Nutritional Supplements for Osteoarthritis

Glucosamine Sulfate and Osteoarthritis

Glucosamine sulfate is a major constituent of cartilage and is the most effective natural remedy for osteoarthritis with its use supported by considerable scientific research.

A dose of 1000mg per day preserves the structural integrity of joints and 1500-2000 mg per day reduces the pain and symptoms of osteoarthritis and repairs damage in the joints.

It may take between 1-8 weeks for benefits to be experienced and results persist for up to 12 weeks after discontinuation of treatment.

Glucosamine sulfate may need to be continued at a low dose or intermittently for maintenance treatment.

Niacinamide and Osteoarthritis

Niacinamide has been found to improve joint function and range of movement in osteoarthritis with results noticeable after 1-3 months of treatment and peak benefits after 1-3 years of use.

High doses have been used (up to 4000 mg per day in divided doses) however at this dose it is necessary to regularly monitor liver enzymes as it may possibly cause liver damage.

SAMe and Osteoarthritis

SAMe is involved in the manufacture of cartilage components and supplements have been found to increase cartilage formation and exert a mild pain relieving and anti-inflammatory action.

Dosage: 400mg, three times a day

Antioxidants and Osteoarthritis

A high intake of antioxidants may help to protect cartilage and inhibit progression of osteoarthirits.

Those with a higher than average intake of vitamin C have a three times reduced risk of developing osteoarthirits.

Vitamin E appears to work synergistically with vitamin C in protection of cartilage. Other antioxidants may confer similar benefits.

Dosage:

Vitamin C: 1000-3000 mg per day

Vitamin E: 400-800 iu per day

Pantothenic acid and Osteoarthritis

Doses of 12.5 mg per day have been found to provide relief from symptoms of osteoarthritis.

Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, Copper, Zinc and Boron and Osteoarthritis

These vitamins and minerals are also necessary for the manufacture and maintenance of cartilage. Boron supplementation has been found to alleviate the symptoms of osteoarthirits in up to 90% of individuals.

Dosage:

Vitamin A: 5000 iu per day
Vitamin B6: 50 mg per day
Zinc: 30-45 mg per day
Copper: 1-2 mg per day
Boron: 6 mg per day

DL-Phenylanaline and Osteoarthritis

DL-Phenylanaline increases endorphins in the brain and can be used to symptomatically provide pain relief in osteoarthritis.

Dosage: 500-750 mg, three times a day before meals.

Vitamin D and Osteoarthritis

Regular exposure to sunlight promotes vitamin D synthesis which is essential for bone health.

How effective are dietary therapy and nutritional supplements for osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a condition that may take many years to develop thus treatment will need to be applied consistently in order to obtain desirable results.

There is evidence to suggest that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may worsen the progression of the condition thus their use must be considered very carefully.

Some improvement may be noticed with one or two months after initiating dietary changes and nutritional supplementation however a complete recovery may take up to several years. The possibility of a successful outcome is enhanced when the predisposing factors such as obesity or hormonal disruptions are adequately addressed.

Rash on Legs With Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Often when women feel the onset of rheumatoid arthritis - more excruciatingly the joint pain, a rash on the leg or both legs may appear and it can be extremely difficult to find the right solution or supplement to put it to rest.

Psoriatic arthritis tends to be ones first suspicion as to the cause, but what is clear though is that rashes appear at many different times and should not be strictly associated with the ailment you are suffering from at that time, although it's perfectly acceptable to draw a correlation between the two.

So, if you are using NSAID's to treat the swelling around the joints then these themselves could be the culprit as the effects of these are well documented today.

Common prescription medicines for rheumatoid arthritis include Plaquenil, Norco and Ibuprofen, and aside from such treatment affects as liver damage, heart disease and heart palpitations or arrhythmia which can lead to cardiac arrest, they can also give you a rash.

If you are using more than one prescribed NSAID then don't be afraid to chop and change between the two.

NSAID's are just one way to treat joint pain and you shouldn't feel they are the only means you can seek pain relief.

In fact prescription drugs do nothing to stop the progression of rheumatoid arthritis, rather they just numb the pain so if you are using these solely to treat rheumatoid arthritis, in no way are you helping the remission process.

If you want to keep using NSAID's but resorting to just one supplement still doesn't help, then you should seriously start thinking about changing your lifestyle habits so you can incorporate different therapies to treat the pain.

