How Arthritis Viciously Strikes Young People

You might think being in your 30's is far too young to develop rheumatoid or osteoarthritis, but if you just take a glance at some of the popular health forums in the U.S and the West, arthritis - which we think of as gently creeping into our lives beyond 70 is striking people quite cruelly at a very early age.

There are a number of attributing factors which cause this although a bad diet is the obvious culprit and doesn't need too much explaining.

High acid diets are terrible for the health of the bones as when calcium levels are low, calcium deposits in the bone are used by your body to buffer the high acid content.

Calcium isn't solely responsible for bone strength and it's debatable whether high calcium diets can actually help you rebuild bone structure, but it's clear that depleting it through a bad diet in the first place in your teens and twenties makes it very difficult to replace.

People that have grown up on these high acid diets are therefore at a greater risk of developing arthritis and statistics over the last two years back this up.

Nearly 175000 people in the U.S were hospitalized through the sudden onset of an arthritic condition in 2011, with 16000 deaths directly attributed to arthritis.

Early Violent Symptoms

• Struck down literally overnight with fatigue


• Dangerously quick drop in red blood cell volume


• Immediate and constant joint pain in not one - but many joints


• Lack of sleep for pain


• Swollen elbows


• Carpal tunnel in wrists


• Unable to kneel or walk long distances


• Depression from pain

There are ways though to avoid these rather quite worryingly sinister symptoms.

1. Diet

Change your diet from a high acid to a high alkaline diet. Not all high acid content is bad but don't let it become your staple food. Some wonderful high alkaline foods include bok choy, broccoli and salads with balsamic vinegar.

2. Magnesium not Calcium Supplements

So many doctors in the West still plug the calcium angle - that because there is so much calcium in bone structure that calcium rich foods and supplements will help rebuild it.

There is no evidence of this to prove this on a grand scale.

Rather, tests concluded on a 9 month trial by the Medical Journal Medicine in 2009 saw the bone structure of women rebuilt by some 11% from a daily magnesium intake.

3. Exercise

Exercise is key, preferably low impact sports like swimming. This way you strengthen the muscles that surround the joints providing immediate support, pain relief and higher energy levels.

4. Natural Supplements not NSAID's

NSAID's are for people when the pain is unbearable or aren't willing to explore additional, safer and just as effective options.

This way you don't put yourself at risk of rashes, liver or heart disease, heart palpitations or worse.

Rather natural arthritis treatment should include a daily intake of:

• Omega 3, 6 and 9 proteins


• Vitamin D in 800mg capsules


• Real natural anti-inflammatory compounds like Reishi, Capsaicin, Tongkat ali, Vitamin C, Ginger, White Willow Bark


• Supplements that contain Glucosamine Complex, Chondroitin Sulfate, MSM

Osteoarthritis Supplements That Work Best

As a disease that is suffered by millions, osteoarthritis has left many of those affected looking for the perfect remedy or supplements to help alleviate the pain.

There are many of dietary supplements available on the market today to choose from, but knowing which osteoarthritis relief supplement that really works best can be tricky. Use the information below to find out which natural supplements work best to deal with and control osteoarthritis.

Glucosamine is one the more popular supplements to help with osteoarthritis relief. It works by stimulating cartilage formation, which is badly needed in repairing the joints. It can actually be bought as glucosamine sulfate as well as hydrochloride. Both are known to help relieve pain.

Another form of dietary relief that is often recommended by health practitioners is chondroitin. When used in combination with other dietary accompaniments, it can help ease pain and delay the narrowing of joint space.

MSM or methylsulfonylmethane is another commonly used osteoarthritis supplement that is found in many fruits, vegetables and meats. Since it possesses anti-inflammatory properties, it can also help reduce to pain caused by the disease.

However, if you want to go for a completely natural supplement that works best for the osteoarthritis, look no further than the Omega 3 fatty acids in fish oil supplements. Omega 3 is known to provide the most effective solution in treating joint inflammation conditions. Even better, there are no negative side effects from taking them.

Researches have discovered that Omega 3 fish oil supplements can really help reduce joint pain and inflammation caused by the disease. They are also beneficial to the health of the heart, digestive system, skin and more.Though taking osteoarthritis supplements such as fish oil can do wonders for your osteoarthritis problems, you may also want to include regular exercises as well.

Remember, the best way to deal with osteoarthritis should not totally rely on the supplements you take. You will also need to live a healthier lifestyle. This way, the benefits you get can last longer instead of just something that is short term. Try to maintain a healthy weight, take adequate rest and eat a healthy diet consisting of omega-3 supplements in the form of fish oil supplements. If you are consistent, your osteoarthritis will soon be a thing of the past.

Now that you understand the benefits of fish oil supplements, take a look at the products on my website that I use myself, along with other good tips and advice.

Fish Oil Arthritis Treatment - What You Should Know

When pharmaceutical COX-2 inhibitors turned out to be not all they were touted, and even dangerous, many perplexed arthritis sufferers started looking for help. And this is where fish oil high in omega 3 fatty acids may be just what they are looking for...

