Arthritis

ARTHRITIS-PART 1

 

There are two types of arthritis, which most people generally refer to as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. 

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects not just the joints but also the entire body. The joints involved are typically the knees, ankles, wrists and feet. In the population 1-3% is affected, females outnumber males almost 3:1 and most common ages of onset are between 20-40 years of age. 

Osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease is the most common form of arthritis. Eighty percent of the population over the age of 50 has osteoarthritis. It is more common in men under the age of 45, and over 45 it is ten times more likely to affect women. The weight bearing joints and the joints of the hands are most commonly affected. 

Specifically there is much cartilage destruction, followed by hardening, and the formation of large bone spurs in the joint margins. Deformity, pain, and limitation of motion in the joint results. 

In one study of osteoarthritis 31 selected patients with the disease where left untreated and no therapy applied to allow for normal progression over a 10-year period. All subjects had tissue changes suggesting advanced osteoarthritis, yet the researchers reported marked clinical and radiological improvement in the joint spaces of 14 out of 31 hips. As I will point out further in this article, the results of this study as well as others suggest that medical intervention promotes disease progression. 

In most patients osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis occur simultaneously. Therefore standard medical treatment is similar. Aspirin is the first drug prescribed to arthritis sufferers to relieve the pain and inflammation. A number of people self-administer their therapeutic dosage.

However since the therapeutic dosage is very high, tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and gastric irritation are common signs of overmedication. It is unfortunately common to induce a peptic ulcer by continual overuse of aspirin. 

The second most commonly prescribe arthritic drugs are called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). 

These include: 

 

·         Ibuprofen (brufen, Motrin)

·         Celebrex

 

·         Fenoprofen

 

·         Indocid

 

·         Naproxin

 

·         Tolectin

 

·         Clinoril

 

These drugs have common side effects, which limit their usage to only short periods of time. These include gastrointestinal upset, headaches and dizziness. 
One shared side effect of aspirin and NSAIDs is that they suppress the body's natural healing mechanisms by inhibiting collagen matrix repair and thus actually accelerating the rate of tissue destruction. 

The two drugs I have mentioned already are considered conservative therapy. If conservative therapy doesn't prove beneficial then more aggressive therapy is commonly administered. Gold salt injections aid about sixty percent of patients, but severe side effects occurs in nearly one third of patients. D-penicillamine and hydroxychloroquine are often prescribed but benefit does not substantiate toxicity. Corticosteroids are often used to treat acute worsening of disease, but this a very powerful anti-inflammatory drug and has insidious side effects. The last therapy is joint surgery and replacement, which is reserved for the most severe cases. 

In most cases dietary changes can cause substantial benefits in arthritic conditions. It is a known fact that arthritis is not found in societies that eat a more 'primitive diet'. A diet high in whole foods, vegetables and fibre and low in sugar, meat, refined carbohydrates and saturated fats, will not only prevent and treat arthritis but it will also help your pocketbook. 

An elderly patient of mine once stated: 
"Doctor you made it so I can't afford to have arthritis anymore. Instead of suffering while sitting at home and eating expensive meat and refined foods, I now have the energy and money to go out and do the things I used to like to do." 

There seems to be more and more scientific papers showing the connections between arthritis and diet. In rheumatoid arthritis there is substantial evidence that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) sufferers have an increased intestinal permeability to dietary and bacterial antigens (markers) as well as changes in bacterial flora. This altered permeability and bacterial flora could result in the absorption of antigens that are very similar to antigens in joint tissue. Antibodies formed to bind these antigens, which would then react to joint tissue as well. This results in inflammation and joint tissue destruction. 

There are good fats that inhibit inflammation and tissue destruction and there are bad fats that do the opposite. Bad fats, specifically arachidonic acid, are found almost entirely in animal sources such as meat (red meat being the worst) and dairy products. 

Good fats can be found in: 

 

·         Vegetarian Diets (nuts, seeds, sea vegetables, healthy oils)

 

·         In coldwater fish such as mackerel, herring, sardines and salmon

 

They are rich sources of good fats that decrease inflammation and tissue destruction. Consumption of cod liver oil is especially good taken regularly. As shown in one study individuals who had supplemented their diet with cod liver oil showed major clinical improvement. 

