Arthritis is a Nutritional Deficiency Disease & Can be Reversed Using Arthritis Herbal Treatments

What Is Arthritis?

Arthritis is a devastating, painful and degenerative disease of the joints that affects over 75% of all people over the age of 65. In the U.S. alone it is estimated that there are between 37 to 50 million people who suffer with some degree of arthritis.

The vast majority of arthritis sufferers have osteoarthritis which is a chronic, aggressive joint disease. This disease causes cartilage and other joint tissue to deteriorate. Cartilage begins to wear down, and slowly deteriorates to the point to which the surrounding bones begin to rub against each other making a cracking or grating noise. Severe pain and swelling often result, as well as limited movement of the joint.

When compared to arthritis herbal treatments and natural supplements, many doctors prescribe medication to ease the pain and this only serves to make the disease even worse. In fact cortisone (and other steroids) can actually speed up the rate of loss of cartilage. It gets worse - temporary pain relief without rebuilding the joint allows you to move the joint which in turn causes more pain and damage - a lose, lose situation!

There are more than 100 different types of arthritis, and each has its own characteristic symptoms and its own course. Depending on the specific condition and how severe it is, arthritis can interfere with even the most ordinary activities, such as walking, dressing or bathing.

Most medical doctors will tell you that the causes are multiple and unknown, however the truth is that it is caused by a complex of nutritional deficiencies - which can of course be reversed in many cases.

Note - in the case of Rheumatoid arthritis the cause is most likely to be an infection by a bacteria and in addition to the natural and herbal arthritis treatments listed here, a simple antibiotic treatment such as minocycline prescribed by your doctor will help.

At the same time, bone spurs begin to appear at the same joints - all signs of a calcium deficiency and also an early warning signal of osteoporosis.

Prevention - A Natural Remedy for Arthritis

In addition to arthritis herbal treatments and supplements, a healthy lifestyle is essential as a natural remedy and for the prevention of arthritis. Following a few basic steps is an important part of providing a natural remedy. Here's what you can do right NOW:

o Make sure you have a well balanced diet with plenty of green leafy vegetables, fresh fruit, eggs and dairy products - these contain minerals, vitamins and amino acids essential for health.

o Exercise - particularly 'weight-bearing exercises' - many studies all agree that a small amount of regular weight bearing exercise can assist.

o Reduce the amount of meat, processed foods and carbonated drinks in your diet - these are all high in phosphorous and this causes calcium to be lost.

o Stop smoking and reduce your intake of alcohol, caffeine and sugar - they limit your absorption of nutrients.

o Supplement - you need to supplement with a good source of calcium and other minerals along with vitamins and essential fatty acids.
You will make progress by supplementing with all 90 Essential Nutrients and an additional liquid calcium/magnesium supplement.

o Arthritis herbal treatments and cartilage supplements like glucosamine & chondroitin are required to assist with repair and rebuilding of the cartilage.

Arthritis Herbal Treatments & Supplements

To treat and reverse arthritis you need to follow the prevention guidelines and use arthritis herbal treatments and supplements.

You cannot expect natural cures for arthritis to take a few days. The disease is progressive and degenerative and has been present for quite some time - however the good news is that these treatments work. The process will take from between two weeks to three months (2 to 3 months if you are older and/or suffer any problems with absorption)or don't take these nutrients in adequate amounts.

Arthritis Health Supplements:

o Minerals - supplement with a good source of calcium and minerals. Liquid is always best and only in a form which is organic and highly absorbable (plant derived colloidal minerals); minerals required include copper, magnesium, selenium and zinc and many trace minerals such as manganese and boron - plant derived colloidal minerals are the best source

o Highly Absorbable Multi-Vitamins - Vitamins B6, D and E are required to build strong bones and vitamins C and E are required to build bone matrix and joints.

o Essential fatty acids from fish oil are also important for reducing the inflammation and rebuilding the fluid used to cushion the joints.

o Amino acids are involved in the construction of collagen and cartilage and you can find them in the multi-vitamin supplements we recommend.

o Liquid calcium/magnesium supplements are required for the support of healthy bones and joints - liquids are always more absorbable than tablets.

o For pain relief, Cetyl Myristoleate Cream - a natural cream produced from essential fatty acids has been clinically proven to relieve pain and improve mobility.

