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Archive for June, 2009

Best Natural Arthritis Pain Relief Tips

29 Jun

Best Natural Arthritis Pain Relief Tips
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I found relief from my arthritis pain, naturally, and you can do it too. I got rid of my arthritis and arthritis pain years ago, once and for all by doing one single thing.

Sometimes arthritis occurs in the wrist, elbows, shoulders, and jaw but you generally don’t find it there. Arthritic joints appear to be larger, are stiff and painful, and usually feel worse the more they are used as the day progresses. The first step when looking for solutions to an arthritis pain problem is to understand how arthritis works.

Cartilage is one of the few tissues that does not have its own blood supply. Collagen is the essential protein in cartilage; it forms a mesh to give support and flexibility to the joint. The ability to make repairs to cartilage becomes limited as cartilage cells age.

An inflammatory response causes cytokines, to gather in injured areas and cause inflammation and damage to body tissue and cells; it’s known to play a role in rheumatoid arthritis and other muscle and joint problems associated with autoimmune diseases. Injuries sometimes can be the start in the arthritic disease process; osteoarthritis can develop years later even after a single traumatic injury to a joint or near a joint.

Genetic factors are thought to be involved in about 50% of osteoarthritis cases in the hands and hips and a somewhat lower percentage of cases in the knee.

Make smoothies with fruit only using a base of two bananas, adding a cup of frozen or fresh blueberries and mango chunks or substitute any other fruit and add an energy boost of two tablespoons of coconut oil; add one or two leaves of kale for another highly nutritional boost — no one will ever know. Some people swear by morning drinks of raw apple cider vinegar and honey for arthritis pain relief. If you really want to get rid of your arthritis pain forever it may take a radical change in your diet and an ongoing commitment.

If you’re not already doing so, make a big effort to watch your diet. One natural treatment method involves avoiding all inflammatory foods. Nutrition experts say it takes a combination of supplements, that no one supplement can relieve arthritis pain, build cartilage, etc.

Gluten may be a culprit in arthritic diseases including fibromyalgia; avoid wheat, barley, rye, spelt, triticale, kamut and oats (although not a gluten grain it gets contaminated at the wheat mills). Try massaging your fingers or other affected joints with coconut oil twice a day.

Some people swear by glucosamine and/or chondroitin and others say it didn’t help at all. A study in Great Britain touted the beneficial effects of cod liver oil on osteoarthritis; relieving pain and stiffness, and reversing the destruction of joint cartilage within 24 hours.

Exercise is good for joints affected by osteoarthritis. If you have pain and swelling in your fingers, try squeezing Thera-putty made for this purpose or exercising with two Chinese Taiji chime balls. For arthritic fingers, a good exercise is to put your finger tips together and press hard and release, then repeat several times. At bedtime you can try putting on a pair of stretch gloves to help reduce the pain and swelling in your fingers for those of you with arthritic hands.

Stretching and warming up the joints should always be the first step in your exercise routine to make your joints more flexible. Even if you don’t think you can exercise, you can do some movements. A good exercise routine is the key to beating arthritis and arthritis pain.

Once you become more informed about arthritis you’ll be able to plan an arthritis treatment program, natural or conventional or a combination of both. Let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other drugs, herbs or other supplements you’re taking, to ward off any adverse drug reactions that might occur from the combining of different drugs or supplements.
At the very least, understand what the side effects and adverse reactions are for any drug you take.

Arthritis pain relief is the ultimate goal – understanding arthritis is a start on the right direction. Once you understand the facts about arthritis, possible causes and treatment approaches you can take, you’ll be on your way to recovery and pain will disappear. Changing your diet to predominately fruits and raw veggies, like I did, can turn your arthritis pain around almost overnight. As time goes by you can add a few foods back but be careful about eating anything cooked, canned or processed.

 
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What’s New For Osteoarthritis Of The Hip And Knee? Orthokine And Other Treatments… Do They Work?

