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There ARE natural therapies for osteoarthritis proven by clinical studies to work...
Yes, natural treatment osteoarthritis alternatives to Vioxx exist that have clinical studies supporting their performance! The informative article below describes what these natural therapies for osteoarthritis are.
After the article, generalized osteoarthritis symptoms, primary and secondary osteoarthritis and related issues are covered.
Beyond Vioxx
Copyright © 2004, All Rights Reserved http://www.healthmyths.net
Using three naturally occurring substances, anyone can safely and effectively prevent and overcome osteoarthritis. Studies show that osteoarthritis is the result of our body lacking the ability to manufacture a molecule known as glucosamine (perhaps due to age, poor diet or genetics). This inability to manufacture glucosamine leads to a lack of collagen.
It is also the main component of the shock-absorbing cushion called articular cartilage, the white, smooth surface that covers the ends of body joints.
These cushions can be found in the wrist, fingers, toes, ankles, knees, hips and between the discs of the spine. Without articular cartilage, our joints experience pain.
Despite how healthy we may be, this pain greatly inhibits physical activity. Lack of physical activity inevitably leads to a decline in health. The obvious first step towards treating this pain and to prevent the subsequent decline in health is to provide the body with an orally active form (one that can make it past the stomach and into the blood stream) of glucosamine.
After decades of research, scientists have found this to be glucosamine sulfate rather than glucosamine HCL. Glucosamine sulfate is derived from chitin, which is a processed form of shrimp, lobster, and crab shells. Glucosamine sulfate is a derivative of the naturally occurring aminomonosaccharide glucosamine, a major constituent of cartilage and synovial fluid.
When supplemented properly (1500-2500 mg daily for 6-8 weeks) glucosamine sulfate rebuilds lost cartilage and soothes joints. Users can say goodbye to pain.
In an unprecedented, 3-year, randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind study involving 200 patients, supplementation with glucosamine sulfate retarded the progression of osteoarthritis in the knee.
Other studies have confirmed these findings by showing that supplementation with glucosamine sulfate slows down and reverses degeneration of cartilage within joints. These studies are paramount in that no NSAID, including COX-2 inhibitors, have ever been able to retard the progression of osteoarthritis. Trials, which compared glucosamine sulfate to NSAIDS such as Ibuprofen, showed that long-term reductions in pain were greater in patients taking glucosamine sulfate.
Moreover, long-term glucosamine administration does not elicit the potentially dangerous side effects associated with the use of NSAIDS. It is believed that glucosamine sulfate supplementation is dangerous for diabetics. This is not true. Studies show that due to the low glycemic index, there are no adverse effects when used at the proper dose of 1500-3000 mg daily.
Enhancing the effects of glucosamine sulfate, the nutrient MSM (methylsulfonylmethane or dimethyl sulfone) should be used in conjunction with it. This is known as combination therapy. MSM is an organic, sulfur-containing compound that occurs naturally in a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, and animals, including humans.
MSM (2-8 grams daily) works double-time to heal joints by acting as an anti-inflammatory to the joints and to inhibit pain impulses along nerve fibers.
Besides helping arthritis (both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid) sufferers, MSM can be of great benefit to those with bursitis, tendonitis and conditions such as tennis elbow and repetitive strain injury. MSM is a safe and non-toxic substance. Highlighted by the peer reviewed medical journal Clinical Drug Investigations, combination therapy works better and faster at reducing pain and swelling and in improving the functional ability of joints when compared to using glucosamine sulfate and MSM individually. This is an important note. Offering further benefits from combination therapy, ginger has also been shown to have unprecedented success at circumventing joint pain. Zingiber officinale (ginger root) has been shown to be a potent inhibitor of both prostaglandins (PGE2) and leukotrienes (LTB4).
These biochemicals are ubiquitous substances that initiate and control cell and tissue responses involved in a myriad of physiological processes. These processes include platelet aggregation, rennin release and inflammation.
Their overproduction has been implicated in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases, cancer and inflammatory diseases such as osteoarthritis. To circumvent the overproduction of prostaglandins (PGE2) and leukotrienes (LTB4) one could use Ginger.
One study conducted by the Department of Environmental Medicine in Denmark showed that of 56 patients (2 with rheumatoid arthritis, 18 with osteoarthritis, and 10 with muscular discomfort) taking Zingiber officinale, 75% experienced relief in pain and swelling. Combination therapy with glucosamine sulfate, MSM, and Ginger for 4 to 6 months is America's answer to the growing number of people who suffer from osteoarthritis. In contrast to NSAIDS, such combination therapy is inexpensive and elicits no negative side effects.
