Easing the Pain of Arthritis Naturally

Earl Mindell

Description

Dr. Mindell presents safe, easy-to-use strategies to help readers achieve optimum health and relief from the discomfort of arthritis. This book features a special 'arthritis-busting' diet to cleanse the body of toxins that contribute to joint diseases and introduces superfoods for alleviating arthritis symptoms. Also covered are simple exercises, herbal and supplemental remedies, and alternative methods such as hypnosis and acupuncture.

Sujets

• Santé et bien-être
• Santé du quotidien
• Santé au quotidien
• Santé au quotidien
• Fitness
• Health
• Alternative Therapies

Informations

• Publié par: Turner Publishing Company
• Date de parution: 15 mai 2005
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781591205821
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Everything You Need to Know to Combat Arthritis Safely and Effectively
EARL L. MINDELL, R.PH., PH.D.
The information contained in this book is based upon the research and personal and professional experiences of the author. It is not intended as a substitute for consulting with your physician or other healthcare provider. Any attempt to diagnose and treat an illness should be done under the direction of a healthcare professional.
The publisher does not advocate the use of any particular healthcare protocol but believes the information in this book should be available to the public. The publisher and author are not responsible for any adverse effects or consequences resulting from the use of the suggestions, preparations, or procedures discussed in this book. Should the reader have any questions concerning the appropriateness of any procedures or preparation mentioned, the author and the publisher strongly suggest consulting a professional healthcare advisor.
Basic Health Publications, Inc.
28812 Top of the World Drive
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
949-715-7327

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Mindell, Earl.
Easing the pain of arthritis naturally : everything you need to know to combat arthritis safely and effectively / Earl L. Mindell.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13: 978-1-59120-582-1
ISBN-10: 1-59120-109-8
1. Arthritis—Popular works. I. Title.

RC933.M5655 2005
616.7'22—dc22
2004026323
Copyright © 2005 by Earl L. Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the copyright owner.
Editor: Carol Rosenberg
Typesetting/Book design: Gary A. Rosenberg
Cover design: Mike Stromberg
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
Contents
Introduction
1. What Is Arthritis?
2. Understanding the Process of Inflammation
3. Conventional Medicine and Arthritis
4. Eating to Combat Arthritis and Promote Good Health
5. Nutritional Supplements for Pain-Free Joints
6. The Miracle of Ginger Extract
7. Other Natural Remedies for Arthritis
8. Therapies for Managing Arthritis Pain
9. Exercise for Pain-Free Joints

