Recognize and Treat the Early Signs of Arthritis Naturall
by Cynthia McMurrayAt one time or another, we have all experienced some form of joint and or muscle pain. Imagine now, feeling that same pain every day for the rest of your life. Well, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 69.9 million Americans do. In fact 1 in every 3 people is now diagnosed with arthritis. It is further estimated that by 2030, this number will rise by another 40 percent with 25 percent of the population being so afflicted with the disease, they will be forced to limit their regular daily activities.[1]
Arthritis is the general name for over 100 different diseases that affect the joints, the surrounding tissues and other connective tissues. The three most common forms of the disease are osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and fibromyalgia. People suffering from OA and RA typically show signs of degeneration in the joints of the hands, knee, foot, wrist, hip and/or spine. As well, as of 2005, an estimated 5 million people were diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a disease that is still not well understood.[2] People who suffer from this very debilitating condition also tend to exhibit symptoms such as insomnia, headaches, morning stiffness and problems focusing and remembering, often referred to as “fibro fog.”
Other types of arthritis include such things as gout, lupus, bursitis/tendonitis and even Lyme disease. Right now, arthritis is the most widespread cause of disability among Americans over 15. According to the CDC, almost 41 percent of people diagnosed with arthritis also report limited ability to participate in normal activities such as walking, climbing stairs and bending or kneeling.[3] Further, over 30 percent also have limited work ability.[4] Studies show people with arthritis have over 50 percent more sick days than otherwise healthy people and 33 percent more days in which they experience limited ability to function both at home and in the workplace.[5]
Almost 50 percent of all cases of arthritis are in people under the age of 65, 70 percent of which tend to be women.[6] Sadly, an estimated 294,000 children under 18 also currently suffer from some form of arthritis.[7] This puts considerable strain on not only these individuals but also caregivers, employers and ultimately, the economy. In 2003 alone, arthritis cost the US economy over $128 billion, a jump of almost 33 percent since 1997 and a number that is only expected to rise over the next few decades.[8]
Fortunately, arthritis does not simply appear without warning. People who eventually develop diagnosable arthritis have likely shown symptoms such as fatigue, unexplained weight loss, persistent pain, swelling, stiffness and difficulty moving one or more of their joints for some time. Often in the early stages, these symptoms can come and go so people tend to dismiss cautionary signs once they subside, which is unfortunate because this is the time when preventive care is most critical. Once arthritis sets in, there is no cure for the disease. Symptoms such as inflammation and pain can be treated with medications but the majority of these drugs also cause side effects including kidney disease, heart attack and even death.
Fortunately, there are many natural treatments, vitamins and supplements for arthritis that offer many of the same healing properties of medications, without the damaging side effects.
Rosemary, for instance, is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties, which is why it is often used in natural arthritis remedies. Tumeric is another clinically proven natural remedy for such things as osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia as it is shown to work directly on the neurotransmitters that cause pain.[9] Tumeric is further shown to lower histamine levels, which can prevent the overproduction of COX-2, an enzyme responsible for inflammation and pain.[10] Other studies show ginger is also an effective natural remedy for fibromyalgia since it can help reduce the inflammation that causes pain.
Other less recognizable herbs such as eriobotrya japonica are also proven to be a natural herbal remedy for rheumatoid arthritis.[11] Polygonum cuspidatum, or Hu Zhang, is an excellent anti-inflammatory, shown in some studies to be more effective than several medications.
Further beneficial supplements for arthritis include Chinese goldthread, oregano, skullcap and green tea. Clinical studies demonstrate that when combined in the correct proportions, all of these natural herbal remedies can effectively treat and help prevent the onset of arthritis. The key however, is to recognize the warning signs of the disease and act quickly. Ignoring symptoms such as pain, swelling and joint stiffness can ultimately lead to serious chronic disease.
[1] Centre of Disease Control and Prevention, USA(2006)
[2] Arthritis Rheum 2008;58(1):26–35.
[3] MMWR 2006;55(40):1089-1092.
[5] J Rheumatology 2003;30(1):160–6.
[6] MMWR 2006;55(40):1089-1092
[7] Arthritis Care Res 2007;57:1439-1445
[9] J Ethnopharmacol. 1991 May-Jun;33(1-2):91-5.
[10] Deodhar SD, Sethi R, Srimal RC. Preliminary studies on antirheumatic activity of curcumin (diferuloyl methane). Ind J Med Res 1980;71:632-4.
[11] Mix, K. S., Mengshol, J. A., Benbow, U., Vincenti, M. P., Sporn, M. B. and Brinckerhoff, C. E. 200. A synthetic triterpenoid selectively inhibits the induction of matrix metalloproteinases 1 and 13 by inflammatory cytokines. Arthritis Rheum. 44: 1096-1104.
