Natural Arthritis Cure?
Posted by jenniferhughes on Aug 06, 2007 · Member since Aug 2006 · 1828 posts
My mom is looking for a natural arthritis cure/help...
Along these lines does anyone know of foods that I can mention to her that exacerbate the problem?
I've had corrosive rheumatoid arthritis for 12 years and early on, I tried eliminating different foods from my diet. I found no change in the condition regardless of what I was eating. It is my understanding that food related allergies are rarely the cause of arthritis. There is a lot of contradictory information out there and it is hard to know whether dietary changes will help in a given situation.
Here is a link that may provide some information.
http://www.arthritis.ca/tips%20for%20living/eating%20healthy/diet%20cause/default.asp?s=1
I've heard a lot of good things about MSM (methyl sulfonyl methane). It's a natural sulfur supplement. Google James Coburn and MSM together to read about the claims he made about it. He was crippled in a wheelchair and using MSM apparently had him pain-free in a short time. He preached about the stuff for the rest of his life.
Cherry juice, SAM-e, Omega-3 fatty acids, Bromelain (in turmeric preparations), Devil's Claw, low-impact exercise (like swimming) might help.
I've read that there isn't any research that implies that particular foods exacerbate arthritis pain.
I'm not propagating use of illegal substances ;D, but, some pot brownies would probably be OK for her to find a little relief. Umm, a friend of mine told me that it works for many, many things when "conventional" medicines fail. Just google a recipe or two to make sure she doesn't get too much and have a less than comfortable experience. Or, my friend also told me, you can have her smoke a little and it'll do the same thing. Just an idea.
It would be helpful to know whether your mother has rheumatoid or osteo arthritis. They have different causes and different treatments. Don't overlook the emotional component of any disease. I know of people who have cured their auto-immune disorders (ie-rheumatoid arthritis) through emotional release, acupuncture and herbs. For people who have tried everything western medicine and herbs have to offer the emotional realm is a good place to explore. There are a couple of good authors on this subject- Carolyn Myss,PhD (The Anatomy of Spirit or Why People Don't Heal and How They Can) and Louise Hay.
As for herbs... for osteoarthritis glucosamine and MSM are both helpful but remember that not all supplements are created equal. I have had very good results with people I have recommended a product called Joint Health formula from www.integratedhealth.com. It contains glucosamine and MSM but also tumeric, ginger and other nutrients needed to reduce inflammation and heal bones and cartilage. Also, the plant enzymes bromelain and papain (from pineapple and papaya) are good anti-inflammatories if taken on an empty stomach. Also, Integratedhealth.com sells this very interesting device that emits pulsed electromagnetic fields that I have heard and seen nothing but excellent results from. It's called EM-Pulse and is under the healing tools page. I don't have pain issues so can't give you any first-hand experience but I do have friends who are athletes who swear by it (one even became a distributor he was so impressed) and have used it on patients. Used in combination with the Joint Health Formula this has worked really well for people with chronic tendonitis or other chronic joint issues. Oh, and the EM-Pulse has a 30 day money back guarantee if it doesn't work for your mother.
Traditional Chinese medicine has alot to offer for people with pain and chronic conditions. Again, not all acupuncturists are equal and not all prescribe herbal formulas. I would choose one who treats with herbs. The idea with TCM is to get at the root of the problem. As an acupuncturist, I have seen people finally find relief from these kinds of conditions and have amazing results with chinese herbs. One classmate who had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis was completely cured of this crippling ailment through acupuncture and herbs and had no problems with her joints from what I could see.
Some people with arthritis do well when eliminating eating plants from the nightshade family such as tomatos, potatos and peppers but this doesn't work for all. I would definitely eliminate dairy, wheat and sugar. Some food allergies can cause joint pain.
So, there's hope! I hope this helps give you some ideas.