Articles on remedy for joint pain
I cannot vouch for the effectiveness of the remedies mentioned below. However, they have been gathered from relatively reliable sources. Certo is liquid fruit pectin, a product easily obtained in most grocery stores. (It also is available as a powder.) Many patients who suffered severe pain from various types of arthritis were at the end of their ropes; traditional medicine, including prescription drugs, had been ineffective in relieving their discomfort. Therefore, as a last resort, they tried Certo — and it worked. Although some folks added a tablespoonful (or a packet) to coffee, tea or orange juice once or twice a day (with good results), most readers indicated that they achieved maximum benefit by mixing one to three tablespoons of Certo in a glass of unsweetened grape juice once or twice a day. (The amount can be varied according to the severity of symptoms.) Within a week, most arthritis sufferers experienced significant relief of pain. They then either reduced the dose or discontinued Certo altogether until they had another flare-up of pain. Glucosamine is a glucose-based chemical produced in naturally healthy joints, where it is used to repair and maintain cartilage. It is also available as a supplement from health shops and many pharmacies. Glucosamine has a high success rate in relieving osteoarthritis symptoms, but news of its beneficial qualities have spread around the world largely by word of mouth. Initially doctors were skeptical about
claims made for glucosamine's benefits, even when patients insisted it was helping them. But recent research indicates that it really is effective in easing pain and helping mobility and may even slow progression of the disease. Osteoarthritis, the most common form of joint disease, affects 1.5 million people in the UK and is very difficult to treat. The incidence increases with age, particularly in women over 50. Cartilage, the slippery material that cushions the ends of bones, wears away, causing pain, stiffness, swelling, 'creaking' and ultimately incapacity. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are usually prescribed to relieve symptoms, but can have serious side effects. Sales of glucosamine supplements took off with the publication in 1997 of The Arthritis Cure (Century) by an American physician, Dr Jason Theodosakis, a specialist in preventive medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and a long-time sufferer of arthritis. In sampling alternative remedies, he hit upon a combination of dietary supplements - glucosamine and chondroitin, a related joint chemical - that vets were using for racehorses with tendon strain. Some European doctors had been quietly offering patients these supplements since the 1980s. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is probably best known for its ability to ease motion and morning sickness as well as drug-induced and postoperative nausea. In a double-blind clinical trial, ginger extract reduced knee pain caused by osteoarthritis.
Turmeric (Curcuma longa), a plant related to ginger, is the herb that gives curry its brassy golden color. Turmeric is proven to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumor properties. In one animal trial, a turmeric compound was almost as potent as cortisone in treating acute inflammation.
If your diet is heavy on processed foods and fast foods and light on fruits and vegetables, you're not doing your arthritis pain any favor. Diets that promote inflammation are high in omega-6 fatty acids (found in many vegetable oils) and in partially hydrogenated fats in stick margarines and solid-at-room-temperature shortenings, fried foods, most chips, and store-bought baked goods.
Anti-pain diets are high in omega-3 fatty acids, found in salmon, sardines, and other oily fish; walnuts, flax, and soy; and in monounsaturated fats, such as olive oil, nuts, and avocados. The antioxidants in fruits and vegetables are also an absolutely essential part of a pain-free program.
|