Exercise is the best form of treatment, specifically swimming. By increasing your muscle strength you immediately provide support to the joint and an almost instant lift in your health and how you feel.

Low impact sports are best so as to avoid stress on the joints, and don't be afraid to use natural supplements which include omega 3, 6, 9 proteins, ingredients like reishi and capsaicin, and supplements like vitamin D and magnesium, which is the only element which has been proven to increase bone density by some 11% over the course of 9 months, as was carried out by the Journal Medicine in 2009.

Once you're off the NSAID's and in to a more proactive and positive lifestyle, it's highly unlikely that any rash on the legs will remain.

Some Natural Ways to Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a serious form of arthritis where the immune system which is supposed to defend the body, actually starts to attack it. It is more serious than say osteoarthritis simply because in addition to the standard joint pain and swelling, rheumatoid arthritis can also cause anemia, poor circulation and debilitating fatigue.

The best natural treatments for rheumatoid arthritis are the same as osteoarthritis, however with more emphasis being placed on diet. Here is a look at a few that have proven to be particularly helpful.

Heat Application

Whether it be electric blankets, heating pads or hot packs, applying heat to painful joints can offer substantial relief. One method of heat application that has shown to be particularly helpful is hot baths, especially when infused with essential oils such as rosemary and eucalyptus.

Cold Application

At the other end of the spectrum is the application of cold. This is most effective and appropriate when your joints are really inflamed. A cold pack or bag of peas compressed against the area can bring much needed relief in a short period of time. This is due to the fact that the cold reduces the swelling fast and also stimulates the nerve endings which acts as a distraction against deeper joint aches and pains.

Vegetarian Diet

Recent studies have shown that people with rheumatoid arthritis showed significant improvement after just 30 days of switching to a vegetarian diet. This diet also excluded eggs, dairy, gluten, caffeine, alcohol, salt and refined sugar.

Going vegetarian may seem like a daunting prospect if you are a heavy meat eater however being vegetarian is not about just eating vegetables / salads. There are lots of beautiful tasting, hearty dishes that can be prepared. If you are interested in this just do a search online for vegetarian recipes. You will find plenty.

However, if vegetarianism is not an option for you, the next best thing is to really tune into your body after you eat. This will give you some insight into which particular foods seem to flare up your symptoms. You can then decide whether or not to reduce or exclude these foods from your diet.

These are just a few things you can do to treat your rheumatoid arthritis naturally. I know this is an awful condition to have to deal with (my Mother has it) and my heart goes out to you. Just keep an open mind and keep trying new things until you have got enough 'things that help' in your back pocket that you can draw on as needed.

Arthritis Caused By Aluminum Poisoning

Heavy metal poisoning has become a major health problem in recent history and will inevitably become much worse, as more countries become industrialized nations. Metals and industrial bi products seep into the water and enter the food chain.

Heavy metals have a density of over five times that of water, which means the human body is unable to successfully break down the foreign bodies and is forced to retain them. The accumulation of heavy metals trapped in the body causes toxicity to poison the bloodstream, leading to damaged kidneys, lungs, nervous system and other organs.

What is Heavy Metal Poisoning (Toxicity)?

Heavy Metal Toxicity is the level of toxic metals that has been absorbed by the body in numerous ways which usually depend on the type of metal. The four main toxic metals are aluminum, lead, cadmium, and mercury. These metals can cause various complications and indeed in many cases lead to illness and disease.

Aluminum.

Aluminum is the most common toxic metal & is found in almost everyone's body. Whether it is under your arms, in your teeth, or even on your skin, aluminum is found more than any other metal. Sources: Aluminum foil, antacids, aspirin, toothpaste, dust, auto exhaust, treated water, nasal spray, milk products, salt, commercially-raised beef, tobacco smoke, anti-antiperspirants, bleached flour, cans, animal feed, ceramics, canned food, cosmetics, and even cigarette filters.

Symptoms of aluminum toxicity.

Symptoms are thought to include Brittle Bones, Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis as aluminum is stored in the bones. Kidney disease and malfunction may also result, as the kidneys filter aluminum. ADHD, ADD, Hyperactivity, memory disturbances, and learning disabilities.

How To Get Tested?

Getting tested for heavy metal poisoning is relatively easy and can be detected through a hair-follical test, you will need to speak to your doctor in order to get tested.

