| Arthritis is a condition commonly associated with aging | | | | osteoarthritis equally well. It goes a step further and not |
| but it occurs in people of all ages. According to the | | | | only slows down the progression of osteoarthritis but |
| Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, three out | | | | actually improves arthritis, something that NSAIDS |
| of five arthritis patients are under the age of 65. The | | | | cannot do. Why simply mask something and risk |
| most familiar forms are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid | | | | serious side effects when you can treat a condition |
| arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the degeneration and | | | | with a natural substance that works better? |
| degradation of joints brought on by sports, aging, | | | | How does it work? |
| repetitive motion and heredity. Rheumatoid arthritis is | | | | Studies have shown that boswellia significantly |
| an autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks its | | | | reduces a substance called matrix metalloproteinase-3, |
| own tissues, in this case the joints. Both forms are | | | | which breaks down cartilage. Taking a larger dose in |
| painful, restrict normal movement, cause deformity in | | | | the beginning can also speed up the results. For |
| the joint and generally make life difficult for millions of | | | | instance, the long-term dose according to studies is |
| us. In recent years we have treated arthritis with | | | | 1000 mg of extract that contains at least 400 mg of |
| COX-2 inhibitors, also known as non-steroidal | | | | boswellic acid. Doubling this for the first few weeks |
| anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs. The most notorious | | | | until symptoms improve, greatly speeds up the healing |
| one, rofecoxib marketed by Merck as Vioxx, was | | | | process without risking side effects. Boswellia appears |
| voluntarily pulled from the market in 2004 after several | | | | to work better when taken with meals that contain |
| drug-associated complications and deaths. Vioxx had | | | | healthy fats. According to a study completed in |
| been worth $2.5 billion to Merck and there is a lot of | | | | Germany, dietary fat makes boswellic acids about 4 |
| controversy still over how it gained approval in the first | | | | times more bioavailable than they are when taken |
| place, including suggestions that clinical trials had been | | | | separately. |
| tampered with and reported incorrectly in The New | | | | Boswellia is also effective for other conditions involving |
| England Journal of Medicine. | | | | inflammation and is showing promising results in Crohn's |
| Despite warnings to the contrary, including a report in | | | | Disease, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and in |
| the medical journal The Lancet that concluded the drug | | | | maintaining a healthy prostate as men age. Clinical trials |
| should have been pulled years earlier, advisory panels | | | | are currently underway in the U.S. to determine |
| in the U.S. and Canada actually voted in favour of | | | | boswellia's effect on tumor growth. We are just |
| returning the drug to the market, citing the fact that | | | | beginning to learn about this amazing gift from nature. |
| Vioxx had side effects similar to ibuprofen. This | | | | Are there any side effects? There have been no |
| statement was not consoling, but rather alarming | | | | serious side effects reported in any of the studies. At |
| considering the seriousness of these side effects and | | | | most, there was mild gastro-intesinal discomfort in a |
| the number of over-the-counter products containing | | | | few subjects while on the loading dose. This may be |
| ibuprofen. Luckily for unwary consumers, Merck | | | | mitigated by taking boswellia with meals. Boswellia |
| considered their options and did not put Vioxx back on | | | | does not block or inhibit prostaglandins and does not |
| the market. | | | | carry the same risk as NAIDs. |
| There are now indications that all NSAIDs may have | | | | How long does it take to see results? |
| similar effects on the cardiovascular system. | | | | While NSAIDs work almost immediately to relieve pain |
| Considering that these drugs work by blocking | | | | by masking the symptoms, boswellia will take longer. |
| prostaglandins that are essential for arterial health, this | | | | Expect to see comparable results after about 8 |
| isn't a surprising finding. | | | | weeks. As mentioned previously, doubling the dosage |
| One of my favorite statements about pharmaceuticals | | | | of boswellia for the first few weeks can speed results. |
| comes from Dr. David Brownstein: "The most | | | | It is important to note that while results may take a little |
| commonly prescribed drugs in use today primarily | | | | longer with boswellia, they are also longer lasting. |
| poison enzymes or block receptors in our body. I do | | | | When to see your doctor |
| not think you can poison an enzyme or block an | | | | Pain and discomfort are not a normal part of aging. If |
| important receptor for the long-term and expect a | | | | you are experiencing join pain and it has continued for |
| good result." | | | | a period of longer than two weeks, it may be time to |
| So what is an effective alternative treatment for | | | | see your doctor. Do not try to self-diagnose. Many |
| arthritis? | | | | other medical conditions can result in joint pain and it is |
| Boswellia. It has been in use for centuries but has | | | | important to understand the cause before considering |
| recently undergone several clinical trials where it has | | | | treatment. Once you have a diagnosis, do your |
| been proven to perform as well or better than | | | | research and then discuss all the options with your |
| pharmaceuticals in the treatment of arthritis. What is | | | | doctor or health care practitioner. |
| surprising is that it treats rheumatoid arthritis and | | | | |