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Disclaimer:
The following information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prescribe.
It is simply intended to help educate one on natural therapies for caring
for Arthritis. Please seek proper
care and treatment when needed.
Arthritis and Rheumatism are very
common conditions that produces inflammation of connective tissues, particularly
joints, as well as non-inflammatory degeneration of these tissues.
One, out of seven Americans, exhibit some form of Arthritis.
Using a broad holistic approach, herbal medicine can work with the whole
body to help correct the condition, while alleviating pain and inflammation.
Simply using anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic herbs is not enough.
Focus on liver function, circulation, elimination, as well as quality of
life, must be included in the therapy.
In
some cases, the inflammation is an immune response, where antibodies develop
against components of joint tissues. While the cause is largely unknown,
speculation and investigation centers around genetic susceptibility, lifestyle
factors, nutritional factors, food allergies, and micro-organisms.
Individuals with Rheumatoid Arthritis tend to have abnormal bowel
function with increased intestinal permeability to dietary and bacterial
antigens as well as changes in bacterial flora. This could result in the
absorption of antigens that are very similar to antigens in joint tissues.
Antibodies that form to bind these antigens would cross-react with
antigens in the joint tissues.
Diet
tends
to be strongly implicated, both in cause and cure.
RA is generally not found in societies that eat a more
"primitive" diet, while it is relatively high in societies consuming a
"western" or modern diet with lots of sugar, meat, refined
carbohydrates, and saturated fats. These
create high levels of acid
build up and toxicity. Food allergies may also be a factor.
Foods to avoid that definitely aggravate arthritic problems would include:
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Coffee, both regular and decaf
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Refined
white sugar and products with it
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Carbonated
beverages
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Shell fish
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Vegetables that contain high levels of plant acids (i.e. Tomatoes,
rhubarb, peppers, etc.)
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Any food or
beverage that causes specific problems in individuals
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Red
meat of any kind
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Vinegar and
vinegar based foods
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Processed
foods
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Red wine, port, or sherry
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Artificial
additives, flavorings, preservatives, sweeteners
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Berries rich
in fruit acids such as gooseberries, red and black currants
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Refined
white flour and the MANY foods containing it!
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A diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, fiber, legumes, and low in sugar,
fats, animal products (meats and dairy), and refined foods, would be most
beneficial for long lasting results.
Dietary
Fats
can significantly increase or decrease inflammation, depending on the type of
oil. Individuals increasing their
intake of cold water fish such as salmon, mackeral, herring, and sardines, which
contain high levels of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), will significantly reduce
inflammatory / allergic response. Also
a dietary increase of unsaturated fats,
such as a daily intake of FLAX SEED OIL, which is high in Omega 3 and Omega 6
oils, will have outstanding benefits in treating Arthritis as it helps to
lubricate the joints and help them function better. Reducing the consumption of
saturated fats and hydrogenated oils will increase overall health as well as
help reduce inflammation.
Supplements
-There
are many dietary supplements which are recommended. Dr.'s Michael Murray and
Joseph Pizzorno recommend the following supplements for Rheumatoid Arthritis
in their book The
Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine :
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Selenium
-200 micrograms daily (RA patients have low levels)
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Zinc
-45 mg. per day is also an ani-oxidant and the levels are typically low in RA
patients
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Pancreatin -(10 x USP) 350 mg between meals, 3x day
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Bromelain
250 mg (2000 mcu) between meals 3x day
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Copper (the wearing of copper bracelets is a long-time folk
remedy)
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Vitamin
E - 400 i.u. daily as an important anti-oxidant
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Vitamin C -1-3
grams per day in divided doses
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Manganese
- 15 mg. per day
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Betaine
HCI -5-10 grains with meals
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Niacinamide -500 mg 4x a day under doctors supervision
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Quercetin -250
mg between meals 3x day as appropriate supplements to consume in
the aggressive treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
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Botanical
Medicines - Different
actions are needed to support the body and relieve pain and inflammation.
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Anti-inflammatories -
Meadowsweet, Wild Yam,
Black Cohosh,
Feverfew, Devils Claw
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Analgesics - Meadowsweet,
Willow Bark, Black Cohosh,
Feverfew,
Wild Yam.
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Nervine Anti-spasmodics
-Valerian,
Black Cohosh,
Wild Yam, Celery Seed, Crampbark
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Diuretics - Yarrow, Celery
seed, Dandelion leaf
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Bitter Tonics (Liver
support) -Yarrow, Burdock, Feverfew, Willow Bark
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Alteratives -Black Cohosh, Bogbean,
Nettles, Sarsparilla.
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Nervine Tonic and Anti-depressive -
St. Johnswort,
Skullcap
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There
are still many other herbs useful in the treatment of arthritis.
A formula may be derived from the above list to include the different
actions needed for each individual. An
example would be:
Meadowsweet,
Wild Yam, Black Cohosh, Devil's Claw, Yucca, Feverfew, Yarrow.
Bee
Sting Therapy -Charlie
Mraz has documented a new form of treating, and perhaps even curing Arthritis,
known as bee sting therapy (apitherapy). In
the interesting book Bees Don't Get Arthritis , the author Fred Malone discusses
the curative powers of Honey, pollen, propolis, and bee stings.
The treatment usually starts out with one sting to check for allergic
reactions. It is increased daily to many stings at one time to trigger the body
to produce its own natural cortisone. This is not a NEW idea, Dr. Bodog F.
Beck,MD, Published a book entitled Bee Venom Therapy: Bee Venom, Its Nature, and
its Effect on Arthritic and Rheumatoid Conditions in New York in 1935.
I recommend getting one of these books for more information.
External
Treatments -The
use of some pain relieving essential
oils are extremely beneficial for many arthritis patients.
I recommend essential oils that relieve pain and inflammation when rubbed
in topically, such as eucalyptus,
peppermint, juniper, clove, lavender, rosemary, camphor, angelica, or even
others.
Arnica
liniment
is also used externally to relieve inflammation and pain from rheumatic
conditions.
Jane
Smolnik is a Nutritional Herbalist, Certified Intuitive Healer and Iridologist,
and founder of Crystal Garden Herbal products.
She has a private consulting practice in Springfield, Vermont and can be
reached at (802) 885-5500.
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