Arthritis and Marijuana Use

It is estimated that over 30 million people suffer from arthritis each year. Arthritis is a painful condition that can affect your joints and the ability to use them. Many with severe joint pain find that it prohibits them from doing the activities they love and confines many to relying on stair lifts and hand rails just to move from one room in their home to another.

While there are many treatments available for this condition, medical research has yet to find a definite and effective cure that reverses the symptoms - most treatments are focused mainly on pain relief medications or taking supplements that can help with rebuilding cartilage. For this reason it is not surprising that some may be interested in learning how marijuana, a natural narcotic derived from the cannabis plant can be used in treating their pain.

There has been a lot of controversy over the use of this plant for treating illness and disease as well as its recreational use which can be habit forming and potentially detrimental effects. Marijuana is also illegal to use in many parts of the world, making it difficult to obtain and putting anyone at risk who uses it for legal punishment which can include fines and jail sentencing.

Limited research has been done to learn the effects of using the drug in treating joint conditions and as an alternative for other available prescription pain relievers. It is still often a debate whether smoking weed is habit forming or addictive, and if so whether these disadvantages would make it no better of an alternative than existing treatments.

While many would expect that addiction to weed would occur only in teenagers and young adults, a surprisingly increasing amount of people who are using it as a treatment for chronic pain are also finding themselves becoming dependent on the drug. For many it is a toss up between choosing over drug dependency or being dependent on friends and family to help them with the daily tasks in life.

It may be several more years before we finally know the answer to how to treat and cure arthritic symptoms. If you believe that you may have arthritis or the pain has become severe, there are many options available to explore and talk about with your doctor. Your doctor should be the most up to date and best resource for learning about ways to cope with your condition and adapt your lifestyle so you can enjoy life to the fullest.

Vitamin B: Arthritis Cure?

Vitamin B is not only essential if you suffer from arthritis, but it is also vital for general health. It is involved in hundreds of bodily functions. Amongst other benefits, it is involved in energy production, a healthy nervous system, good skin, hormone production and balance and prostaglandin production- a function that makes it key in controlling the inflammation in arthritis. Another key link is its involvement in keeping homocysteine levels under control. Homocysteine plays a vital role in your general health. Let us look at the different types of vitamin B and how it will benefit you if you suffer from arthritis:

Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)

For about 60 years now, it is known that a vitamin B5 deficiency in animals causes osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. When animals deficient in B5 received supplements, their arthritis improved and their inflammation levels (ESR levels) dropped. Since then, it has been confirmed that people with rheumatoid arthritis are nearly always lacking in B5. Studies show that when deficient patients receive B5 injections, their symptoms improve in about seven days. When the injections stop, their symptoms return. Also, when rheumatoid arthritis patients received 500mg of pantothenic acid four times a day, they experience a reduction in morning stiffness and pain after about two months.

So how does it work to improve your joint pain? There are a few theories as to how exactly it works, but the one that makes the most sense is that B5 is required for the body to make its own corticosteroids. That will explain why it improves rheumatoid arthritis. As for its benefits for osteoarthritis, it might improve the body's calcium balance. Calcium is essential for joint health. You could probably benefit by taking about 500-1000mg per day for a trial period of two months.

Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide)

Vitamin B3, also known as niacin or niacinamide, has been used to successfully treat arthritis for many years. Its beneficial effect for arthritis was discovered when niacin was used to treat schizophrenia and cholesterol. Patients receiving this treatment reported improvements in their arthritis. More recent studies conclusively show that B3 supplementation reduces inflammation and improved range of motion. Most patients supplementing with B3 are able to reduce their pain medication. Vit B3 is also very effective in controlling high cholesterol. Note that the niacin form of B3 causes a blushing and a feeling of pins and needles. This reaction is normal and actually shows the power of this nutrient. If the blushing reaction is too severe, you can opt for the niacinamide form, which doesn't cause blushing. Some companies also have a non-blushing form of niacin. Taking more than 2000mg of any B3 is pushing the limit. Take between 500mg-100mg vitamin B3 for arthritis and cholesterol.

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)

Vitamin B6 benefits arthritis patients by controlling pain and improving joint mobility. It works by shrinking the synovial membranes of weight bearing joints. It is also involved in the production of anti-inflammatory prostaglandins. Studies have found that when the body is an inflammatory state, as with rheumatoid arthritis, the body uses up more B6 and overall levels drop. This indicates that the body uses this nutrient to fight inflammation. B6 is also used very successfully to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. Often, surgery is avoided after sustained B6 supplementation. 50mg can be taken to improve joint pain.

