By Steven Horne, RH (AHG) & Kimberly Balas, ND
Arthritis is quite simply -inflammation of a joint." But, behind this deceptively simple definition, there are actually many different kinds of arthritis. as well as a welter of misconceptions and misinformation about its causes, treatment and prognosis. When dealing with this disturbingly common disease (millions of Americans are to suffer from it) it is necessary to look at its underlying causes and deal with them to achieve any kind of real results.
Most people are at least somewhat familiar with two of the most common forms of arthritis. These are:
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis affects millions of Americans and occurs more frequently in older people. In osteoarthritis the cartilage which coats the ends of the bones in our joints begins to break down starting a vicious cycle of damage, reduced function and health, leading to more damage. It is not a systemic disease, meaning it is the result of damage from wear and tear, trauma or infection to a specific joint. It can also result from the effects of other diseases.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis include:
- Pain in the affected joint(s) after repeated use, especially later in the day.
- Swelling, pain and stiffness after long periods of inactivity, like sleep, that subside with movement and activity.
- Continuous pain, even at rest, with advanced osteoarthritis.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
By contrast, rheumatoid arthritis is much more rare, occurring in less than one percent of the population. Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, meaning the tissues that surround and cushion the joints are attacked by the body's own immune system. This happens throughout the whole body, not just in joints that have been subjected to wear and tear. It usually occurs between the ages of 25 and 50, bur it can develop at any age, and generally strikes women three times as often as men.
Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include:
- Swollen, warm, painful joints, especially after long periods of inactivity.
- Fatigue and occasional fever.
- Symmetrical pattern of inflammation if one wrist is involved, the other will be also.
- The small joints of the body (hands, fingers, feet, toes, wrists, and ankles) are usually affected first.
As the disease progresses, the joints often will become deformed and may freeze in one position, making it difficult to move them.
Other Forms Of Arthritis
In addition to these most common forms of arthritis there are some other recognized forms.Allergic arthritis, as the name implies, is triggered by an allergic reaction. This type of arthritis has actually been produced in the laboratory by injecting research subjects with allergenic substances. The connection between allergies arthritis is easier to understand if we consider that both these conditions are caused by inflammation in the body and that the inflammation itself can become chronic when an individual is repeatedly exposed to allergenic substances over time.
- Gonorrheal arthritis is inflammation of the joints resulting from gonorrheal infection.
- Gouty arthritis was the most widely known variety up until the 20th century. Caused by an imbalance of uric acid in the blood, it also causes joint inflammation and usually affects one joint at a time.
- Hemophilic arthritis results from bleeding into a joint in someone who is a hemophiliac. This often results in joint stiffness and inflammation.
- Menopausal arthritis can occur because of hormonal imbalances experienced during menopause.
- Tuberculous arthritis is joint inflammation found in people infected by tuberculosis where the infection has spread into the joints.
Working with Arthritis
What all these forms of arthritis have in common is that the joints have been subjected to some kind of stress: Mechanical, biochemical or infectious. The stress leads to irritation of the tissues that causes inflammation. The irritation and inflammation lead to physical and chemical changes that send the joint(s) into a downward spiral of breakdown, then toxification, which creates more irritation, more inflammation, and further breakdown.In advanced cases of arthritis, irreversible deformation and degeneration may have occurred. But even in these situations, the foundation for healing lies in breaking the vicious cycle by cleansing the body of the toxins that have caused or resulted from the tissue damage. Once this is done, then nutrition can be used to aid the body's ability to heal itself.
One of the misperceptions people have about bones is that they associate them with the bleached-white and dried-out from creatures which have died.
Living bones are not static, dead objects, they are composed of living tissue. This makes them capable of growth, change and repair. In fact, if joints were not alive they could not become inflamed in the first place. Recognizing that bones and joints are living tissue helps us realize that they are capable of self-repair, if we remove the sources of irritation and supply them with the tools they need to repair themselves.
Think of an engine that has not had its oil changed in a long time, it gets dirtier and dirtier, it will start to function less and less effectively until it finally stops working. To extend the analogy, an engine that has been "stressed" by contaminants or poor quality fuel or by being driven at excessive speeds or under excessive loads will eventually malfunction.
Joints are meant to endure a certain amount of wear and tear, but when toxins and inflammation are present, it creates more friction in the joints (just like the dirty oil in the car). Furthermore, when nutrients needed for joint health are not there then repairs can't be made, which makes the joint more easily damaged and inflamed.
There are three things that need to be done to help arthritis to heal.
First we need to identify and remove sources of stress, whether they are mechanical, biochemical or infectious.
Secondly, we need to reduce inflammation and tissue toxicity, which is like changing the dirty oil in the engine and replacing it with fresh oil.
