| The term arthritis is used to classify a group of health | | | | Traditional medicine tries mainly to alleviate the |
| situations with cause pain and stiffness symptoms. | | | | symptoms and reduce the pain. Natural medicine tries |
| Among the most common forms there are the | | | | instead to address the causes of illness and improve |
| Osteoarthritis and the Rheumatoid Arthritis. The most | | | | the diet, the lifestyle. It tries to avoid toxic factors. the |
| common causes are considered to be genetic | | | | presence of microorganisms and all these lifestyle |
| predisposition, traumas and "wear and tear" factors | | | | changes will eventually increase wellness and reduce |
| caused by advancing age, However many | | | | the disease. |
| peoplereach old age without any form of arthritis. | | | | This article is only an introduction to alternative arthritis |
| There are many other less frequent forms of arthritis | | | | remedies and therefore we mention only a few |
| such as fibromyalgia, gout, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing | | | | examples of remedies as follows:a) Some herbs may |
| spondylitis, and more. | | | | be useful for the organs of elimination and |
| Some important factors which influence this conditions | | | | detoxification (i,e bowels,kidneys,liver, lungs, skin and |
| are the following: | | | | connective tissues), by removing both external and |
| - Increase of toxins in the tissues | | | | internal toxins. They can be added to cleansing diets, |
| - Decreased integrity in the stomach and intestine lining | | | | colon hydrotherapy,fasting, homeopathic detoxification |
| - Excess of damaging microorganisms | | | | and saunas. Some useful herbs for detoxification are |
| - Decreased circulation in painful areas | | | | Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum),Burdock (Arctium lappa) |
| Many forms of arthritis often have some degree of | | | | and Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). It is also |
| auto immune involvement. | | | | advisable to help the liver to process toxins by adding |
| The toxic waste is one of the explanations used by | | | | supplements which contain Sulphur such as MSM and |
| Chinese medicine or by Indian Ayurvedic systems. A | | | | amino acids such as cysteine, glutathione, methionine, |
| similar explanation of Western medicine is the | | | | and taurine.b) Some herbs which can be useful to |
| presence of | | | | counteract the decreased intestinal integrity are |
| Circulating Immune Complexes (also known as CICs) | | | | soothing herbs such as L-glutamine, Marshmallow root |
| which are molecules which exit from the | | | | and Okra. Gingko biloba is very useful to increase |
| gastrointestinal tract because of its decreased integrity. | | | | circulation to the small capillaries and is also useful as |
| The immune system recognizes them as foreign | | | | an anti-oxidant.c) Other herbs can be useful to |
| invaders and increases the production of antibodies to | | | | discourage the growth of pathogenic micro organisms |
| fight them. Often these antibodies attack the | | | | and to support the immune system. For instance |
| connective tissues. | | | | Barberry root can be useful to kill parasites, to tone up |
| The decreased integrity of the gastrointestinal tract is | | | | the intestinal tract and to help the liver to eliminate |
| also known as "leaky gut syndrome." and allows large | | | | bacteria, streptococci and other micro organisms. It is |
| molecules to exit through the gastrointestinal lining and | | | | also useful to include Berberine (a natural Cox II |
| enter the bloodstream. This often happens to people | | | | inhibitor), Citrus Seed Extract which acts against micro |
| who suffer from joint and muscle pains because of | | | | organisms and Black Walnut Hulls which is a vermifuge |
| excessive autoimmune responses. Another problem is | | | | (worm destroyer).d) Poor circulation can be helped by |
| the proliferation of unfriendly organisms such as | | | | other substances such as Menthol, Capsiacin, |
| bacteria, fungi, yeast and parasites. They also cause | | | | Camphor, Boswellia (Boswellia seratta) and |
| autoimmune responses. An additional problem is also | | | | Wintergreen(Gaultheria procumbens). Moreover pain |
| the decreased circulation in some areas of the body | | | | can be counteracted by Willow Bark (Salix alba), |
| because it causes decreased availability of the | | | | Kava-Kava (Piper methysticum), Jamaican Dogwood |
| nutrients needed for the repair and growth of healthy | | | | (Piscidia spp. |
| tissues. | | | | |