Monday, October 7, 2013

Relieve Arthritis Pain With Honey and Cinnamon


Arthritis pain is nothing to joke about. It makes for miserable lives. While checking into natural remedies, I came across how to relieve arthritis pain with honey and cinnamon. I know it sounds a bit weird - but who cares if it works!

There are a couple of ways to take the honey and cinnamon - as a daily drink or as a tincture to put on painful and swollen joints.

For the drink: For your health, the best quality organic honey would be preferable as well as good quality cinnamon. It seems though there are many 'recipes' out there, so there seems to be no need to obsess about exact measurements. One cup of hot water with two spoons of honey in it and one small teaspoon of cinnamon. This can be taken once or twice during the day (i.e. in the morning and before bed). If this is too sweet, then reduce the honey to one teaspoon. Similarly if the cinnamon taste is too hard to take, then reduce it to half a teaspoon. It seems only important that honey and cinnamon are present in the mix. It really depends on what works for you.
For the tincture: Mix one part honey to two parts of lukewarm water and add a small teaspoon of cinnamon powder until it forms a paste. Massage this paste onto the itching/painful part of your body in a slow circular motion. Many people have found that their pain gets noticeably less within a matter of minutes.

Considering that there are a large number of people being helped every day by taking this concoction of honey and cinnamon to relieve their arthritis pain, I would imagine it's definitely worth a try. If it doesn't work right away (although many people do report an immediate effect), please try it out for a minimum of four weeks. There really is nothing to lose and everything to gain!

It seems that this combination is also helpful for the common cold, coughs and sinus infections, hair loss, bladder infections, stomach aches, high cholesterol and even toothache (where you put the tincture made with honey and cinnamon without any water on the aching tooth up to three times a day. This mixture taken daily also strengthens our immune system, protecting the body from harmful bacteria and viral attacks. Honey itself has various vitamins and iron in large amounts.

To summarize this is definitely something to include in your family's medicine cabinet - even though honey and cinnamon reside in the kitchen!

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Your Complete Guide to Gouty Arthritis


Gouty arthritis can cause a sudden attack of stiffness, burning pain and joint swelling. These sudden attacks can occur repeatedly unless gouty arthritis is treated. Eventually, this condition can be harmful to your tendons, tissues and joints.

Gouty arthritis is caused by excessive uric acid in the blood. People with high levels of uric acid in the blood do not usually get gout but when the levels of uric acid gets too high, it may create hard crystals in the joints.

Individuals drinking too much alcohol, who are overweight or eat too much fish and meat rich in purines are more prone to getting gouty. In addition, some medications such as water pills can bring gout as well.

Some of the common signs of gout are sudden attacks of tenderness, redness, swelling and intense pain in the big toe. It is also possible to experience attacks in the ankle, foot and knees. These attacks usually last for a few days or several weeks and another attack may happen after months or even years. It is necessary to see a doctor even you are no longer experiencing pains from gout because the uric acid buildup can still be harmful to the joints.

In order to diagnose the condition, the doctor asks questions regarding the symptoms and performs a physical examination. In addition, the doctor may take fluid samples from the joints to look for crystals formed by uric acid. It is also required to do a blood test in order to measure the uric acid amount in the blood.

To stop the attack of gout, the doctor can prescribe corticosteroids or a large dose of one or more medications in a daily basis. Effects of the medications usually start within twenty-four hours.

To lessen the pain of gout attack, it is best to rest the joints. Taking anti-inflammatory medicine or ibuprofen can help ease the pain. However, do not take aspirin for it may worsen the gout as it may increase the level of uric acid in the blood.

In order to prevent gout attacks in the future, there are prescribed medications to help lessen the buildup of uric acid in the blood. Make sure to follow the doctor's advice to lower uric acid levels. Many people continue taking the medicine for the rest of their lives to experience permanent effects.

It is important to pay attention to what kinds of food you eat in order to manage the condition. Eating moderate amounts of healthy foods to control weight is essential. Prevent eating too much seafood, meat and alcohol. It is also recommended to drink a lot of water and other fluids.

Resting the affected area for twenty-four hours can ease the pain caused by the attack. In addition, you need to control your weight and having a low-fat diet can help. However, prevent fasting or diets that have very low calories because these diets tend to increase the uric acid amount produced by the body.

In the past, gouty arthritis was believed to be because of too much alcohol intake and eating too much rich foods. Though drinking alcohol and eating certain foods can trigger gout attacks, these factors may not be the major causes of gout. The condition is actually caused by an excessive production of uric acid in the blood.

Is Acupuncture an Effective Treatment for Arthritis?