How To Treat Heavy Metal Toxicity.

Although there are supplements available which claim to rid the body of these damaging metals, ones best course of action would to detoxify the body naturally.

Choosing A Magnetic Bracelet For Arthritis - Can A Magnetic Bracelet For Arthritis Relieve Your Pain

Arthritis is a disease which affects numerous people. Arthritis is also a painful disease. Because of the pain and the amount of people arthritis afflicts; doctors and scientists are working diligently to create arthritis pain treatments and cures. Thanks to this ongoing research, there are numerous treatments given in order to aid in the relief of arthritis pain

A very simple arthritis pain management device is an arthritis bracelet. This form of arthritis pain treatment is quickly growing in the United States. Even though there has been an explosive growth in the use of arthritis bracelets, surprisingly a lot of arthritis sufferers don't know about them.

What you should know about arthritis bracelets:

One particular thing you should know about arthritis bracelets, is there are different types. However, the scope of this article is to concentrate solely on the magnetic arthritis bracelet.

The credibility of the effectiveness of magnetic bracelets has long been supported by folk medicine and holistic healers. In recent years Western medicine has begun to accept more and more natural healing methods. Because of this trend, a growing number of people are giving non-traditional Western medical methods a try. Magnetic bracelets are no exception. Magnetic bracelets are growing in popularity and use among people in the United States.

There has been some recent authentic research which concludes magnetic bracelets can be used as an effective arthritis pain treatment method. This research was conducted by a team of British researchers. They wanted to test whether magnetic bracelets were effective in treating arthritis pain, or if they were useless. They did find at the end of the twelve week study, that the magnetic bracelets helped to reduce the pain of the wearers as opposed to those who were given a "dummy" bracelet.

There is one precaution to the study, weak magnetic bracelets had little to no effect on their wearers, just as the "dummy" bracelets did. Be sure to have a strong magnetic bracelet. Make sure the field is between 170 and 200 mTesla.

How does a magnetic bracelet work?

An area which is afflicted with pain, generally speaking, is constantly lacking in blood circulation. Because of the lack of circulation, there is also a deficiency in oxygen. The afflicted area can be highly acidic and the polarity would be considered positive. A negative, otherwise known as a Unipole magnet helps these conditions. The magnet helps to increase circulation. In turn, this increases the amount of oxygen brought to the afflicted area, and decreases inflammation.

The negative energy field produced by the magnet also counteracts the positive field associated with the painful condition. Anyone, who is pregnant, or wearing a pacemaker, electronic implants or using electric blankets/heating pads should not use magnetic products. You should always consult a physician before undertaking any kind of treatment for arthritis.

Where you can find a magnetic arthritis bracelet:

There are many different locations where you can go to find this bracelet and other related forms of arthritis therapy. In fact, you can find a good quality and inexpensive magnetic arthritis bracelet on the internet. You would not even have to leave your home to buy it.

Although there are many other forms of treatment that are considered as being beneficial in regards to the relieving of arthritis pain, the magnetic bracelet can easily be considered as one of the best and most economical options of all.

Gout - Causes, Diagnosis, Symptoms, Treatment and Complications

Gout is a very painful, intermittent type of arthritis brought about by a malfunction of the body's metabolism which results in elevated blood levels of uric acid causing the formation of uric acid crystals in the joints. It can occur in any joint but is most common in the big toe and while episodes are almost debilitating when they occur, there can often be long periods between attacks.

Gout strikes about 4 times as many men as women with symptoms appearing in men around the late 30s or early 40s and in women usually after menopause.

Causes and Incidence of Gout:

There are two types of gout, primary and secondary, the latter occurs in older people and is usually associated with diseases such as; diabetes, obesity, hypertension, renal failure and psoriasis. Usually only one joint is affected when gout is first diagnosed but in about 10% to 20% of cases patients can present with polyarticular gout where several joints are involved. Polyarticular gout is usually only seen in elderly patients.

There is a suggestion that a genetic factor causes the over production and retention of uric acid in primary gout.

Risk Factors:

Obesity, high alcohol intake, rich foods, red meat, organ meats, sardines, anchovies, peas and lentils, fish and shellfish have all been implicated in gout attacks. Some medications can also exacerbate the condition. Other risk factors include high blood pressure and poor kidney function.