Not only does meat increase inflammation it also has a high phosphorus to calcium ratio, up to 40x more phosphorus, which can be the cause of other damaging changes in the body over a period of time. In our body, the four small glands that sit on top of our thyroid gland are called parathyroid glands. Their function is to monitor and adjust calcium to phosphorus ratios in the blood. 

When too much phosphorus is consumed in the diet the body will compensate by having the parathyroid release a hormone that stimulates cells called osteoclasts in the bones to mobilize calcium to balance the ratio in the blood. When this is done over a long period of time osteoporosis results. Since there is also inflammation in arthritis, calcium is the major mineral that the body deposits to try to repair itself after inflammation. This results in the formation of lipping, spurring and osteophytes so commonly seen physically and on x-ray in arthritis sufferers. 

Sugars and sweets should be avoided always as they also increase inflammation by increasing platelet aggregation or clotting leading to cell stickiness. This increased inflammation contributes to increased tissue destruction. 

Food allergies when eliminated have been shown to offer significant benefit to some individuals with rheumatoid arthritis. Virtually any food can aggravate rheumatoid arthritis but the most common offenders are wheat, corn, milk (and other dairy products), beef and the nightshade family of foods (tomato, tobacco, eggplants, potato and peppers). 

For the most positive results the above foods should be strictly avoided as well as alcohol, refined sugars, and citrus fruits (except for lemons). 
Beneficial foods for arthritis sufferers are: 

 

·         Alfalfa Sprouts

 

·         Avocado

 

·         Dark Berries

 

·         Brown Rice

 

·         Horsetail

 

·         Celery

 

·         Cherries or Black Cherry juice

 

·         Cod Liver Oil or fatty fish

 

·         Dandelion

 

·         Free range Eggs

 

·         Figs

 

·         Garlic

 

·         Tumeric/curcumin

 

·         Ginger

 

·         Green Vegetables

 

·         Kale

 

·         Kelp

 

·         Millet

 

·         Molasses

 

·         Onions

 

·         Papaya

 

·         Parsley

 

·         Pecans

 

·         Seaweeds

 

·         Seeds

 

·         Soy Products (organic)

 

·         Watercress

 

With some of the above recommendations individuals may easily help themselves! However self help can be costly and time consuming, leaving you with an inaccurate idea of how effective natural therapeutics can be. If you want successful long lasting results and want them reasonably quickly consult your local Naturopathic Doctor. Tracey Folkard is highly trained to diagnose your condition and to set up an individualized therapeutic regime prescribing the appropriate therapies

 

ARTHRITIS-PART 2

 

In the first part of this article I summarized how current allopathic (modern medical) treatment and diet contributes to the arthritis disease condition. In this article I will cover various natural therapeutics as they relate to the treatment of arthritis. 

There are two types of arthritis, which are generally referred to as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). 

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects not just the joints, but also the entire body. The joints involved are typically the knees, ankles, wrists and feet. In the population 1-3% is affected, females outnumber males almost 3:1 and most common ages of onset are between 20-40 years of age. 

Osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease is the most common form of arthritis. Eighty percent of the population over the age of 50 has osteoarthritis. It is more common in men under the age of 45, and over 45 it is ten times more likely to affect women. The weight bearing joints and the joints of the hands are most commonly affected. Specifically there is much cartilage destruction, followed by hardening, and the formation of large bone spurs in the joint margins. Deformity, pain, and limitation of motion in the joint results. Various natural therapies have proven effective over time. In the following I will explain how western botanical medicines, Chinese medicines, homeopathy, and nutritional supplementation can support the body in rectifying RA and OA. 

Many botanical medicines possess significant anti-inflammatory action and are appropriate in the treatment of RA and OA. 

Devils claw(Harpagophytum procumbens) has been tested in several pharmacological studies in animals and clinical trials in humans. It has demonstrated an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect similar to the drug phenylbutazone. In addition to relieving joint pain, serum cholesterol and uric acid were also reduced. 

Chinese skullcap(Scutellaria baicalensis) has anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory properties; similar in effect to the prescription drugs phenylbutazone and indomethacin. However these drugs have known toxicity problems and adverse effects. Chinese skullcap has no adverse effects at therapeutic levels. 

Chinese thoroughwax(Bupleuri falcatum) is a commonly used Chinese herb to decrease inflammation. Recently it has been discovered that by administering Chinese thoroughwax with corticosteroid drugs the drug action is highly augmented. Chinese thoroughwax contains an active ingredient called saikosaponins which prevent adrenal gland atrophy so common among corticosteroid users. Bupleuri saikosaponins also prevent liver damage, improve liver function, lower cholesterol and has mild sedative pain relieving action. 