Natural Pain Relief and Repair of Damaged Cartilage

o Two other arthritis supplements involved in rebuilding cartilage are glucosamine and chondroitin.

Clinical studies around the world have shown that supplements containing glucosamine and chondroitin provide a natural remedy for arthritis and help the body build and repair damaged or eroded cartilage as well as reduce pain and inflammation. Gelatin is a natural form of collagen and when combined with glucosamine will be much more effective than glucosamine on its own.

o MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) & CM (Cetyl Myristoleate) - these two arthritis herbal treatments have shown in clinical and scientific trials to promote the repair of cartilage, relief of joint pain and related discomfort and significantly improve the mobility people suffering arthritis.

Pain relief and freedom of movement is a fundamental part of the natural remedy and cure for arthritis. Ease of movement is essential to keep the joint healthy and in time, the vitamin, mineral and cartilage arthritis herbal treatments and supplements will actually rebuild and repair the damage. A Win-Win situation!

Discovering an Alternative Osteoarthritis Treatment That Will Work

Osteoarthritis treatment can be as complex as the condition itself. Frequently, the response of doctors is prescribe NSAID drugs to address the pain of osteoarthritis; however, it is quite important to note that this damage that osteoarthritis can do to joints can be so great that joint replacement surgery can become necessary. Addressing the pain and potential consequences of osteoarthritis are of paramount importance.

First it is necessary to highlight the fact that losing weight and eating a healthy diet can play an important role in addressing osteoarthritis in general. Losing weight means less stress on the joints, and that can translate into improving your osteoarthritis symptoms and associated pain.

We know that bad food choices can impact health, and this counts for osteoarthritis as well. Foods that cause inflammation, such as processed foods, fast foods and foods from the "nightshade" category of plants should be off limits. These include tomatoes and eggplants among others. In general, a diet rich in most fruits and vegetables will help improve health, add to weight loss and may decrease osteoarthritis inflammation as well.

Discovering alternative approaches for osteoarthritis treatment is one part experimentation and one part giving alternative approaches the necessary time to take effect. Anti-inflammatory drugs work well and they work quickly, but the long term effects of using such drugs should give one pause. Alternative and natural approaches might take longer, but there is far less concern attached with using these approaches.

The spice ginger has long been valued for its ability to reduce inflammation. Spices were amongst the most valued of possessions in the ancient world and for good reason. Spices and herbs were the medicine of the ancient world, and their health benefits were firmly established in the minds of our ancestors. Today, medical research has varied that many spices do indeed have powerful health benefits.

Ginger can be consumed in a surprising number of ways. Ginger tea is, of course, very common and stands as one of the single most consumed beverages in the world. Ginger root can easily be incorporated into a diverse number of meals, and it can also be used to make fresh tea.

In addition to teas and use in meals, ginger is well suited to pill form and is sold as a means of helping with inflammation. Quite often ginger is paired or suggested to be paired with the other great natural anti-inflammatory agent, turmeric. Together these two spices can achieve impressive results.

It should also be noted that ginger and turmeric are two of the most widely used spices and both are considered quite safe. Give these natural options time to work, and you will likely find that they do help provide at least some relief and assistance with your osteoarthritis treatment.

Is Meat Bad for Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Meat and Rheumatoid Arthritis

I am a previous sufferer of Rheumatoid Arthritis so I know how horrible the disease can be and how difficult life becomes during those terrible years. I explain in my natural cure for rheumatoid arthritis book how to go about eliminating the underlying cause of the disease by taking out of your diet the foods that are most offensive to the digestive system and overall inflammation in the body. One of the worst offenders is meat.

Most people love meat and consider it the main part of every meal. They also believe it is essential to the diet to be healthy and strong, providing beneficial protein, iron, energy and nutrients. The truth is, meat is not essential to human wellbeing whatsoever and any positive benefits it offers can be easily obtained from plant sources, without all the negative side effects that meat holds.