26 Jun

The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis, remains a therapeutic challenge.

This is a generally felt to be a disease of cartilage. However, osteoarthritis is a complex disease that appears to involve a complex series of pathways that include degradation of cartilage, inflammation of the lining of the joint (synovium), and stimulation of pain pathways through different chemical messenger systems.

While traditional methods including patient education, rest, exercise, anti-inflammatory drugs, injections, and physical therapy offer temporizing measures, there is still the need for a better solution.

The goals for managing osteoarthritis of the hip and knee are to reduce pain and restore or maintain function.

A third and even more daunting task is to regenerate new cartilage. There are exciting new developments in this area.

The results of a two-year study of osteoarthritis of the knee assessing the safety and efficacy of orthokine therapy was published in the July-August 2008 issue of “Osteoarthritis and Cartilage”.

Orthokine is a substance derived from a patient’s own blood. Orthokine apparently has significant anti-inflammatory effects. This material is then injected into the osteoarthritic joint.

Researchers at Heinrich Heine University in Dsseldorf conducted a two-year study comparing the effects of injections of orthokine, hyaluronic acid (a standard lubricant used to treat osteoarthritis), and placebo in 310 arthritis patients.

The GOAT study (German Osteoarthritis Trial) was a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, that included 376 men and women with an average age of 58. The primary entrance criterion was chronic knee pain related to osteoarthritis of the knee. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups that received injections of orthokine, hyaluronic acid or saline (placebo). Treatments were administered as six sessions over three weeks. Patients were evaluated at six weeks, three months, six months (double blinded) and then 24 months (single blinded). Two years later, 310 participants agreed to take part in a follow-up examination.

After two years, patients treated with orthokine scored significantly better than those treated with hyaluronic acid or placebo on measures of pain and joint function.

The results after two years showed that 188 of the 310 patients were still reporting improvements with respect to pain and joint function. The other 122 patients pursued other treatments such as surgery, injections, medication or acupuncture.

The number of patients requiring further treatment was least in the orthokine group. Two years after treatment, improvement was still measurable in all three groups. A clear difference was seen, however, in scores on the WOMAC, a questionnaire that is used in osteoarthritis clinical trials to measure joint function and quality of life.

The orthokine treated patients scored 58 on the two-year follow-up WOMAC, while the hyaluronic acid and placebo groups scored higher at 88 and 84 respectively. Another measure called the visual analog scale (VAS) that measures pain from 0 (no pain) to 100 (most intense pain imaginable), was also used. The average pain level prior to treatment was 70 in all groups. Two years after treatment, the VAS score of the orthokine group was 30 compared with 39 in the hyaluronic acid group and 37 in the placebo group.

What is interesting about this study is how well placebo did compared with both hyaluronic acid as well as orthokine in relieving pain. Experienced clinicians have known for decades that there is a significant placebo effect in just using a needle when it comes to subjective measures such as pain relief.

However, the important issue is whether orthokine or any other treatment for that matter actually leads to cartilage regrowth.

Much interest has been generated recently on the use of autologous (meaning the patients own) therapies in managing osteoarthritis as well as other degenerative conditions. This therapy is very similar to the use of platelet rich plasma, which is currently being used to treat tendon problems. Platelet rich plasma is derived from the patients whole blood using a special centrifugation technique.

For osteoarthritis, we have found that combining autologous stem cells obtained from bone marrow aspirated from the pelvic bone of the patient using local anesthetic- and platelet rich plasma appears to be an effective treatment for the knee and hip. Both the stem cells as well as the platelet rich plasma are injected into the osteoarthritic joint. This combination treatment not only aids in pain relief but there also appears to be stimulation of cartilage regeneration. This treatment is available at the Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland located in Frederick, Maryland.

 
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Devil’s Claw – Uses and Side Effects

23 Jun

Arthritis researcher

Devil’s claw has been used by native Africans as a folk remedy for diseases ranging from liver and kidney disorders to allergies, headaches, and rheumatism. It’s marketed in Canada and Europe as a home remedy for the relief of arthritic disease. Devil’s claw is available as capsules, fresh herb, and tincture.