Folic Acid and Vitamin B12

In a study of 26 people that suffered from osteoarthritis in their hands, most patients showed less pain in their hand joints after supplementing with a combination of folic acid and vitamin B12. The study reported that the patients experienced no side-effects like those associated with taking pain medication. You probable need about 200mcg of folic acid and 10mcg of B12 to benefit the most.

What Is A Good Fish Oil Supplement for Osteoarthritis

Although a fish oil supplement for osteoarthritis, as well as other nutritional and natural products may be helpful, consumers are wise to carefully investigate anything that is advertised as a "natural cure for osteoarthritis". Some can be a waste of time or money. Others could even cause additional health problems.

Choosing the right fish oil supplement for osteoarthritis can be a chore. There are a large number of products on the market. Dietary supplements are a big business. In the United States, 74% of adults use some form of Complementary or Alternative Medicine, abbreviated CAM. Many are looking for a natural cure for osteoarthritis.

Of the adults who use CAM, mind-body medicine, including prayer for health reasons, is used the most. About 19% use natural products, such as dietary supplements or mega-vitamins. 11.7% use a fish oil supplement for osteoarthritis or for other health reasons. Back pain, neck pain, joint pain and arthritis are among the most common conditions for which CAM therapies are used.

Omega 3 fatty acids derived from fish oil have been shown in numerous studies to reduce inflammation. For example, on the University of Maryland Medical's website, they state:

"Several articles reviewing the research....conclude that omega-3 fatty acid supplements reduce tenderness in joints, decrease morning stiffness, and allow for a reduction in the amount of medication needed for people with rheumatoid arthritis."

Also the same website mentions: "....several test tube studies of cartilage-containing cells have found that omega-3 fatty acids decrease inflammation and reduce the activity of enzymes that destroy cartilage. Similarly, New Zealand green lipped mussel....another potential source of omega-3 fatty acids, has been shown to reduce joint stiffness and pain, increase grip strength, and enhance walking pace in a small group of people with osteoarthritis.

When choosing a fish oil supplement for osteoarthritis, consumers should avoid products that contain vitamin A, which is found in cod liver oil and other oils derived from fish liver. At large doses, vitamin A from fish or other animal sources can be toxic. Beta-carotene is a safer choice for vitamin A supplementation.

The recommended daily intake of omega 3 fatty acids is at least 1000mg for adults. Men need a little more. Although recommendations vary, a fish oil supplement for osteoarthritis should contain at least this amount. The oil should also be molecularly distilled or pharmaceutical grade and contain no contaminants, such as mercury or PCBs.

Although it would not be described as a natural cure for osteoarthritis, an extract from a shellfish known as the New Zealand green lipped mussel (which is mentioned by the University of Maryland's Medcial Website, is renowned in New Zealand but obscurely known in the United States, even though it is available here. In a clinical study at the Yonsei Medical Clinic, 80% of patients participating in the trial reported significant pain relief and improvement in joint function after 8 weeks of use.

In a statement released by the University of California, researchers refer to the mussel extract as showing "significant anti-inflammatory activity". After comparing the anti-inflammatory action to that of other plant and marine oils, researchers found that the extract was much more potent. So, while it may not be a natural cure for osteoarthritis, a product that contains a combination of New Zealand green lipped mussel extract and a fish oil supplement for arthritis may relieve the pain and inflammation, while protecting the cartilage cushions in the joints from additional damage.

Aromatherapy and Ayurvedic Medicine for Osteoarthritis

For temporary relief of stiff, achy joints, try massaging a blend of 15 drops of rosemary oil, 15 drops of Roman or German chamorllileoil, and 1 ounce of soybean oil into the affected joints. You might also try a warm bath laced with rosemary and chamomile; soak for about 20 minutes. Other essential oils to try include camphor, peppermint, lemon, or marjoram

Ayurvedic Medicine

Ayurveda views inflammatory diseases. as energy and digestive imbalances, in which the body is unable to eliminate toxic waste. To treat the disorder, ease discomfort, and increase range of motion in affected joints, Ayurvedic practitioners may recommend trying one or more of the following remedies:

Take triphala to cleanse your intestines, aid indigestion, and stimulate the immune system.

Use boswellia, flaxseed, and fish oils to protect your joints and increase joint mobility. You might also try rubbing warm sesame oil into the affected joints.

Soak in hot water laced with baking soda, eucalyptus, ginger, peppermint, or salt to decrease discomfort and loosen joints.

Follow a pacifying diet, depending on your Ayurvedic category of arthritis. You might also add hot spices, such as cayenne, to your diet to loosen joints and control pain.