There are many downsides to meat from the point of view of an RA sufferer:

Meat, including fish, is very high in fat as a percentage of calories.

Animal meat contains no dietary fiber. Our healthy bacteria need to eat plant fiber, whilst unwanted pathogens thrive on animal waste. In addition, fiber is key for steady, regular stools that are easy to pass. I've found that it makes no sense to have a substantial part of my meal that contains no dietary fiber when I've found fiber such a key component to getting well.

Carbohydrates are easier to digest than meat, thus relieving workload off a stomach that is currently under stress.

Proteins are acid-forming since they are composed entirely of amino acids. (More on amino acids below). The most acidifying for the body are the sulfur-containing amino acids which break down to sulfuric acid. These sulfur-containing amino acids are most abundant in animal products like meat, chicken, fish and eggs. In fact, meat contains 4 times the amount of the highly acidifying sulfur-containing amino acids than any vegetable-based protein. You might remember from chemistry in school that to neutralize an acid you need a base. The body neutralizes the acids from these animal products using the most effective base that it has - calcium. The calcium gets withdrawn from the bones and is used to offset these acids. Through this process the bones are weakened, resulting in osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.

There are also several valid arguments put forward by others, which are non-specific to RA, but worth knowing also for your overall health and wellbeing:

Animal proteins (including all animal products like milk, cheese and all dairy products) are linked to other chronic diseases, including the top 3 killers of Heart Disease, Cancer and Diabetes. (By the way, the fourth biggest killer in the US behind these is prescription medicine, and that is taking the medicine as prescribed!) By eliminating all animal-based foods from his diet for 4 days my Dad was able to reduce his blood pressure from 160/110 to 127/78. This kind of express improvement is unheard of in Western medicine, yet entirely predictable and repeatable when you understand the effects of foods on the body. Why eat something that contributes to other diseases when you're already dealing with a damn tough condition already? Animal proteins develop fat cells on the body, by creating store houses for the over acidity that the body is trying to cope with. The fat you eat is fat you keep.

Animal foods are high in cholesterol. Nobody wants that in their bloodstream. There is zero cholesterol in plant-based foods.

Animal products contain uric acid, the excess of which is behind arthritic conditions like gout. There is an incredible testimonial in my book Natural Cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis book about a man with gout who followed the program and eliminated all pain in 1 week.

Not eating animal foods is the single biggest thing that can be done to help the environment (a whole book called 'Diet for the New America' is all about this. It's got to do with the amount of land and resources required to produce animal food vs. the tiny fraction required to produce the equivalent calories via plant-based foods). If everyone only ate plant-based foods our world would be an extraordinarily different place.

A plant-based diet is non-violent, upholding the Commandment of 'thou shall not kill'.

Meat tastes bad. Seriously! Try eating it without ketchup, without mustard, without salt or any seasoning whatsoever. Just a plain bit of animal muscle without seasoning. Good luck.

It's worth noting that I have no pre-existing prejudice towards eating meat. I grew up on a farm where steak was on my plate at least once a day. In fact, I was very reluctant to stop eating meat and I only did so once I reviewed the truth about meat and observed the benefits that a meat-free diet had on my body.

Everyone is concerned about getting another source of protein. Westerners seem to have a love affair with protein that borders on obsession. The truth is, protein is just a combination of building blocks called 'Amino Acids' which combine together in various permutations to create various forms of proteins. Think of this in exactly the same way that all words in the English language are put together from various combinations of letters of the alphabet. There are 20 different amino acids that are the building blocks for protein. Plants (and some bacteria) can manufacture all of these amino acids and therefore make 'complete' proteins. However, humans can only manufacture 12 of the amino acids without food, so we require the other 8 in our diet. These 8 amino acids are called 'essential' amino acids, referring to 'essential to our diet'. Plants contain these 8 essential amino acids in abundance.