Signs and Symptoms of Gout:

There are four stages of gout;

1. Asymptomatic gout where serum urate levels are elevated but there are no symptoms.

2. Acute gout when a sudden and very painful attack occurs usually only involving one joint. The joint will present as inflamed, red and will feel hot and sometimes a low grade fever is present. Attacks may only last a few hours but can last weeks.

3. Intercritical gout is the period between attacks which can vary between a few months and 10 years. The longer the period between attacks, the more likely it is that the attacks will be more severe and will involve more joints.

4. Chronic gout is usually polyarthritic with constant pain, fever, loss of appetite, swelling and the involvement of tendons, synovial membranes and soft tissue. Joint surfaces are commonly damaged and the joints are deformed. Tophi which are painless deposits of uric acid crystals in areas such as the ear lobes, elbows or the Achilles tendons are present in a significant number of cases.

Diagnosis of Gout:

Serum uric acid is an indicator but of itself this may be deceptive, white blood cell levels may be elevated and there are indications that thyroid hormone levels may be abnormal but the main indicator is the presence of monohydrate crystals in the synovial fluid of an inflamed joint. X-rays will show displacement and deformities of the joints as the disease progresses.

Treatment of Gout:

A multi-faceted treatment regime aimed at reducing pain and uric acid levels, preventing recurrence and complications is advocated. Dietary changes to reduce weight, reduction of alcohol intake, rich foods and fructose containing drinks are recommended as a start. Rest, immobilization of the joint and heat or cold packs can be useful. Pain relief can be achieved with analgesics, colchicine, NSAIDS and corticosteroids although care needs to be taken because of the possibility of serious side effects with long term administration of these medicaments. Recently the application of acupuncture pain patches has also been found to produce a drug free and instant reduction in pain levels. As with so many health problems, it is advisable to increase the amount of water the patient drinks.

There are also many natural products available for reducing gout symptoms, how effective they are is difficult to predict as there is very little in the way of serious published trial material available.

In severe cases joint replacement may become the only option to reduce pain and recover some mobility.

Complications:

Treatment can be complicated by the presence of infections, kidney stones, peptic ulcers, gastritis, hypertension or other medical conditions.

Arthritic Knee Braces - What Are the Best Ones?

How will you know if you have knee arthritis? There are so many different forms of arthritis, the causes are likely to vary. Scientists are currently examining how the roles of major factors including genetics and lifestyles affect the development of arthritis.

You may not notice the pain from this arthritis immediately. Arthritis pain usually develops slowly over a long period of time. You may notice that your knee is stiff and swollen. You may find it difficult to bend or straighten it. You may feel pain and weakness in also. You may especially feel pain after walking, climbing stairs, or kneeling.

You can only know for sure if you have arthritis if you get a thorough medical examination. This can include physical tests, lab tests, x-rays and from studying medical history. This examination can also determine the type of arthritis it is.

What types of Arthritis affect the knee? There are three common types of arthritis that can affect your knee. Osteoarthritis is the first type. The cartilage in your knee joint slowly wears away when you have osteoarthritis. It is the most common type of arthritis.

The second type is called rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis will cause inflammation which can destroy knee cartilage. Post-traumatic arthritis is the third type of arthritis. If you fractured your knee or had some kind of ligament surgery, you may develop this kind of arthritis.

Will a brace help my Arthritis pain? Knee arthritis often occurs because your knee is misaligned. These misalignments are known as varus (bow legged) or valgus (knock-kneed). Varus alignment causes more stress on the inside of the knee, and valgus causes more stress on the outside of the knee.

Damage to the cartilage in your knee and joint damage can be as a result of this stress. To make sure that you do not have unnecessary stress on your knees, you may want to use a brace. Arthritic knee braces can help you make sure your knees are properly aligned. Proper alignment can ease pain.

Arthritic braces include braces like: the Ossur Express Arthritis Brace, the DonJoy OA Adjuster Brace, and the Bledsoe Thruster RLF Arthritis Brace. Arthritic knee braces like these help to lessen your pain and improve the joint function.

These three arthritic knee braces are level IV braces, which means they provide the most support. These arthritic knee braces cost $550.00, $669.95, and $669.95 respectively. Based on customer reviews, the DonJoy OA brace seems to be the most well liked of these three arthritic knee braces.

These prices have been referenced from Braceshop.com.