Inflammation and joint pain is common to all of the family of ailments known collectively as arthritis. To date, modern medicine has failed to find a "cure" for arthritis. Since many forms of arthritis are generally incurable, most doctors focus on treatment to relieve the painful symptoms of arthritis rather than looking for a cure.

Now, however, a new study connects acupuncture and relief of arthritis symptoms. The study said that the combination of acupuncture and arthritis can significantly reduce pain and improve function in those suffering osteoarthritis of the knee.

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical procedure wherein hair-thin needles are inserted into points along "energy channels" - meridians, where the life force of the human body flows through. Practitioners believe that these needles remove blockage from energy channels, and ease the pain caused by the blockages

Acupuncture, one of the oldest medical procedures in the world, is a practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). TCM is based on the idea that the body's life force, also called "qi," flows along the body in pathways known as meridians. Acupuncture, which is now practiced widely throughout the world, started in China over 2000 years ago. With the recent discovery about the connection between acupuncture and arthritis, specifically on its role as a pain reliever, the procedure is increasingly becoming popular in the United States as well.

While it may sound painful to be stuck with needles, acupuncture is not the torture some may believe it to be. Most adherents of acupuncture suggest that there is only a slight sting when the needles prick the skin. The remainder of the procedure is not painful. The needles used by acupuncturists are very thin, very smooth, and are solid. They are not hollow like needles used in most medical procedures. Acupuncture sessions vary in duration, depending on the treatment that is being given. For treatment of arthritis, acupuncturists may suggest treatment a few times a week for several months.

National Institutes of Health Study on Arthritis and Acupuncture

The study on acupuncture and arthritis was conducted by the US National Institute of Health (NIH). One of the most detailed clinical trials to date on the effects of acupuncture on arthritic patients, the study found that patients that received acupuncture had a 40 percent decrease in pain and 40 percent increase in function compared to the baseline.

The study, conducted by rheumatologists and acupuncturists, included 570 patients, aged 50 and over, with osteoarthritis of the knee. Patients then randomly received one of three treatments - acupuncture, sham acupuncture, or participation in a control group.

"For the first time, a clinical trial with sufficient rigor, size, and duration has shown that acupuncture reduces the pain and functional impairment of osteoarthritis of the knee," said Stephen E. Straus, M.D., NCCAM Director. "These results also indicate that acupuncture can serve as an effective addition to a standard regimen of care and improve quality of life for knee osteoarthritis sufferers.

Arthritis Gloves - Where To Buy Arthritis Gloves


Are you looking for arthritis gloves? If so, you would probably like to find best quality gloves for reasonable price online.

So many people are looking for these gloves, because they can help relieve pain, aches and stiffness associated with arthritis of the hands, and because shopping online is the easiest way to find them.

What kind of gloves you should be looking for:

Arthritis gloves should have open fingertips to allow you freedom to feel, touch and grip. They should be comfortable to wear day and night, and allow skin to breathe to keep hands dry. But most important they should provide a mild compression to help control swelling, offer warmth, increase circulation and promote healing, so make sure they're not too big or not too small for your hand.

Why shop online:

Shopping online is the easiest way to find arthritis gloves today. With few mice clicks you can find tons of information and dozen online shops that sell arthritis gloves at affordable price. Online shops always have all sizes and different type gloves, all you have to do just choose and click to buy.

It's really good to know that shop will deliver product for you, so you don't have to leave your warm comfy home and travel somewhere to brick and mortar shop to find these gloves.

So if you do agree that arthritis gloves can relieve aches and promote healing, and that shopping online is the best way to buy them, here's how to do it.

Where to Buy These Gloves:

First of all you should do search on Google for these gloves. Then you will have to check all the sites to come up, to find these gloves and compare the price. You might find some forums on your search results. Go and visit forums, they might have some crucial information about what you're looking for.

Boswellia Serrata For Knee Arthritis Pains and Inflammation


Having arthritis is never pleasant. With age being one of the main factors involved with arthritis, it is hardly something you can guarantee you will avoid-especially if you do not do anything to improve your bone and joint health. Having arthritis in your knees or profoundly in your knees can be one of the worst places to have it. You depend on your legs and knees to get you from point a to point b everywhere you go. Walking and even sitting can hurt your knees. So what do you do to protect yourself from a life of pain? You can start by learning about the problem and what there is you can do to help find relief and regain strength. Boswellia serrata is one substance in particular that can help with pain and inflammation.

Boswellia serrata comes from India. You can find it in the resin of the boswellia tree. The resin from the boswellia tree has long since been time tested to treat arthritis. It is particularly known for treating knees specifically. Of course it will promote all around healthy joints as well. The resin can help reduce inflammation and in turn relieve a lot of the pains associated with arthritis. Boswellia serrata is also called frankincense. With no surprise, this substance is also said to be able to help prevent cancer.