These substances, like water, are non-toxic. Hence, ALL American's have a remedy to, not only arthritis, but also the deadly conflicts of interest among the FDA (as with Vioxx). Thanks to Mother Nature.
About the Author:
Shane holds a Master's Degree in Organic Chemistry and has first-hand industry experience with drug research, design and synthesis. He understands that Americans want and deserve education rather than prescriptions.
His ebook surrounding cholesterol lowering drugs can be downloaded for FREE as a pdf file at http://www.health-fx.net - Combination Therapy. If problems with download, send email to services@healthmyths.net
For "References" for the above article, see the bottom of this page.
What's the difference in primary and secondary osteoarthritis?
Secondary osteoarthritis in general refers to the degenerative disease of the synovial joints that has resulted from a prior condition such as an injury or other trauma.
This trauma negatively affects the articular cartilage and/or subchondral bone of the affected joints. Secondary osteoarthritis often occurs in younger people.
Primary osteoarthritis is the broad term usually related to the condition occurring in joints for no apparent reason such as a prior trauma or injury. Primary osteoarthritis is age-related, occurring in older individuals, especially in persons over 50.
The osteoarthritis generalized definition and primary generalized osteoarthritis symptoms relate to familial and quite often premature (under the age of 50) development of nodes.
In addition, there can be degeneration of the articular cartilage of one or more other joints, such as the first carpometacarpal joints, knee joints, hip joints and spine. Generalized osteoarthritis symptoms are most frequently the occurance of deep, achy joint pain that is made worse with extensive joint use. The joints most often affected are the hands. Other joints affected can include the knee and hip joints and spine articulations.
Osteoarthritis medial knee pain can be the result of developing primary osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis medial pain can be made worse with the use of the knee joint - the knee and osteoarthritis and exercise do not go well together. Osteo arthritis morning stiffness and osteo arthritis morning tightness are common conditions experienced by sufferers.
To see actual images of affected joints and why primary osteoarthritis symptoms occur, click on this link for additional osteoarthritis information and images. Natural therapies for osteoarthritis, natural treatment information and natural and alternative healing for osteoarthritis - be sure to read the "Beyond Vioxx" article at the top of this page.
The treatment approach combining natural and osteoarthritis and alternative healing has been established by clinical trials. There are nutrients that can help you remedy osteoarthritis.
Here are reliable suppliers of the osteoarthritis combination therapy nutrients:
Xtend-Life Arthrit-Eze natural ‘arthritis supplement’ contains only a few ingredients to either support the regeneration of cartilage, or perhaps one or two other substances that may help reduce pain through reduction of inflammation.
Sufferers of Rheumatoid Arthritis or Osteoarthritis (the most common forms) know the realities of living with the harsh pain, inflammation, swelling, difficult movement and chronic deterioration. It affects everyday life, from shopping and working to enjoying time with family and friends. For the first time, the ingredients in Arthrit-Eze have been united to work in a specific composition and dosage to aid in reducing and eliminating the above symptoms, restore mobility and improve associated immune system responses.
References: Pavelka, Karel. et al. "Glucosamine Sulfate Use and Delay of
Progression of Knee Osteoarthritis." Archives of Internal Medicine.
Vol 162, Oct 14, 2002.
Alternative Medicine Review. Volume 4, Number 3. 1999. Müller-Fasbender H, et al. "Glucosamine sulfate compared to
ibuprofen in osteoarthritis." Osteo Cartilage. 1994; 2: 61-69. Singh Gurkirpal, MD, "Recent Considerations in Nonsteroidal Anti-
Inflammatory Drug Gastropathy." The American Journal of Medicine.
July 27, 1998, p. 31S. Srivastava, KC. et al. "Ginger (Zingiber officianale) in rheumatism
and musculoskeletal disorders." Medical Hypotheses. 1992 Dec;39
(4):342-8. Kiuchi, F. et al. "Inhibition of prostaglandin and leukotriene
biosynthesis by gingerols and diarylheptanoids." Chemical and
Pharmaceutical Bulletin (Tokyo). 1992 Feb;40(2):387-91.
Related osteoarthritis articles
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Collagen is the protein portion of the fibrous substance that holds joints together.