Fish Oil Arthritis Treatment

If you haven't heard, omega 3s help prevent heart disease and are crucial for brain health, but many studies have shown how these nutrients can help with certain arthritic conditions.

If you're suffering from morning stiffness (and it seems to be getting worse), limited mobility and joint pains then what you need to tackle is inflammation.

And this is exactly what omega 3's can help your body fight... and even cure. What we're talking about is osteoarthritis where the cartilage protecting your joint bones from rubbing against each other begins to wear down.

Fish Oil Arthritis Remedy

Omega 3 fatty acids serve up a double dose of help by reducing joint inflammation and promoting joint lubrication. When combined with Glucosamine, MSM and Green Lipped Mussel powder you have some serious anti-inflammatory fighting power.

The thing to remember when it comes to using this treatment regimen is to stick with it long enough so you'll see the benefits. Sometimes it can take up to 12 weeks to see results. My mother suffered with arthritic fingers and regained full function after only 8 weeks!

It also helps to eat a better diet that reduces the acidity in your body. A good idea would be to eat more fiber in the form of raw veggies and whole grains. Cut back on high-acid promoting foods like raw meat, saturated fats, fried foods, refined carbohydrates and dairy products. And avoid too much alcohol and coffee, and drink more water.

If you do this and include a high quality, molecularly distilled fish oil supplement you should see results fairly quickly.

Rheumatoid Arthritis - Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease which usually affects middle aged persons, and is seen more in women than in men. Children too, may get affected. In this disease, the synovial membrane, or the covering tissue of the joints gets swollen, resulting in stiffness, pain and limitation of movement. In severe conditions, the joints may ultimately become deformed. A disturbed immune function is believed to be responsible for this disease.

In Ayurveda, rheumatoid arthritis is known as "Sandhi Vata". This is not to be confused with "Aam Vata" which is the name given to Rheumatic Fever, or the fever which causes pain and swelling in joints and also affect the heart.

Rheumatoid arthritis of recent origin usually responds well to standard anti-inflammatory treatment. However, by nature this is a chronic disease, and while symptoms can be controlled, there is presently no cure. Standard modern medicine may not be very helpful once the condition becomes chronic, or treatment may have significant side effects. It is in such patients that Ayurvedic herbal treatment may be very useful and effective. One major advantage of Ayurvedic herbal medicines in such an affliction is that medicines may be taken for long periods without any serious side-effects.

Ayurvedic treatment of rheumatoid arthritis consists of the following procedures:
(i) "Snehan" ( use of local and oral medicated lubricants)
(ii) "Swedan" (local fomentation)
(iii) "Lep" (Local application of medications)
(iv) "Anuloman" ( mild laxative treatment for prolonged periods)
(v) "Raktamokshan" (blood letting)
(vi) "Dahan" (local heat branding ) and
(vii) "Shaman" ( symptomatic oral treatment).

Mahanarayan oil( containing mainly Asparagus racemosus), Bala (Sida cordifolia) oil, Vishgarbha oil are some of the medications used for snehan procedures. While local application is quite simple, oral use of medicated lubricants is best done under the direct supervision of a qualified and experienced Ayurvedic practitioner.

While local fomentation can be done in several ways, "Naadi swedan" is the most effective. In this procedure, a jet of medicated steam is directed at the affected joints, usually after the snehan procedure. A decoction of Nirgundi (Vitex negundo) is usually used for this procedure.

Local medicated applications include Lepgoli, Dashang lep, and a mixture of Shrung, Daruharidra ( Berberis aristata), Alum, and Rakta Chandan (Santalum album). Several medicated herbal ointments are also available.

Local pain can be immediately reduced by blood-letting. This can be done by syringe or using leeches. About 50 ml. of blood is usually withdrawn from a vein near the affected joint. Local heat branding is used by some physicians to reduce acute tenderness of the joints. Various special metal instruments are used for this procedure.

Castor oil and Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) treated with castor oil are used for mild, prolonged laxative treatment.

Oral medications include Maharasnadi decoction, Triphala Guggulu, Yograj Guggulu and Ashwagandharishta. Shallaki (Boswellia serrata) and Guggulu (Commiphora mukul) compounds are given for prolonged periods. Multiple herbal compounds containing Guggulu are available, which are used according to the presenting symptoms and the staging of the disease as done by the Ayurvedic practitioner.

It is advisable to avoid very sour, salty and cold (refrigerated) food products, as also fermented products. Using tolerable amounts of ginger and garlic in the daily diet is helpful. Some yogic asanas have been found to be useful in arthritis, and may be performed regularly under the supervision and advice of an expert in this field.

Knox Gelatin For Arthritis - Does it Work?

More and more people who are suffering from arthritis have found Knox gelatin to be effective in alleviating their symptoms. This is due to the fact that the structure of the Knox gelatin is nearly identical to that of collagen type 2, which comprises the connective tissues of the body, including that of the cartilage. The most common brand of Knox gelatin is the NutraJoint, which is available in most grocery stores in boxes of individually packaged packets. One dose of NutraJoint per day can substantially reduce - if not completely get rid of - the stiffness, pain, and aches that arthritis often entails.