Obviously, feel free to keep eating meat if you want, I'm not your Mother. I can't tell you what to do, but the evidence is strong towards omitting it and I'd be omitting it soon. Does now sound like a good time? I don't expect you will cure yourself of Rheumatoid Arthritis if you keep meat in your diet. Nor, for that matter, dairy products...but that's another story (or Ezine Article!).

Information About Joint Pain

The stiffness in the joints or excruciating pain that appears after sitting down in one place for too long is attributed to a host of possible causes that bring about joint pain. This condition, which only worsens as we age, can affect one or more joints at the same time. Some individuals may also suffer from muscle discomfort and inflamed joints caused by arthritis or bursitis. Overall, this is a common occurrence that has people searching for reasons why they feel pain in their joints, exploring their joint health, and looking for immediate pain relief.

Common Causes of Joint Pain

There are many injuries and conditions that can bring about joint pain, but no matter the reasoning, some sufferers experience pain that is just simply too great to endure on a everyday basis. In some extreme yet common cases, these people are forced to stop the activities they love, in hopes that it will reduce the chances of them suffering from excruciating joint pain. Arthritis commonly affects joint health, including rheumatoid arthritis - an autoimmune disorder that brings pain and stiffness to the joints.

When bone spurs develop or a reduction in cartilage at the joint appears, osteoarthritis is the result, which is quite common in adults older than 45 years of age. Joint pain is a typical symptom of this. Bursitis causes the fluid-filled sacs responsible for cushioning and padding protruding bones to become inflamed. The muscles and tendons no longer move as freely across the bone as they once did, which causes it.

Joint pain can also be caused by any form of strains, sprains, or a fracture caused to the bones, these in some cases cause tendinitis. Other causes of poor joint health are infectious diseases, like influenza, measles, hepatitis, mumps, chickenpox, Lyme disease, and the German measles (rubella).

A Visit to the Doctors

While some joint pain is fleeting, other circumstances call for the attention of a doctor. When a fever arises (which is not linked to the flu), an unexplainable loss of 10 pounds, or joint pain lasts for more than three days - it is suggested to make an appointment to see a physician. A doctor will ask you which joints hurt and if the pain is on one side or both. They will ask how long you have noticed the pain and if it is reoccurring. As you describe your pain, they may ask if it was sudden, intense, slow growing, or mild. They may suggest resting techniques or exercises to ease symptoms. A few tests are associated with treating it, such as a CBC or joint x-ray. Physical therapy or joint rehabilitation is sometimes suggested, where home care measures become significant as well.

The Importance of Home Care

In order to achieve satisfying pain relief, one must embrace the many different measures of available home care. In addition to following prescribed therapies that treat the source of joint pain, it is suggested to consider the following techniques: warm baths, massage, stretching exercises, rest, light exercise, as well as medications and supplements that provide pain relief and reduce swelling. The market is additionally saturated with an assortment of products (like Flex Protex Capsules), which are aimed at easing the symptoms, as well as improving overall joint health.

Natural and Organic Arthritis Pain Relief

Arthritis is a joint disorder featuring inflammation. A joint is an area of the body where two different bones meet. A joint functions to move the body parts connected by its bones. Arthritis literally means inflammation of one or more joints. Arthritis is frequently accompanied by joint pain. Joint pain is referred to as arthralgia and that is when pain relief formulas.

An arthritis or joint pain is caused mainly due to suppression of digestive fire. This results in poor digestion,which leads to accumulation of undigested wastes in the body resulting in buildup of waste matter. The toxins reach different parts of body and get accumulated at joints. The disease term arthritis is looks like the singular in number but the disease is comprised of more than 100 distinct conditions and can affect people at any stage of the life.

The two most common form of arthritis pain are Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis with the symptoms like back or hip pain, knee pain, arm pain, wrist pain and pain or inflammation of other areas as well. This is when one looks to get relief from low back pain or over painful joint problems.