Reported uses

Devil’s claw is used for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. It’s also used to treat allergies, atherosclerosis, GI disturbances and heartburn, menstrual difficulties, menopausal symptoms, nicotine poisoning, neuralgia, and liver, kidney, and bladder diseases. In Germany, devil’s claw is approved for use as an appetite stimulant and digestive aid.

Administration

Decoction: 0.5 gin 150 ml water by mouth three times a day for loss of appetite; 1.5g in 150 ml water by mouth three times a day for other conditions

Fluid extract (1 g/ml): 0.5 ml taken by mouth three times a day for loss of appetite; 1.5 ml by mouth three times a day for other conditions

Fresh cut tuber: 1.5 g by mouth every day

Dried tuber/root: 6 g by mouth every day

Infusion (4.5 g of herb in 300 ml, steeped in boiling water for 8 hours): three portions by mouth every day

Standardized extracts: 600 to 800 mg by mouth three times a day; standardized to 2% to 3% iridoid glycosides or 1 % to 2% harpagoside.

Hazards

Adverse reactions associated with devil’s claw include headache, tinnitus, anorexia, and allergic reaction. Devil’s claw may decrease blood glucose levels and have an additive effect when used concomitantly with antidiabetic agents. Herbal products prepared with alcohol may cause a disul-firam-like reaction.

Oral use of devil’s claw should be avoided in pregnancy and lactation due to its oxytocic effects. Patients with gastric or duodenal ulcers should avoid use because devil’s claw increases production of stomach acid. Patients taking a beta blocker, calcium channel blocker, antihypertensive, or antiarrhythmic should use cautiously because herb may have hypotensive, bradycardic, and antiarrhythemic effects. Patients with heart failure should use cautiously because herb may have negative inotropic effects at high doses.

Clinical considerations

Devil’s claw may increase the intended therapeutic effect of conventional drugs.

Tinctures may contain between 15% and 60% alcohol and may be unsuitable for children, alcoholic patients, those with liver disease, and those taking metronidazole or disulfiram.

Warn patient to seek appropriate medical evaluation right away, to avoid delaying diagnosis of a potentially serious medical condition.

Advise patients taking a heart drug or a blood pressure drug to promptly report any light-headedness, dizziness, abnormal heartbeats, or swelling.

Instruct patient to seek medical attention if symptoms don’t resolve.

Tell patient to remind pharmacist of any herbal or dietary supplement that he’s taking when obtaining a new prescription.

Advise patient to consult his health care provider before using an herbal preparation because a treatment with proven efficacy may be available.

Research summary

Devil’s claw extracts contain chemicals that possess anti-inflammatory activity, the ability to reduce blood pressure, decrease heart rate, and slow anti-arrhythmic activities in animal studies. The literature states that these extracts appear to be free of significant toxicities when given for short periods of time; however, the long-term toxicity or potential interactions isn’t known. The concepts behind the use of devil’s claw and claims made regarding its effects must be studied further and validated scientifically.

Research One double-blind. study followed 89 individuals with rheumatoid arthritis for a 2-month period. The group given devil’s claw showed a significant decrease in pain intensity and improved mobility (Lecomte et al., 1992). Another double-blind study of 50 people with various types of arthritis found that 10 days of treatment with devil’s claw provided significant pain relief (European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy, 1996-1997).

 
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Who Else Wants Safe, Effective, Arthritis Pain Relief Without Shots, Without Surgery, And Without Narcotic Drugs?

23 Jun

Infrared Rays To Detoxify And Lose Weight

What if there was a method for relieving pain that was safe, did not require injections, and also didnt involve the use of harmful or addicting drugs? Sounds pretty good, doesnt it?