However, there seems to be some concerns about the use of this substance in arthritis treatment. One argument holds that since this substance is derived from animals, it might not be appropriate for the consumption of vegetarians and/or certain religious organizations. In such cases, fruit pectin, which is a fruit extract, is offered as an alternative.

Gelatin is particularly effective when used in combination with calcitonin. In fact, a German research documented successful results from the use of this type of treatment. The mounting evidence of the effectiveness of knox gelatin in arthritic therapy simply cannot be ignored.

Taking all factors into consideration, the general consensus is that gelatin is a safe and effective product to use in arthritis treatment. The majority of users have confirmed a substantial reduction of arthritis pain after using this method.

Reports of side effects such as upset stomachs or animal allergies are few. Those who are allergic to certain animals from which the gelatin is derived may experience some slight allergic reactions and should therefore avoid taking it.

However, aside from these isolated cases, the general response has been that knox gelatin is completely safe and highly beneficial in treating arthritis.

Smoking and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is more than a disease of the joints. It is a chronic condition affecting the whole body. In this article I'm going to consider rheumatoid arthritis and especially its possible link and association with smoking. For the benefit of those not familiar with the condition I'll add some introductory material, so bear with me.

The Science Bit

Well, as the name suggests, rheumatoid arthritis is an arthritic condition. The other common form of arthritis is termed osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is due to wear and tear on the joints and is often a disease of old age. Rheumatoid arthritis differs in many respects from osteoarthritis. First off, it can occur at any age. Its onset is often sudden and symptoms such as joint pain are common. The disorder causes joint inflammation and is progressive. If unchecked it damages and destroys joints. It is relatively common and affects about 1% of the population. The cause is really not known, but there seems to be a genetic component which interacts with environmental factors. Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disease. In auto-immune immune disorders, the immune system goes 'haywire' and starts attacking normal healthy tissue. In addition to joint damage this condition is often associated with fatigue and a general feeling of 'being unwell'

Smoking and Rheumatoid Arthritis

So what has all this to do with smoking? A Swedish study has found that smoking is an important risk factor in developing the disease. Other factors are important, of course. For instance, women are more prone to the disorder than men; it is more common in the 40 to 60 age group and there is often a family history. Workers at the Karolinska institute in Stockholm looked to see if there was a link between rheumatoid arthritis and smoking. Their research found that heavy smokers, who smoked for at least 20 years, were two and a half times more likely to contain an antibody closely associated with the condition and especially with a severe form of the disease. The researchers concluded that smoking may account for 35% of cases where the antibody is present and 20% of cases overall. It is thought that smoking, particularly heavy smoking, acts as a trigger for the disease in those who already have a genetic predisposition. The risk remains high even in those who have quit smoking. Smoking remains the only known modifiable risk factor for developing rheumatoid arthritis and thus provides a further incentive to quit smoking, or better still, to never start.

The Personal Touch

I was inspired to write this article because my wife is affected with a severe form of rheumatoid arthritis. Also, like me she is an ex-smoker. It is possible that smoking may have in some way contributed to the onset of her condition, although she was never a heavy smoker. We will never really know. Nevertheless, the best thing my wife did, for her overall health, was to quit.

Arthritis and Oregano Oil

Arthritis is the chronic musculoskeletal disease that plagues 50% of the population in the United States. It is the major cause of disability for those 55 years old and above. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gouty arthritis are the most common. They share the same symptoms like stiffness of the joints, inflammation and pain. Those who are suffering from this condition experience limitation in their movements. Loss of function or disability is the most serious outcome.

With the use of oregano oil, the inflamed joints and pain associated with arthritis can be controlled. It has been found in a recent experiment that carvacrol, one of the two active ingredients in oregano oil, can activate the HSP or heat shock proteins, our natural anti-inflammatory defense system. This is done by way of our T cells. These T cells regulate our tolerance to high stress.

The researchers artificially produced autoimmune arthritis in laboratory animals and they introduced oregano oil to these animals. They found that carvacrol in the oil completely suppressed the artificially induced joint damage. The results showed that carvacrol can increase the response of the T cell against self-stress proteins and reduced inflammatory disease.

Oregano Oil has also been shown by a previous experiment to reduce pain. This essential oil comes from the wild oregano plant which has been widely known in the past as an effective treatment for respiratory and digestive disorders as well as several skin diseases. The plant grows in the hill tops of Mediterranean countries like Greece, Portugal and Turkey. At present, the oil is extracted from the crushed leaves by means of cold process. The leaves from the plant Origanum vulgare are used and not the common oregano Oreganum marjoram.

Studies and experiments have identified carvacrol as one of the active ingredients of oregano oil. Carvacrol, together with another ingredient, thymol, are the ones responsible for its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-parasitical qualities of oregano oil. Several universities in the United States have confirmed the potency of this essential oil against harmful microorganisms. They found that this substance is more effective in eradicating E.coli, staphylococcus bacteria, Candida albicans and other pathogens.

The advantage of oregano oil over that of conventional pharmaceutical drugs is that the microorganisms cannot develop resistance against it. But because of the very active ingredients of oregano oil, you are advised to consult first with your health provider if you have an existing medical condition. It is also not recommended for pregnant and nursing mothers.