rose-hips. Rose

 

hip tea is very refreshing and will certainly be an aid in eliminating uric

 

acid build-up. Hibiscus flowers also contain high amounts of C. Any citrus

 

fruits can also be aids.

 

He noted that Vermont folk medicine, although they did not distinguish

 

between arthritis, bursitis, rheumatism, gout, osteoarthritis, etc., they

 

were successful in treating all these diseases with two teaspoonfuls of

 

apple cider vinegar and two of honey in a glass of water three times a day.

 

They felt that arthritis treatment began in the stomach where the acid

 

balance prevented putrefaction of food. (Bacteria will not grow in an acid

 

medium.) These bacteria guard the door to proper assimilation of nutriments

 

in the stomach and intestine. One of the body's chief necessities is calcium

 

If the calcium balance is off, the results will be seen in many ways. There

 

will be frayed nerves, inferior fingernails and hair, and other disorders

 

including susceptibility to infectious diseases and arthritis resulting from

 

altered body chemistry.

 

Calcium enters into solution in an acid medium. The apple cider vinegar

 

creates an acidic medium which is capable of dissolving excess inorganic

 

calcium--even if it is in the form of arthritic deposits in the joints. Cows

 

when allowed to graze by their own instincts, will always choose acidic

 

vegetation over alkaline. When they are fed winter feed, they may run the

 

risk of developing milk fever which affects the quality of their milk, often

 

paralyzes their hind legs, and makes for difficult calf delivery. The

 

acidity of the system determines the health of the newborn calf as well.

 

Animals even take to drinking apple cider vinegar voluntarily when it is set

 

before them.

 

OTHER FACTORS IN ARTHRITIS

 

A malfunctioning nervous and endocrine system can also be a factor in

 

arthritis. The hypothalamus sends a signal to the parathyroid to begin

 

dissolving bone if the body needs calcium elsewhere. The thyroid gland is

 

the regulator of the reverse process. If the thyroid is underactive, bone

 

may continue to dissolve, causing osteoporosis or bone loss. If it is

 

overactive, excess calcium is deposited back into the bones. When the bones

 

have enough calcium, the malfunctioning thyroid can't say " quit! " So, excess

 

calcium may be deposited on the outside of the bones and even the joints. It

 

would do well to check that thyroid (through iridology or otherwise) and use

 

kelp or some form of organic iodine to rebuild it if it is degenerating. The

 

thyroid herbal formula (Kelp T) is a good aid here along with the perfect

 

glandular food, three parts mullein and one part lobelia (as a tea, capsule,

 

or fomentation over the thyroid area).

 

We have found that an arthritic person can improve their condition

 

remarkably in a few short weeks by making three changes in diet (if nothing

 

else):

 

1. eliminate meat from the diet

 

2. eliminate refined sugar from diet

 

3. drink plenty of distilled water

 

A very wonderful herbal aid for arthritis and rheumatism is AR-1 formula

 

consisting of hydrangea root (a great calcium solvent for any part of the

 

body), Brigham herb (high in copper), yucca (with saponins that have a

 

detergent-like action within the blood stream to cleanse and purify),

 

chaparral (also high in copper), lobelia, burdock root, sarsaparilla, wild

 

lettuce, valerian, wormwood, cayenne, black cohosh, and black walnut. These

 

herbs detoxify and dissolve old calcium deposits. Some of the herbs are very

 

high in organic calcium, which can be used by the body. There are also herbs

 

which kill fungus and infection and some good pain-relievers. We add here

 

that the process of arthritis is a long one, to have the disease reach a

 

chronic state, and relief (that is, complete relief) can only be a slow

 

process of rebuilding the system. We have mentioned the herbs that are high

 

in copper. We have seen many arthritis sufferers wearing copper bracelets to

 

get relief from the disorder. The marvelous herbs high in copper will do the

 

job much better.

 

For extreme cases of joint inflammation and pain, we recommend our BF & C

 

Formula which is our Bone, Flesh and Cartilage formula, or the Comfrey

 

Fomentation. This could be used either as a fomentation or as an ointment.

 

It is wonderful to dissolve calcium spurs. Make a tea of the following

 

herbs: oak bark, marshmallow root, mullein, wormwood, lobelia, skullcap,

 

comfrey leaf, walnut bark, and gravel root. Use one ounce of the combined

 

herbs to a pint of water. Soak the herbs for four to six hours prior to

 

simmering them down to one-half the original volume. Then you may add

 

one-fourth the amount of vegetable glycerine if desired. For severe cases,

 

drink one-fourth a cup of tea with three-fourth's of a cup of distilled

 

water three times a day.

 

For very advanced cases of arthritis, we recommend the " Incurables " program.

 

The fresh fruit and vegetable juices are a necessity. Dr Arthur W. Snyder

 

also recommends celery and cucumber juice, carrot, endive, and apple juice.

 

Dr. Norman W. Walker's idea is that arthritis is caused by inorganic calcium

 

deposits in the joints as a result of eating concentrated carbohydrates in

 

excess. He suggests grapefruit juice, celery juice, carrot and spinach juice

 

and carrot and celery juice; carrot, beet, and cucumber is also recommended

 

 

 

Arthritis need not be the crippling scourge of mankind. If dietary

 

discretion is applied early enough, arthritis can be prevented. In the later

 

stages, it can be reversed if care is taken to apply the simple principles

 

of nature, consistently and faithfully.

 

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Information taken from Dr. Christopher's Newsletter Volume 3 Number 11. Used by

permission