September Is Arthritis Month

20 Sep 2009

20 Sep, 2009 Conditions, Nutrition

Whether we have experienced the pain personally, or
know of someone who has, arthritis has affected most of us
in one way or another.

     Simply put, arthritis is an inflammatory condition of
one or more joints; however, there are various types
including:
     – osteoarthritis
     – rheumatoid arthritis
     – fibromyalgia
     – gout
     – lupus
     – lyme disease
     – Reiter’s syndrome
     – psoriatic arthritis
     – Sjogren’s syndrome
     – ankylosing spondylitis
     While each of the above conditions are characterized
by their own specific symptoms, common elements of each are:
     – pain
     – swelling
     – stiffness
     – diminished range of motion
     – deformity
     While individual cases will vary in both scope and
complexity, a naturopathic approach involving a combination
of acupuncture, herbs, homeopathic, and nutritional support
should be tailored on an individual basis to address two key
areas: a) reduction of inflammation and b) strengthening
of the joint structures ( cartilage, ligaments, and
capsule).
     On a general level, there are some simple actions
which can be taken to : a) decrease inflammation in the
body:
I) Eat more fresh pineapple between meals; pineapple
contains bromelin, an enzyme that decrease inflammation.
ii) Avoid the nightshade family ( tomatoes, white potatoes,
peppers, eggplant, tobacco). Solanine, the substance
contained in these foods, causes joint pain.
iii) Use hot castor oil packs ( for instruction, call the
office).
iv) Check for possible food sensitivities using an electro
dermal acupuncture device ( call the office for more
details).
v) Apply cayenne pepper paste ( cayenne pepper and
wintergreen oil) to painful and inflamed joints. Capsaicin,
the substance present in cayenne pepper, relieves pain and
inflammation.
     b) To nourish the joint structures, you can:
I) Consume more foods containing sulfur ( eggs, asparagus,
garlic and onion); sulfur helps repair of the joint tissues.
ii) Eat more foods containing histidine ( rice, wheat, and
rye), which removes the excess metals from the body.
iii) Eat deep-sea fish ( contains the good fats that
nourish the joint tissues; decrease pain and inflammation as
well).
     It is of paramount importance to remember that each
case of arthritis is individualistic. Naturopathic medicine
recognizes this fact as its core belief: treat the
individual, not just the disease. To start decreasing