Arthritis suffers include man, woman, children and adults. The statistics shows that there are more than 350 million people have been victimized by the disease arthritis world wide. Among the US population there the figure reaches to 40 million people are affected by this disease and the ¼ of them is children. Depending on the disease they the have more than 21 million people suffer from Osteoarthritis and 2.1 million people have the symptom and advance stage of the disease Rheumatoid arthritis. The women are struggling a lot with more than 60% of mark.

There are many different types that affect different parts of the body. Some of those are:

Tendinitis – targets tendons

Sclerodermal – thickening of the skin and connective tissue

Fibromyalgia – muscles will be sore and tender to the touch

Articular or joint types of arthritis – gout and lupus, tend to be the most painful

Osteoarthritis- Osteoarthritis is mainly caused by the break down and the eventual loss of the cartilages. The cartilage is the protein substance that provides the cushion for the bones to avoid the friction of rubbing while working. Work related repetitive injury and the physical trauma are the main cause for getting affected by Osteoarthritis.

This type of arthritis mainly affects hand, wrist, knee and spine. One of the main and unique reasons of developing Osteoarthritis is the age.

Rheumatoid Arthritis- Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes the chronic inflammation of the joints. Patients with autoimmune diseases have the antibodies in their blood and target their own tissues and this will be associated with inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis can cause inflammation in the tissue around the joints and can affect other organs like hearts, blood.

Omega-3 fatty acid, Gamma-linolenic Acid, Boswellia and Devil’s claw are the renowned natural and organic arthritis products [http://www.arthroleve.com/athletes.php] along with the other most effective chemical based medication.

How I Stay Active While Living With Arthritis

Born with dysplasia in my left hip that was not discovered until I was 18 months old I am no stranger to pain in my hip. When my dysplasia was made known I underwent multiple surgeries which resulted in a hip joint being formed for me out of bone grafts from my femur. At two years old I spent two weeks in traction and months in body casts. Since that time I stubbornly moved in ways my doctor originally never thought was possible. I danced from age 3 - 18 when I was told I would have to stop or get a hip replacement. Then I took up running, and while I did it with a bit of a limp, I thought of myself as the little runner that could, and my determination took me over quite a few finish lines. I've now had to stop running because I have been told I have no cartilage left in my hip and am living with severe osteoarthritis. The pain is bad and I will be getting a hip replacement soon. However, I have not stopped being active and I whole heartedly believe that staying active keeps my pain level down and hip as healthy as it can be.

Before I was living with severe arthritis I had an image of arthritis as being a completely debilitating illness that only happens to the elderly. This is not my experience. Yes, there are days when the pain is all consuming but for the most part I am able to maintain my activity level as long as I pay attention to my limitations and work with my pain management strategies. I have heard countless times how important it is to stay as active as possible while living with arthritis to maintain strength and mobility in the joint.

I would like to share with you eight strategies to stay active while living with osteoarthritis:

1) Let pain be your guide - this is very important and a lesson I have learned the hard way one too many times. If you feel like you are doing more harm than good then it is time to stop.

2) Choose activities that have a low to moderate impact on your affected joint - Swimming is always a good option but if you need something with a bit more intensity try yoga, cycling, spin, or kettlebell. Try new things until you find something that works for you.

3) Ice that joint - part of what causes the pain is inflammation in the joint. By icing the joint after exercise you are helping to keep any inflammation down that may have been caused by exercise.

4) Apply heat to the muscle - if you are living with arthritis you know that it is not just the joint that causes you pain. Often the muscles around the joint carry a lot of tension which can cause significant pain. By applying heat either with a hot water bottle or in a hot bath you can help to relax some of those muscles (my favorite is an Epsom salt bath).

5) Always stretch - stretching is important for everyone but especially for those of us living with arthritis.

6) Modify - it is important to work within and acknowledge your own limitations. Find ways to make exercises work for you and don't be afraid to ask a trainer or instructor for help with this.

7) Try not to get discouraged (especially if you are just getting into exercise) - Building strength and flexibility takes time, especially if you are living with arthritis, be patient with yourself.

8) Have fun - while it can feel like it, exercise shouldn't be a chore. You are far more likely to stick with it if you are having fun so find something that you enjoy.