Well there is such a method now. Its called electroanalgesia. This type of medical treatment involves the use of computer modulated electronic signals to irritate, tire out and block the function of pain-carrying nerve fibers.

The device delivers a high frequency signal to obtain pharmaceutical level pain relieving effects without the side effects of pain-killing drugs.

Let me explain…

Youve probably heard about or even used TENS units… These devices deliver what is called low frequency stimulation. It feels like a buzzing or tapping. A TENS unit puts out about 100 beats per second and provides a distraction for the pain. If you remove the TENS electrodes, the pain comes right back. But since its the only electrical device the FDA allows you to take home, it has its place… particularly at 2 AM!

The next step up is the e-stim or inferential device that the physical therapists and chiropractors use. Its a box that will deliver about 1,000 beats per second. Again, sometimes helpful, these inferential units do not have the strength to block pain signals effectively. They also cant block nerve cells in what is called the depolarized state. The depolarized state is when nerve cells are most vulnerable to pain signal blockade.

Low frequency units also arent strong enough to increase cyclic AMP levels. Cyclic AMP helps with tissue healing. Finally, low level electrical stimulation leads to accommodation, meaning your body becomes tolerant… gets used to the stimulus.

Low frequency devices dont really have the amperage or the band width to create an effective block. Thats why so many people with chronic neck and low back pain go to the physical therapist or chiropractor and dont get better.

A German company named Senexas has developed an ultra high frequency device that provides what is called electroceutical pain relief. Now this may be a bit hard to understand but basically this device delivers an ultra-high frequency stimulation (more than 20,000 HZ). Once you get into this range of stimulation, you can get sustained depolarization of nerve fibers. Cyclic AMP levels surge also leading to tissue healing. Its a non-invasive pain fiber block.

This is how the device works in laymans terms…

If you touch your leg, for you to sense that touch, the signal is perceived by your sensory nerves at about 1,000 beats per second. The Senexas device sends out impulses at 20,000 impulses per second so that the nerves are receiving stimulation at 20 times the rate they can keep up with. The sensory nerves quickly fatigue. The fatigue sets in at about 4 minutes and the sensory nerves are held in this state for another 25 minutes. The nerves go into a post hyperactive depression. This will lead to a reduction in pain level.

Whats better is that the effect is cumulative. With each session, the pain relief should slowly get better. It takes about five sessions before well know for sure whether the device is working.

The Senexas device can be used for most neck and low back disorders, headache, shoulder, hip and knee pain, bursitis, tendonitis, and fibromyalgia. Treatments are given in blocks of five sessions spaced as closely together as possible. The physician will reevaluate your status after five sessions. If you respond you may be given up to fifteen treatments. Most insurances will pay for this treatment as well.

In addition to pain relief, you should also experience an improvement in range of motion.

What this device does also is help repair damage at a cellular level. It helps to promote circulation. And it helps tremendously with swelling and inflammation.

While it is not the miracle cure for all pain, it is a safe and effective alternative to drugs and needles. The only contraindications are: it cant be used with patients who have pace-makers, and it cant be used too near the heart. And it doesnt work for everybody. No treatment does. Let me say that again. No treatment works for everybody. However… this treatment is worth a try if everything else has failed or you want to avoid shots and pills.!

While you are getting the treatment, you need to communicate the level of comfort you want to feel. Some people like a strong stimulus while others like a more subtle gentle approach. Just let the staff know what works best for you.

There are multiple pad placements and multiple programs that can be used for a custom fit.

Another situation where the Senexas device can be a lifesaver is the temporary set-back.

While most people can live with a certain degree of discomfort or pain, there are things that happen that are part of life. Pain can flare up. Even though youre not a candidate for narcotics, you do need some pain relief and thats where this device can really help you also. Finally, acute strains and sprains are also helped. Healing time can be reduced significantly.

For more information about electroanalgesia and how it can help your arthritis pain, call the Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland at (301) 694-5800.