Lastly, we need to supply nutrients necessary for joint health to aid the body in effecting repairs.
1. Remove Sources of Irritation
In osteoarthritis, reducing mechanical stress to the joints is an important key. This mechanical stress is often the result of repetitive habits of movement and posture that were not properly balanced. Correcting structural alignment through stretching, yoga, massage, or other forms of bodywork will help to take mechanical stress off joints and allow better blood flow and alignment.If excess weight is putting stress on joints, then obviously losing weight is going to help.
Mild exercise that doesn't put stress on the joints will improve blood and lymph flow to bring healing energy to the joints.
Self-massage will also improve blood and lymph flow.
Where there is an infectious cause, obviously the infection will need to be dealt with using whatever remedies are appropriate to that type of infection. Where the cause of stress is biochemical, as in rheumatoid, allergic or gouty arthritis, improving the diet is a crucial step. Here are some things to consider.
High levels of acidity in the body have been correlated with overactive inflammatory response. Studies have shown that we can alkalize our body chemistry by replacing acid-forming meats, dairy, grain, nuts and beans with more alkaline foods like fruits and vegetables. These also have higher levels of the naturally occurring antioxidants necessary to fight inflammation.
Wheat, dairy and corn in particular have been implicated in triggering arthritis through what is called "chemical onset toxicity."
Acidifying citrus fruits should be avoided (aside from highly alkalizing lemon juice), as should nightshade vegetables like eggplant, tomatoes, potatoes and green peppers.
Coffee and tobacco have both been linked to increased risk of arthritis.
Gentle fasting, fruit and vegetable juice diets and mild food diets can all help to strengthen the body's cleansing abilities and to remove the toxins that are causing inflammation.
Inflammation can be combated nutritionally by cooking with herbs like ginger and turmeric (Turmeric/Curcumin) which have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Oily fish such as salmon, as well as walnuts and freshly ground flax seed are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids which also combat inflammation.
2. Reduce Inflammation
Since arthritis is an inflammatory condition, remedies that reduce inflammatory reactions are an obvious place to start.
Consider Joint Health or Super ORAC or APS II
Herbs containing salicylates have been used for thousands of years to ease arthritic pain. Salicylates, the forerunners of modern aspirin, reduce joint swelling and inflammation and ease pain.
The most famous of these salicylate-bearing herbs is white willow bark, which has been used since the time of Hippocrates for arthritis.
Other plants containing salicylates include black cohosh and wintergreen.
APS Il with White Willow Bark and IF Relief are herbal blends which utilize these natural anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing agents. They can be used as effective natural replacement for NSAlDs, without the side-effects. It goes without saying that short-term pain relief also needs to be accompanied by working on the underlying causes of the pain.
Certain plant seed oils containing the fatty acid GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) can help alleviate the pain and discomfort of arthritis. Found in evening primrose, borage, black currant, and flax seed oils, GLA is important because the body converts it to compounds With strong anti-inflammatory and immune regulating effects. Super GLA is a great way to supplement the diet with GLA and may also be helpful for arthritis. Omega 3 Essential Fatty acids are also beneficial.
There are encapsulated blends of anti-inflammatory herbs that not only help reduce inflammation and pain, they also aid in detoxification of tissues. As toxins are reduced, irritation and inflammation diminish, helping to slow or even reverse the downward spiral of damage.
Joint Support is an anti-arthritic blend created by the famous nutritionist Paavo Airola that reduces inflammation, alkalizes the system and supports detoxification.
Joint Health is a traditional combination of Ayurvedic herbs that have been used for arthritis. It has similar actions to Joint Support. Other remedies that can reduce inflammation in arthritis include Whole Leaf Aloe Vera and Devil's claw.
3. Provide Nutrition to the Joints
Even in osteoarthritis, where the original stress is mechanical, nutrition plays a critical role. Healthy joints need nutrition. When joints have the nutrients they need, they have a greater capacity to resist damage or to heal from damage when it occurs. So, appropriate supplements should be considered with all forms of arthritis.Minerals are extremely critical to aiding joint repair.
Silica adds resiliency to joints so they are less susceptible to damage. It is also found in horsetail and HSN-W.
Joint HP
High potency formula for joint inflammation and swelling.
Jointox AI
For relief of symptoms due to joint aches and pains, swelling rheumatism, gout.
Parathyropar
Glandular homeopathic for parathyroid dysfunction and balancing calcium metabolism, indicated for weakness of extremities, cramps in the calves, swelling in joints, sensitivity to cold, and symptoms worse in the winter.
AI Miasm
May temporarily relieve symptoms associated with general inflammation such as swelling, joint pain, allergies, and irritation of eyes.