Appendix: Finding an Alternative Medicine Practitioner
Glossary
References
About the Author
Introduction
A
rthritis has reached epidemic proportions in developed nations. Approximately 80 million people worldwide suffer from chronic pain and inflammation in their joints, and this number continues to increase. In their search for relief, arthritis sufferers typically use over-the-counter and prescription medications. Some may visit physical therapists for costly treatments that only temporarily relieve discomfort. Others with severe cases may opt to undergo surgery, while still others simply choose to bear the pain.
Modern medicine has not yet found a cure for arthritis, and through the process of trying to find one, it has created an entirely new set of problems. Each year, an estimated 100,000 people are hospitalized and 16,000 patients die from side effects caused by commonly prescribed arthritis medications. The need for safer treatment methods has inspired an ongoing flurry of research and drug development by pharmaceutical companies. Recently, new arthritis medications that are touted as having minimal side effects are becoming available through the Federal Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) “fast-track” approval process. It remains to be seen, however, if these “miracles of science” have long-term effectiveness.
In this book, you’ll learn everything you need to know about arthritis and how to combat it safely and effectively. Chapter 1 provides basic information on arthritis—what it is, how it develops, and the lifestyle changes that can help keep its painful symptoms to a minimum. As it is important to understand the actual causes of inflammation, Chapter 2 presents the process that causes joints to ache and swell. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and COX-2 inhibitors—the drugs prescribed for alleviating arthritis pain—are discussed in Chapter 3 . The drawbacks of these and other common drugs prescribed for arthritis also are discussed here. Subsequent chapters focus on many nutritional and complementary treatments that can ease arthritis pain and inflammation, including supplements, herbs (particularly ginger), alternative therapies, and exercise. In these chapters, you’ll learn about safe, effective natural remedies that work synergistically with your body’s natural tendency toward healing and balance, rather than against them.
The right natural remedies for arthritis—along with other steps to bring your body to a state of good health—can keep you off prescription drugs and out of the hospital. You’ll soon learn that it is within your power to ease the pain of arthritis naturally.
CHAPTER 1
What Is Arthritis?
T
he word arthritis means “inflammation of the joints.” Arthritis strikes connective tissues in the body, causing joint pain, swelling, degeneration, and disability. There are more than one hundred types of arthritic disease, some of which affect only the joints and others that have more widespread effects. The two major types of arthritic disease are osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative arthritis; and rheumatoid arthritis, also known as autoimmune or inflammatory arthritis. Almost all of the arthritic diseases fall into one of these two categories. The onset, progression, and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are quite different, and they usually affect people in different age groups.
In this chapter, you’ll learn about how your joints work and how arthritis can affect them. Understanding your joints, and what can go wrong with these marvels of engineering, is a prerequisite to knowing how best to support their health. Once you’ve learned the basics, you’ll be able to grasp the rest of the information in this book much more easily, and you’ll also be able to talk more easily with your healthcare practitioner about managing your arthritis.
HOW JOINTS WORK
Arthritis is a disease of the connective tissues. The entire human body is held together by connective tissues: Fasciae hold the muscles and organs in place and in their proper shapes; ligaments attach bones to one another; fat cushions and supports the organs and bones; and tendons (dense, strong strips of connective tissue) connect the muscle to the bone. Other connective tissues, called cartilage, synovial membranes, and bursae also provide cushioning and lubrication between the ends of bones.
Connective tissue is made from tightly wound strands of protein called collagen. Specialized cells called chondroblasts secrete a matrix of carbohydrate and protein molecules into the grid formed by collagen fibers, providing a framework for other proteins, minerals, and fluids to fill in. When collagen fiber grids are filled in with minerals, it creates bones; when they are filled in with varying amounts of other proteins and fluids, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and membranes are the result.
Cartilage is a layer of dense connective tissue that cushions joints, decreasing friction between bones. Smooth, firm, and flexible, cartilage can withstand a great deal of pressure, and springs right back to its original shape when the pressure is removed. Cartilage is a living, growing tissue. It contains no blood vessels but is nourished by the fluids that bathe the joints. These fluids move through the cartilage when the joint is moved. Without this regular nutrient bath, cartilage deteriorates.
Two types of joints can be affected by arthritis—synovial and cartilaginous. Both types contain a considerable amount of cartilage, which deteriorates in arthritis. Synovial joints include the major joints of the arms and legs. The inner surface of this type of joint is lined with a membrane that produces hyaluronic acid, a synovial fluid that lubricates the joint surfaces—much in the same way motor oil lubricates an engine—and allows the head of the bone to move freely in the socket. Some joints, such as the knee and the jaw, include cartilage discs that divide the synovial fluid into two compartments and that cushion the movement of the joint. The synovial fluid carries nutrients into the cartilage and keeps the cartilage surfaces of the joint separate from one another. Cartilaginous joints include the joints between the vertebrae. Between most of the vertebrae of the spine, round cushions of cartilage—often called discs —prevent the contact of bone with bone and give the spine its amazing range of movement.
OSTEOARTHRITIS
Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, affects an estimated 10 percent of the population worldwide. Almost 80 percent of people over age fifty have some degree of osteoarthritis. Believed to be caused primarily by wear and tear, osteoarthritis typically affects weight-bearing joints, such as those of the hips, knees, and spine. And because the hands are in constant use, the finger joints are often affected as well.
Osteoarthritis rarely involves the process of inflammation, and so the name “arthritis” isn’t exactly appropriate for this joint disease. As the joint deteriorates, the synovial membrane becomes irritated and overproduces synovial fluid, causing swelling in the joint spaces. Sometimes this swelling is referred to as inflammation, although it rarely involves common symptoms of inflammation such as visible changes in the joint, heat, or involvement of the immune system. The irritation caused by friction between joint surfaces simply causes the synovial membrane to make more fluid than the joint can hold.
Generally, osteoarthritis is considered a disease of aging. In it, the spongy, flexible cartilage that cushions areas where bone meets bone begins to wear. In ag