 
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Stretching And Aerobic Workouts In Warm Water May Help Relieve Pain And Improve Function In People Suffering With Osteoarthritis

17 Jun

... theyre so brave, and they need a helping hand.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and affects approximately 30 million Americans. OA develops as a result of breakdown of joint cartilage, the gristle that caps the ends of long bones. This cartilage loss then causes the bones to rub against each other, leading to stiffness, pain and loss of movement in the joint. The symptoms develop due to a combination of mechanical factors as well as local inflammation.

OA is a disease of weight-bearing joints and as a result causes a patient to have more trouble walking and climbing stairs. In fact, its been estimated that more than 100,000 people with OA of the hip or knee cant move independently from their bed to the bathroom and need some form of assistance. This is a tragedy!

The treatment of osteoarthritis usually includes a combination of medication, weight control, physical therapy, injections, and exercise.

A special type of exercise therapy known as pool therapy or hydrotherapy, has patients doing aerobic activities or stretching and strengthening and range of motion exercises, in water heated to about 90 to 97 degrees Fahrenheit.

A recent review of the efficacy of hydrotherapy was published in The Cochrane Library, a publication of The Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates research in all aspects of health care. Systematic reviews allow evidence-based conclusions about medical practice after considering both the content and quality of existing trials on a topic. (Bartels EM, et al. Aquatic exercise for the treatment of knee and hip osteoarthritis (Review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007, Issue 4).

[The Cochrane Collaboration is an international nonprofit, independent organization that produces and disseminates systematic reviews of health care interventions and promotes the search for evidence in the form of clinical trials and other studies of interventions. Visit http://www.cochrane.org for more information].

The Cochrane reviewers looked at six trials that had 800 participants who all had OA. Four studies included patients with osteoarthritis of either the knee or hip, one study followed patients with only hip arthritis and one included patients with knee arthritis only.

In the studies, patients did aquatic exercises for different lengths of time and numbers of sessions per week and were compared to other patients who did no exercise or exercised on land. Most of the studies measured patients after three months of therapy.

Based on the studies results, the reviewers said, In people with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee, pain may decrease by 1 more point on a scale of 0 to 20 with aquatic exercise, and function may improve by 3 more points on a scale of 0 to 68.

There is gold-level evidence that for osteoarthritis of the hip or knee, aquatic exercise probably slightly reduces pain and slightly improves function over three months, the reviewers wrote. Based on this, one may consider using aquatic exercise as the first part of a longer exercise program for osteoarthritis patients.

The reviewers were unable to find evidence on whether aquatic exercise affected patients walking ability or stiffness after treatment sessions.

The reviewers added that more research could help determine long-term effects and to understand which kinds of aquatic exercise as well as frequency and length might benefit osteoarthritis sufferers.

Authors note: Water exercise makes sense for OA because the buoyancy relieves stress on joints. It is the ultimate low impact workout. This is particularly important for those patients with OA who are overweight, which is, sadly, more common than not. The benefits that accrue to the patient include not only relief of pain and improved mobility but if done often enough should help with weight loss.

For those people who do not have access to a pool, other low impact activities such as a stationary bike or elliptical trainer might be beneficial.

 
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Arthritis treatment & pain relief

16 Jun

CLARA - February 17th, 2007

There are many different types of arthritis and each one has a different cause. There is also pain associated with each type, but the pattern and severity of pain varies depending on the location of the disease. Even though there are many varieties and symptoms of arthritis, they are all linked together because they all affect the joints.

Treatment options depend on the type of arthritis and the severity of the disease. Some of the treatment options available are physical therapy, exercise, dietary changes, medication, or surgery.

The three most common types of arthritis are Rheumatoid Arthritis, Gout, and Osteoarthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disorder that occurs when the tissue is being overtaken by the immune system and then swelling is noticed in the joints of the wrists and fingers. Researchers who are studying arthritis have found that this type generally occurs in women from the age of 25 to 55. It’s important to know that getting treatment when symptoms are first detected will prevent more damage to the joints. Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is done by blood tests to analyze the rheumatoid factor in your blood and with x-rays. Treatment will vary from one person to the next, depending on what stage the disease is at. Drugs such as Aralen or Rheumatrex, which are anti-rheumatic and help modify your immune system, are commonly used to treat this type of arthritis.