Bodywork and Somatic Practices

Depending on the severity of the pain, and degree of immobility, it may be best to start wIth more gentle techmques such as CranioSacral therapy, reflexology, Feldenkrais, Trager, Chinese Medical Massage (acupressure), polarity therapy, Therapeutic Touch, and Reiki.

Chiropratic

Specific chiropractic adjustment (SCA) can help patients With osteoarthritis by: increasing joint flexibility, decreasing swelling in the joint areas and joint capsules, and decreasing the fluid accumulation that accompanies arthritic changes. Chiropractic care for patients with osteoarthritis typically include SCA of the affected joints, moist heat application, and hot water soaks with Epsom salts to promote mobility. In some cases, care may also include paraffin (hot wax) baths.

A recent and widely-accepted treatment for arthritis, particularly osteoarthritis, uses glucosamine. This dynamic substance can actually repair damaged or eroded cartilage. Glucosamine is made up of glucose, the sugar that the body burns for fuel, and an amino acid called glutamine. It provides structure to the bone and cartiage as well as to skin, nails, hair, and other body tissues. Glucosamine sulfate is the most popular form used in the United States. This sulfate acts as a liquid magnet, attracting proteoglycan molecules (which fill in the spaces within the cartilage "netting"). This is important because the fluid acts as a shock absorber while it sweeps nutrients into the cartilage. Without this nutritional fluid, cartilage becomes fragile, thin, and malnourished.

Daily dosage depends on your weight. If you weigh less than 120 pounds, take 1000 mg glucosamine. If your weight falls between 120 and 200 pounds, take 1500 mg glucosamine. If you weigh over 200 pounds, take 2000 mg glucosamine. Because everyone's needs are different, you may need more or less than the preceding dosages, but they are good starting points. Vitamin C and manganese help increase the effectiveness of glucosamine. Manganese is safe up to 50 mg per day.

If you decide to take these supplements, you would be wise to have a thorough consultation with your healthcare provider.

What Is Seronegative Arthritis?

There are more than a hundred different types of arthritis, with each form affecting differing areas of the body, having different root causes and at times symptoms that cannot be found in the other forms of arthritis. The common symptoms of all forms of arthritis, however, is joint pain and difficulty resulting from damage to the connective tissues of the joints. Because each form is different, proper diagnosis is required in order to get correct treatment.

One of the forms of arthritis that gives doctors difficulty in diagnosis is seronegative arthritis. This disease is actually a collection of different forms of arthritis that have symptoms that are similar to rheumatoid arthritis. This similarity is what makes the different forms of seronegative arthritis sometimes be misdiagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis, but there are distinct differences between them.

The main difference, and the reason for the name "seronegative" is that those with rheumatoid arthritis are found to have the autoantibody called rheumatoid factor, while those with seronegative arthritis are found not to have this autoantibody. This, combined with an analysis of the different symptoms, can lead to a proper diagnosis of whether the form of arthritis present in an individual is rheumatoid arthritis, or one of the types of seronegative arthritis.

As previously mentioned, there are different forms of seronegative arthritis, and each of these forms affect different areas of the body. As with rheumatoid arthritis, seronegative arthritis does not only attack the joints, but also different organs of the body, which again is one reason that the two can often be confused with each other.

Examples of this disorder include but are not limited to: psoriatic arthritis, Reiter's syndrome or reactive arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis.

Psoriatic arthritis is a result of psoriasis, which is a chronic skin condition. Up to thirty percent of those with psoriasis will eventually develop psioriatic arthritis about ten years after developing psoriasis. This form of arthritis is inflammatory in nature, and has five different types, which can further complicate diagnosis.

Reiter's syndrome or reactive arthritis is caused by a bacterial infection. Often this form of arthritis is difficult to diagnose, as the infection that caused the arthritis has often been cured or in remission by the time the symptoms are observed. In most cases, reactive arthritis is a temporary condition, though up to twenty percent of those who develop reactive arthritis will develop a chronic form of this disorder.

Ankylosing spondylitis is a seronegative arthritis that affects the spine. It typically affects young males, aged twenty to forty, who will first experience chronic pain in the lower spine. This pain often spreads throughout the spine, into the neck, and may also affect the ribs, shoulder blades, hips, thighs and heels. Often those with this disease also feel fatigue, experience fever, and may be anemic as well. Up to forty percent experience inflammation of the eye as well.

