Arthritis is a debilitating disease which affects many Australians, including children. There are many types of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis, gout and osteoarthritis are the main forms.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic painful disease that can affect all joints in the body, the hands, wrists, ankles, toes, neck and hips. Rheumatoid arthritis is thought to be an auto immune disease, one in which the body produces a disordered immunological response which can cause injury to normal parts of the body.
Major psychological or physical factors in life can trigger rheumatoid arthritis. Some of the first symptoms may be weight loss, pains in the joints (especially in the morning) and hot and swollen joints.
Each attack seems to be a little worse than the last. Eventually there is deformity in the joints following loss of minerals, adhesion of the tissues to the bone and limpy nodules around the affected area.
To help alleviate the pain and reduce the discomfort, we must look at our diet first (see Diet for crystal arthritis) Avoid foods such as tomatoes and oranges which have been known to cause problems. Also increase your intake of vegetables and fruit and reduce the intake of red meats and acid foods. Some nuts and even wheat can be a problem. Look towards rice, rye and buckwheat. Plenty of fresh water is essential: 6 to 8 glasses a day. All of this can make a difference.
It is a good idea to supplement the diet with cod liver oil or fish oil as recent research has shown that fish oil can help relieve the pain of arthritis. These supplements contain essential fatty acids that have anti-inflammatory properties. Celery seed can also help. Buy this from the health food store. It is present in a celery complex. This complex should also contain the herbs Apium and Guaiacum. All these herbs have properties that can help relieve inflammation and detoxify the joints.
For the pain of arthritis the herbs white willow bark and devil’s claw taken in combination are very effective. White willow bark has similar properties to aspirin.
You should exercise daily but don’t overdo it. Swimming and walking are good.
SUPPLEMENTS
evening primrose oil 2 capsules 3 times daily
fish oil 1000 1 capsule 3 times daily
vitamin C 2000 mg daily
pantothenic acid 200 mg daily
(Vitamin B5)
multivitamin/mineral 1 daily
white willow bark 2700 mg twice daily (found in herbal analgesic formula)
celery seeds 400 mg twice daily
devils claw 200 mg twice daily
Guaiacum 400 mg twice daily
calcium fluoride 3 X 3 times daily
silica 25 mg twice daily
calcium phosphate (up to 1000 mg of elemental calcium daily)
*24\26\8*
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