Gout

Gout is caused by monosodium urate crystals building up in the joints and tissues. This form of arthritis is more prevalent in men as they approach their mid 40′s, but women can get it too. Gout presents itself as painful swollen joints that become purple and hot. Some people may experience chills and a fever. To properly diagnose gout, your doctor will need to get a sample of the synovial fluid from the swollen joint. The fluid sample is then examined under a microscope to look for the presence of needle shaped urate crystals. A low dose aspirin, certain diuretics, and diet changes can help reduce the risks of gout. Drugs such as Colchicine, Allopurinol and Probenecid are the three main types used to treat this disease.

Osteoarthritis

Years of wear and tear to the cartilage that cushions our joints causes Osteoarthritis. As the cartilage in our joints starts to wear away, the surface of our bones are less cushioned. So weight bearing activities such as walking or standing will cause pain. Diagnosis of osteoarthritis involves x-rays, MRI, and removing fluid for examination under a microscope. Non-drug treatments to relieve the pain of osteoarthritis are getting plenty of rest, exercise, weight loss, knee braces, canes, and walkers. Over the counter drugs such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen are commonly used to ease the pain of this type of arthritis. In more severe or advanced cases, drugs such as Tramadol or Hydrocodone may be needed.

Sources:

webmd.com

Wikipedia

 
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Natural Arthritis Pain Relief Treatment

14 Jun

Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine - Minneapolis Clinic

In addition to a healthy diet, adding these 5 ingredients to your diet can help inflammation and swelling caused by injuries, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, gouty arthritis(gout), and back pain. Use these ingredients for any symptoms that you would take non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (N.S.A.I.D. i.e: Ibuprofen, Motrin, Celebrex) for to reduce the pain.
The following five ingredients have been clinically found to reduce or replace the need for N.S.A.I.D.:
Glucosamine Hydrochloride: The introduction of this form of Glucosamine is documented to be the most effective if you are interested in having the most efficient absorption possible. Glucosamine is manufactured by our bodies – but as we grow older, as with other compounds, we need some help.
The compound helps with your body’s natural mechanism of joint lubrication. Glucosamine Hydrochloride vs. Sulfate is recommended because studies show that the Glucosamine sulfate is stabilized with sodium chloride (salt). Many People have dietary restrictions limiting salt intake.
Manganese: Manganese is a co-factor,(a helper) required for Glucosamine to be converted to its active form and ultimately, adequately absorbed. It is important to make sure the Glucosamine supplement contains manganese.
Gotu Cola(Pennywort): Gotu Kola, also known as Pennywort, is a well known natural remedy to assist pain relief and proper circulation of blood.
Ginger: Ginger has been used for centuries for pain relief in musculoskeletal conditions. It is an excellent antioxidant and is known for its analgesic activity.
Celery: Celery increases elimination of urates from the kidneys, assisting your body to fight Gout – an arthritic disease caused by an accumulation of urate crystals at the joints. Celery also reduces inflammation around the joint.
We have found that you can readily find these products at supplement stores but only one offers all of them in one dosage taken twice a day. “Ruflex” is the only one that has all the above ingredients in one pill. “Ruflex”, an Australian product from Sunsnatural L.L.C. is available on line, (see below). Australian supplements are desirable, because Australia requires that all supplements be approved by their Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and proven to work as promised, clinically proven with double blind studies.
As always; before taking any supplements your Doctor should be consulted. If you are on blood thinners or scheduled for surgery you should consult your physician before taking any of these supplements. Certain elements included in these vastly improve circulation.
Himalaya Rumalaya Forte Arthritis Treatment
Rumalaya forte from Himalaya Herbals is a powerful herbal ayurvedic formulation. Rumalaya forte helps rebuild connective tissue and alleviates the discomfort caused by weaken movement. Arthritis and joint pain discomfort is a extensive occurrence that can result from such factors as climate, lifestyle, work habits, or repetitive movement. Taken every day, Rumalaya forte has recognized positive results in relieving pain due to a variety of conditions, including arthritis, osteoarthritis, back pain, frozen shoulder and other joint conditions. Rumalaya forte is an proficient anti-inflammatory analgesic with immunomodulatory action. Rumalaya forte is mainly formulated for long-term use in arthritis and other painful inflammatory disorders affecting muscles and joints. Rumalaya forte is an unbeaten and safe alternative to other anti-inflammatory drugs. Rumalaya forte is a potent herbomineral formulation with the dual advantage of Shallaki and Guggulu. Rumalaya forte provides improved arthritis control, and thus improves the quality of life in arthritic patients.