One of the main causes of knee pains is osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the general wear and tear of joints over time. With your body putting so much weight and use on your knees on a daily basis, it is no wonder why OA is so common.

Another thing you may want to keep in mind if you are dealing with knee joint problems is exercise and a healthy diet. The heavier your weight is, the more pressure you are putting on your joints when you stand. Maintaining your weight will certainly help reduce pressure and pain. Excessive and repetitive movements, however, will only agitate the condition and make it worse. Avoid doing the same motions over and over again with the same joints. Also, getting your eight hours of sleep a night will help improve your situation.

You can easily find supplements with boswellia serrata in their formula. It is a popular ingredient for those suffering from arthritis. Taking natural supplements on a daily basis is a great way to keep all of your joints and cartilage healthy.

Osteoarthritis of the Knee - Does Osteoporosis Play a Role?


First, lets distinguish between the two.

Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease that results in decreased bone density and an alteration in the bony architecture. It does not directly cause pain. A more simple definition would be " a bone disorder that results in decreased bone strength and an increased risk of fracture."

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease characterized by the loss of articular cartilage and results in pain, stiffness and decreased mobility.

Because both are common in the older age group, the two often get confused. Many times I have heard people blame their pain on osteoporosis when this is not the case.

The concerns with osteoporosis are the increased risk of future fracture, with osteoarthritis, it's pain, deformity, and loss of mobility.

There are of course many people unfortunate enough to have both of these common disease processes active at the one time. However, different diseases take different approaches to address them.

Osteoporosis needs to be treated with dietary changes, calcium and vitamin D supplements, and medication such as bisphosphonates - talk to your doctor about these.

Osteoarthritis needs to be addressed via a program of weight loss, exercise, analgesia and if required,surgery.

It is common sense to target both conditions simultaneously if required. As a general rule, osteoporosis treatment does not get in the way of arthritis treatments. Many good hospitals now include an osteoporosis risk profile questionnaire as part of their treatment of osteoarthritis.

Many people do not realize they have osteoporosis until they suffer a fracture - it creeps up silently.

Osteoarthritis is anything but silent with a gradual increase in symptoms,the primary one being pain.

These two separate diseases of the bone don't directly affect each other but commonly occur in tandem. A knowledge of both would be beneficial for the majority of patients.

What's Good For Arthritis?


Arthritis is basically the breakdown of cartilage. The joints gradually lose cartilage, which is a gel-like, shock-absorbing substance that prevents adjacent bones from grinding against each other. Cartilage naturally protects the joint, allowing for smooth movement, and absorbing shock when pressure is focused on the joint. With damaged or weakened cartilage, the bones rub together, causing pain, stiffness, and swelling. Arthritis is more likely to occur as you age. Most commonly affected joints are those in the fingers, knees, and hips. As a joint continues to lose cartilage, the friction of the bones rubbing together can cause pain and joint instability.

Some vitamins and herbs are thought to be helpful in preventing or healing arthritis. Herbs, and other healing food, considered useful, include: alfalfa, angelica, black cohosh, blackberry, black pepper, blueberry, Brazil nuts, broccoli, burdock, celery, cherry, cod liver oil, coriander, cranberries, cumin, echinacea, fennel, feverfew, figs, fish, flaxseed, garlic, ginger, grape seed extract, green tea, hawthorn, horseradish, juniper, kelp, lemons, molasses, oats, onion, oranges, oregano, peanuts, peppermint, pineapple, primrose oil, red pepper, rosemary, salmon oil, shavegrass, stinging nettle, sunflower seeds, tea, thyme, turmeric, willow, and yogurt.

Vitamins (or foods rich in these vitamins), thought to be helpful, include: B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyrodoxine), B12 (cobalamin), B complex, beta-carotene, C, D, E, folic acid, multi-mineral, omega-3 fatty acids, selenium, and zinc.

Avoid consuming foods which promote arthritis, such as: alcohol, artificial additives & preservatives, artificial colors, aspirin, drugs, unhealthy fats, fried foods, meats, processed foods, roasted nuts, salt, soft drinks, sugar, and white flour.

If you are suffering from arthritis, try to limit consumption of caffeine, citrus fruits, potatoes, spinach, tomatoes, and wheat. Also avoid exposure to tobacco smoke.

Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Try to consume a high fiber diet. Get regular moderate exercise, and maintain a healthy weight. Muscle building exercises are helpful, but avoid aerobic exercises which can do the body more harm than good.

Disclaimer: This article is for entertainment purposes only, and is not intended for use as diagnosis or treatment of a health problem or as a substitute for consulting a licensed medical professional.