Arthritis and the Lower Back Pain Relation

Arthritis is one of the most pervasive diseases in the United States and is the leading cause of disability. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention one out of every three Americans is affected by one of the more than 100 types of arthritis. Arthritis simply means a painful condition of the joints. There are different types of the disease - many inflammatory and others more degenerative in nature. Across the world there are 350 million people suffer from the chronic joint inflammation of Arthritis. In US the number reaches to the 37 to 40 million. All of us know that there should the joint pain that is accompanied by the arthritis. The joint pain referred as the arthralgia. To suppress the join pain all of the people search for the natural arthritis treatment.

There are many forms of arthritis (over one hundred and growing). The forms range from those related to wear and tear of cartilage (such as osteoarthritis) to those associated with inflammation resulting from an over-active immune system (like rheumatoid arthritis).Together, the many forms of arthritis make up the most common chronic illness in the United States. People are spontaneous to react in way of finding the treatment of arthritis symptoms and anxiety of its various forms.

In the world there are two types of arthritis- 1) Osteoarthritis and 2) Rheumatoid arthritis. The Osteoarthritis mainly affects the cartilages of or around the bones. The cartilages provide the bone with the cushion and thus to protect it from the rubbing friction. On the other hand the Rheumatoid arthritis is the joint chronic inflammation that also the affect the body autoimmune system. Rheumatoid arthritis is also the main disease that causes the pain in or around the joints. Only the arthritis low back pain relief is the main pain suppression methodology for both of the arthritis. Here Autoimmune disease must be explained. The autoimmune disease is that illness by the blood antibody or the cells whose main job is to seeking and destroying body invaders preferably the infections mistakenly attack the body tissues.

For most people arthritis pain and inflammation cannot be avoided as the body ages. In fact, most people over the age of 50 show some signs of arthritis. Joints naturally degenerate over time. Fortunately, arthritis can be managed through a combination of medication, exercise, rest, weight-management, nutrition, and, in some cases, surgery. Your doctor can tell if you have arthritis through blood tests and x-rays. He or she will then be able to help you decide on the best treatment for arthritis for your case.

Do It Yourself Arthritis Treatment

Arthritis Treatment

If you see your joints getting large, you must first dissolve the salt in your joints.
Make a pair of little bags into which you can put your hands, or your feet, or get some thick stockings or socks.

Prepare a poultice of onions and raw potatoes ground fine. Grind them with a vegetable grinder, then mix them and put enough into your bag or stocking so that there will still be room for your hands or feet. Tie it well above the ankle or wrist. Have a string through it like a sack, and draw it tight at the top. Then for something to keep the juice from coming through, use a paper bag for that. A twenty pound sugar bag will be all right. That will finish the job. Go off the bed and leave the wrapping on all night. Next morning take it off and wash the leg or arm thoroughly. Also wash out the bag and hang it on the line to dry. Do the same thing the next night again. Keep that up regularly.

Arthritis is a very difficult disease to cure because you have to dissolved a deposit in your joints. When this is dissolving, you are going to have pains, as in rheumatism. Why? Because of the uric acid which was first eaten in food. This gave rheumatic pains.
These were caused by acid then in your blood. Later, the acid settled in the joints. This uric acid slowly changed into urates, really salt by reason of age. The uric liquid has evaporated and left only the sediment of salt in the joints. If you choose to live on natural food and vegetable juices, the urates dissolve and are redeposited in the blood. You will perhaps blame the juice for giving you rheumatism, but oranges never gave anyone rheumatism. They only reliquify deposited urates in order to get them out of the system.

But to get rid of arthritis, get plenty of exercise. Bathe daily. Stimulate the muscles to throw off the impurities collected there. The more you perspire the quicker you will get rid of your arthritis. You must get the waste matter out. Neither fever nor perspiration will take it out-nothing but living as nature intended you should. You must live on live foods and natural juices as beverages between meals. You must give your body the organic salt it needs.

After two or three weeks of poulticing, change from monion-potato to flaxseed. Get some ground flax meal, put some into your bags, and dip into boiling hot water. Then take them out and let cool long enough so that you can comfortably put your hand into them. Tie just as you did the other poultice. Do that for two or three nights and then commence using half onion and potato, half flaxseed meal. The flaxseed poultice will furnish the lubricant and will take away the extreme skin dryness. Patience and endurance will be very essential, but you will be rewarded by complete freedom from arthritis.

This reconstruction work may cause an affliction of the heart for the period of the elimination, because all blood that is saturated with uric and other wastes will also affect the heart. Do not be alarmed. The fresh juices and other raw foods will counteract this condition. Drink as much natural fruit juice as you care to. Choose quantity, as well as variety, by taste.