 
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Cats Claw – For Better Health and Immune System Protection

11 Jun

World Arthritis Day - Amber's last spoon - # 4 in Explore

Cats Claw may not be as well known as some other herbs but the protection it can give to the body and its overall health benefits have seen it rise dramatically in popularity.

Lets take a closer look at Cats Claw and its immense health benefits.

Description

Cat’s Claw is a tropical woody vine that grows in the rain forests and jungles of Peru and has been referred to as “Miracle Herb of the Rain Forest “.

The vine derives its name from the small thorns at the base of the leaves, which look like a cat’s claw.

Medical research

It has been drawing increasingly more interest among the proponents of natural health care and Cats
Claw has been the subject of medical research since the 1970′s.

These studies suggest that Cats Claw may help in the treatment of:

Arthritis, bursitis, allergies, diabetes, lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome, cancer, herpes, organic depression, menstrual problems and also beneficial for conditions of the stomach and intestines.

Protection of the immune system

Cats Claw is proven to boost the immune system.

Cat’s claw is valued largely because of its immune-building properties and although not as well known as more popular herbs such as Echinacea, goldenseal, Pau D’Arco, garlic, and ginseng is seen as being just as important.

With the spread of HIV medical research has intensified in this area as well.

Active ingredients

The active ingredients in Cat’s Claw are alkaloids, tannins and several other phytochemicals such as oxinole alkaloids, triterpines, glycosides, and sterols. These phytochemicals have adaptogenic, anti-tumor, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Health Benefits

Helps the body fight off infections by helping the body’s immune system

Helps Protect the body against degenerative diseases and aging

Seen to reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks by reducing the heart rate lowering blood pressure, improving circulation as well as controlling cholesterol

Used to treat and protect against arthritis and rheumatism, as well as, chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes, PMS, lupus, and prostrate problems

Used in the treatment of cancer, acne, diverticulitis, parasites, hemorrhoids, as well as varicose veins.

Helps treat digestive disorders including ulcers, gastritis, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease and conditions involving chronic inflammation

Used in the treatment of herpes infections

Acts as an all round powerful antioxidant to help protect the body from free radicals.

When looking at essential herbs to take for better overall health dont overlook Cats Claw, as we have seen its benefits are immense.

 
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Osteoarthritis: What It Is And How To Treat It

11 Jun

Osteoarthritis is a condition you generally don’t want to have as there is bound to be relentless pain in your joints that may persist even after a few days of having exercised or performed other activities. In fact, osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis in which the joints that mostly are used to bear weights such as the knees and also the hips are most affected though other joints in the body may also be affected by this condition. It is also likely to affect your fingers, ankles, back and also shoulders and toes.

Deteriorated Cartilage Is A Major Cause

The reason why you may be affected by osteoarthritis is that your cartilage can become deteriorated and which is thus not able to provide your bones a cushion against pressure. Your cartilage in the joints could break down and thus cause friction between the surrounding bones which would result in a painful bone spur.

