Arthritis: Herbal Remedies for a safer alternative
There are two main forms of arthritis, rheumatoid (an
immune system disorder) and osteo (wear and tear). Other inflammatory and rheumatic
conditions that share many of the same symptoms are gout, fibromyalgia and
lupus. No matter what type of arthritis you may have, they all have pain, fatigue
and inflammation in common. Arthritis is one of the most debilitating
and destructive chronic disorders. Since it affects so many of us, the shear
number of different arthritis remedies on the market today can make choosing
the right one for you overwhelming. There are many new prescription drugs on
the market, and drugstore shelves are filled with a variety of OTC pain relievers
and supplements.
So what makes arthritis herbal remedies different? Instead of the silver bullet
approach of designer drugs, which have a few main ingredients engineered to
do one thing
and one thing only, medicinal plants have hundreds of compounds, that work as
a synergistic whole giving them a whole range of properties and actions. Many
of these plants have a recorded history of use that stretches back in time to
the first physicians of Egypt and Greece. Anyone living with arthritis is all
to familiar with the benefits and dangers COX-2 type pain medications. You
may not realize Hippocrates was prescribing herbal COX-2 type pain
relievers thousands of years ago. Anti-inflammatory herbs are some of the most important herbal allies in the fight against arthritis. Inflammation is both a root cause and a symptom in a wide variety of health conditions. Herbal medicine also lends itself to
many different forms of therapeutic treatments for arthritis such as baths, aromatherapy
oil blends, herbal oils, herbal
teas , and extracts that
go far beyond just taking a pill.
A diet rich in nutritious
foods and herbs provides much of the nutrients we need for health, however,
nutritional supplements can be beneficial additions to management of osteoarthritis
and other rheumatic conditions. Vitamin D and Vitamin B, as well as trace
minerals; boron, selenium, zinc, and copper are not always present sufficient levels in commercially grown produce, and it is important
to insure your levels are not too low. Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate
work
to help stop the progression of arthritis in approximately 30 percent of
people, and are certainly worth trying. Supplements that are rich in omega-3
polyunsaturated fatty acids like fish oils and flax have proven anti-inflammatory
benefits, and should be first on your list of supplements to take. One you
may not have heard of is avocado oil
combined with soy, or avocado soybean unsaponifiables. (ASU) supplements
have shown benefits for osteoarthritis of the knee, with patients experiencing
less pain and stiffness in clinical trials. Two clinical studies found that
the combination significantly improved functional disability and pain.1 There
is a delayed onset of action, which could frustrate those looking for quick
relief. You may be able to reap some of the same benefits by including more
avocado and soy in your diet, as well you should, but the supplements do
provide a concentrated source.
|
Cayenne oil is not nearly as irritating to the...
Especially enjoyable and beneficial during cooler ...