As with anything, it is important that you find an exercise routine that works for you within your own limitations but I hope these pointers can help you stay on the path to fitness and joint health.

Tips on Overcoming Chronic Fatigue Symptoms

Fatigue is a condition wherein a person experiences exhaustion and lack of energy possibly due to sleep deficiency, infection or overexertion. Since this is a fairly normal and common condition, most adults have experienced fatigue at least once in their lifetime. However, a person who continues to suffer from severe fatigue for an extended period of time of at least six months maybe affected by a more serious condition known as chronic fatigue.

Most people who are afflicted with chronic fatigue usually suffer from a more serious condition, which includes fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue immunodeficiency syndrome, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.

In order for us to know how to beat chronic fatigue, we first need to look into what causes this condition. Here are the most common reasons why people suffer from chronic fatigue:

Infections

Some viral and bacterial infection could cause chronic fatigue. Most athletes are more susceptible to such a condition when suffering from an infection as a result of heavy training and exertion. However, chronic fatigue usually disappears once the infection is fully cured or treated.

Over-training

People who put their minds and bodies to the extreme usually suffer from chronic fatigue. Since athletes endure rigorous training and practice, they are the ones who usually experience chronic fatigue due to over training and exertion.

Depression and anxiety

Some experts link chronic fatigue to psychological disorders. Thus, people who suffer from severe anxiety and depression are the ones who are also stricken by chronic fatigue.

Dehydration

Many people do not pay attention to their daily water intake because they are not aware that dehydration could have long-term side effects, such as chronic fatigue, on their bodies and even their performance.

Eating disorders

The likelihood for people who have eating disorders, such as bulimia and anorexia, of suffering from chronic fatigue in the future is very high. Lack of proper nutrition is one of the causes of chronic fatigue, and people with anorexia and bulimia surely have inadequate supply of vitamins and minerals in their bodies.

Now that you know the common causes of fatigue, we should now start discussing the ways in which we could beat chronic fatigue. Follow the tips enumerated below and you will surely be able to manage such debilitating and long-lasting fatigue symptoms:

Eat a balanced and healthy diet

Food that is high in sugar and fat usually makes us feel sluggish and lethargic. Hence, prolonged intake of food that is high in sugar and fat could eventually result in the development of chronic fatigue and other serious diseases.

If you want to stay healthy and energetic, you need to increase your intake of fruits and vegetables. To ensure that you have a steady supply of energy through the day, do not skip breakfast. Instead of eating three full meals, go for small but frequent eating.

Live a stress-free life

Figures from a research group in Sweden found that there is a close connection between stress and development of chronic fatigue later in life. Thus, if you don't want to suffer from chronic fatigue in the future, you need to bring your stress levels down.

One of the ways to beat stress is to look for what is causing it. Marital or family problems could stress you out, so you need to find a way to remedy your problem with your mother, wife, husband or children.

For many people, work is their major stressor. Proper time management, ability to delegate tasks properly, and learning to deal with difficult colleagues are surefire ways to manage your stress from work. If you feel that you can no longer manage stress alone, you can solicit the help of your family, friends, or even a counselor.

Exercise regularly

Couch potatoes and people with sedentary lifestyles often develop chronic fatigue. Your body, particularly your heart, needs regular physical activities to make them perform at their peak. Moreover, exercise could help increase your energy levels naturally, because it aids in proper circulation.

Exercise does not only help in relieving tension, it also aids in releasing endorphins, a feel-good chemical, which generally reduces stress, increase pleasure and lessen pain.

Try alternative and natural remedies

You should not be afraid to try new things that could help you relax and make your body more energetic and stronger. Treat yourself to reflexology massage to help you relax and improve blood circulation.

If you are a little adventurous, you can try acupuncture. This is an ancient medical science practiced in China and the orient. Acupuncture helps in improving the flow of your chi and increase mental and physical strength.

Meditation and aromatherapy are good ways to bring your stress levels down. These methods could also give you inner peace and help you relax after a demanding day.