Another facet to osteoarthritis is that the sufferer will have quite a bit of stiffness and this may be a good reason why doctors recommend exercising as a means to get relief. Being sedentary and living life as a couch potato can often cause you to suffer from osteoarthritis. There will thus be pain in your weight-bearing joints and in other common joints that could also swell, and you may also feel like your bones are being crunched, which is a sure sign that you are down with osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is a disease that progresses gradually and so its diagnosis may also come about in a gradual manner. You can however get treated with prevention being the main concern; so, you may find that by exercising you can get your joints to become more supple and flexible, and taking adequate rest should see your joints recovering following a day of activity.

Taking a diet that is healthy as well as nutritious should help your joints become healthier and with glucosamine supplements like Synflex Liquid Glucosamine in your diet, your cartilage should grow back again much faster and thus set you on the road to rehabilitation. At present, there is no known cure for osteoarthritis and the treatment that you get aims to provide relief from pain and stiffness as well as to help improve the movement of the joints, and this can often be accomplished by different treatment strategies.

As a last resort, you may require total joint replacement to help you with a severe instance of osteoarthritis, and it may mean getting admitted to a hospital where surgery will be performed, which will bring about significant relief from pain and better functioning of the affected joints.

 
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Rosemary essential oil and its uses

03 Jun

Juvenile arthritis, 1963

Rosemary, (Rosmarinus officinali) is a popular Mediterranean plant that is commonly used as for culinary, medicinal and perfumery purposes. The leaves are usually dried or infuse into oil and essence.

The leaves are needle like and the pale blue or pink flowers blossom every summer. Every part of the plant has an aromatic fragrant and it stimulate your senses when you brush past a rosemary shrub. Established rosemary usually survives winter conditions though not in very harsh winter places.

Rosemary is also a versatile plant, the uses of rosemary for health and general well being top the lists for essential oils. The following are some of the benefits and uses of rosemary essential oils.

- The essential oil of Rosemary is a good stimulant for the brain, it helps improve memory and aid mental clarity. It is a natural remedy for relieving migraine, headaches and mental fatigue. Inhaling rosemary oil will lifts your spirits, remove boredom and refresh your mental energy immediately.

- The diuretic properties of rosemary oil are useful with reducing water retention relating to disorder in menstrual cycles , obesity and cellulite condition.

- Rosemary oil is also widely used for its antiseptic properties and it is effective as a mouthwash for removing bad breath.

- Muscle pains, arthritis and rheumatism pains can be relieve by massaging with blended oils that contain rosemary. A few drops of rosemary oil in a bath are found to be effective for rheumatism.

- Rosemary oil should not be used during pregnancy and is unsuitable for people with epilepsy or high blood pressure

- When added to cream a cream or lotion, rosemary oil improve blood circulation and decongestion the skin. Regular massage with the oil helps will help tone your skin and remove dryness.

- The benefits of rosemary oil extend to giving relief to throat congestion, cold and flu; it is antispasmodic and has been used to treat bronchial – asthma.

- You will properly find rosemary oil in many natural hair care products like shampoos and lotions. Rosemary oil helps to stimulate hair follicles which in turn encourage hair growth. The oil is also believed to slow down premature hair loss and graying of hair.

- Instead of using commercially manufacture perfume, why not used rosemary oil as a room freshener, as bath oil and to remove bad odour from room. The scent of rosemary is refreshing and mesmerizing, it is an excellent inhalant.

Rosemary essential oils are usually blended with other types of essential oil and it blends especially well with cedar wood, lemongrass, peppermint, lavender and geranium.

Rosemary oil must not be consumed orally as it could cause vomiting and spasms. It is also unsuitable for people with epilepsy and high blood pressure and should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

You can buy rosemary oil from health shops or you can grow them in your garden or in a pot. There are books that will teach you how to infuse and extract the oil from the plant.

In conclusion, if you are not sure of which essential oil to buy, start with rosemary essential oil, you won’t regret it.

 
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