Feverfew(Tanacetum Parthenium) has proven effective in the treatment of fever migraines and arthritis. Researchers have shown Feverfew to have greater activity than aspirin in inhibiting inflammation. 

Cherries, hawthorn berries and bilberries are rich sources of flavenoid molecules that exhibit collagen stabilizing, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory actions. It is therefore highly indicated in both RA and OA. 

Yucca has demonstrated significant effect in reducing bacterial byproducts in the intestinal flora that would depress the formation of cartilage. Making it highly recommended in the treatment of osteoarthritis. 

Many other western botanical medicines (herbs) have been researched and documented as being effective in treating both RA and OA. 

Some other herbs include: 

 

·         Licorice

 

·         Curcumin

 

·         Korean Ginseng

 

·         Siberian Ginseng

 

·         Bogbean

 

·         Cayenne

 

·         Black Willow

 

·         Ginger

and many others 

Western botanical medicines are administered in a holistic way, having primary as well as secondary actions. It is in determining both the primary and secondary actions that need to be addressed that western botanical medicines are able to prove their true effectiveness. 

Chinese medical philosophy is based on thousands of years of trial and error in trying to understand the inner workings of the human body from outside the body. The Chinese had to guess at the existence of different organs and the functions which they perform. The Chinese system of medicine is a holistic model of medicine because it focuses on interrelatedness. One organ is interrelated with other body parts, emotions and environmental conditions. So if there is problem with these body parts there is a corresponding problem with the organ with which they are associated. The joints are associated with the liver in Chinese medicine. 

The Chinese also have a concept of environmental conditions called external disease factors that invade the body. These include the wind (which are symptoms that come and go and move about), cold (symptoms that are worse by cold and usually have pain), heat (symptoms that are worse by heat, and can have pain), dampness (symptoms that are worse by dampness and usually have swelling), and dryness. In Chinese medicine OA and RA is called Bi-syndrome (meaning obstruction) caused by external disease factors (wind, dampness, cold and heat) penetrating the joints. 

The Chinese have noted that certain herbs have wind alleviating properties, others cold alleviating by being warm, others damp alleviating by being dry,etc. Bi-syndrome usually presents as being a combination of external disease factors, such as: wind-cold, damp-heat, wind-cold-damp, etc. Depending how the individual presented the Chinese herbal prescription or acupuncture catered to the uniqueness of that individual. 

Homeopathy as a system of medicine has been around for two hundred years, it was discovered by a German physician Samuel Hahnemann. One hundred years ago it was at its prime in North America, 20-25% of all physicians identified themselves as being homeopaths. 

Homeopathy is based on the law of "like cures like". Two hundred years ago a number of normal healthy individuals took toxic dosages of certain substances and developed symptoms, it is based on these symptoms that this remedy was administered to a diseased person to cure. Homeopathic medicines are not crude drugs they are diluted substances that when administered to the right individual possess incredible healing powers. In the treatment of arthritis whether it be rheumatoid or osteo, the therapy is dependent on the persons symptoms. 

The rhus toxicondron individual has rheumatic complaints that are worse in cold damp weather, worse at night, better from heat, better from motion of the affected parts, but they are worse from first motion. The individual is very restless both mentally and physically. 

Bryonia alba arthritis sufferers are opposite those of Rhus toxicondron. They are worse from any motion, worse from heat and better with firm pressure. Personality wise they are likened to a grumpy bear. 

Pulsatilla nigrans has wandering pains, better with slow movement, the patient is weepy, thirstless, craves the open air and craves rich food but their arthritic complaints are worse from eating them. 

The above listed are just a few, there are over fifty homeopathic medicines that could be used to rectify this condition depending on how the individual presents. 

Numerous supplements are indicated as being therapeutic in cases of RA and OA. 

These include: 

 

o    Selenium

 

o    Vitamin E

 

o    Zinc

 

o    Manganese

 

o    Silica

 

o    Vitamin D

 

o    Essential Fatty Acids

 

o    Vitamin C

 

o    Hydrochloric acid To Increase Stomach Acidity

 

o    Proteolytic Enzymes To Act As Anti-Inflammatory Agents

 

o    Flavonoids

 

o    Tryptophan

 

o    Niacinamide

 

o    Lysine