Currently about one in six persons suffers from some form of this disease and thus they are interested in finding out some effective remedies for arthritis. The outward signs of arthritis, like severe pain, stiffness and lack of movement in some joints, together with swelling and inflammation, will usually be confirmed by x-rays.
The most usual form is osteoarthritis, which is degenerative wear and tear of the joints and usually occurs from middle age onwards. Here, I hope to offer a few helpful ideas to get some relief from this terrible affliction and to provide some alternatives to the painkilling drugs that are currently available.
This is an extract from the website of the US Food and Drug Agency:
"Based on the currently available data, FDA (The US Food and Drugs Administration) has concluded that an increased risk of serious adverse cardiovascular events appears to be a class effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (excluding aspirin). FDA has requested that the package insert for all NSAIDs, including Celebrex, be revised to include a boxed warning to highlight the potential increased risk of CV events and the well described risk of serious, and potentially life-threatening, gastrointestinal bleeding. FDA Alert 4/7/2005."
Your daily diet can be a huge contributory factor in the treatment of arthritis. A very useful supplement to your daily diet is omega 3 oil, which is rich in Vitamins A and D.
Most individuals favor oily types of fish such as salmon or sardines as their way to get Omega 3 oils. If you don't get at least two portions of fish per week, consider taking cold pressed flaxseed oil every day.
Other essential types of food are the yellow and fresh green vegetables that provide vitamin C, beta carotene and other antioxidants that reduce cell damage. Try to eat at least two servings a day. Grapefruit and other similar citrus fruits, eaten in moderation, provide citrus flavonoids. These flavonoids support the beneficial antioxidant properties of Vitamin C.
Zinc, which is present in peas, is an essential mineral for the immune system. Milk, oysters and whole wheat products also supply zinc in valuable amounts.
If you are overweight it is plainly tough for all your joints, specially your hips. knees and ankles, which bear the most weight. This extra weight will inflame the joints and increase the pain. Reducing to a suitable weight might relieve most of the arthritis symptoms.
Some foods are linked to arthritis, specially eggplant, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes and tobacco. You may be allergic if your arthritis worsens and improves after eating those foods.
Also try to avoid vegetable oil that contains omega-6 fatty acids, which aggravate the arthritis symptoms. To avoid this, do not consume margarine, salad dressings, olive oil or fried foods.
You must give all your joints some movement and stretching every day, otherwise the stiffness and pain will definitely get worse. A heating pad or a hot bath can ease pain and increase circulation to your joints. You can draw out the toxins and relieve the muscle pain with the help of a hot bath with Epsom Salts.
Aromatherapy uses essential oils as lotions and they are also one of the treatments for arthritis. They penetrate the skin and heal the soreness. The juniper oil relieves the swelling and the sandalwood improves circulation. You might try mashing sandalwood or juniper leaves into a wet pulp and then wrap it with a cloth around your joints.
