| Because rheumatoid arthritis medications are known to | | | | and even Cox inhibitors are concentrated in it, as well |
| have side effects -- some quite serious -- there is a | | | | as numerous vitamins and minerals. |
| growing interest in alternative therapies. | | | | While no human clinical studies have been completed |
| For rheumatoid arthritis in the early stages, an | | | | to date concerning mangosteen's efficacy as an |
| anti-inflammatory is usually the first choice. Typical | | | | alternative or supplement to rheumatoid arthritis |
| anti-inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis medications | | | | medications, numerous laboratory studies have shown |
| include aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen. | | | | that certain of the "xanthones" (powerful anti-oxidants) |
| Aspirin, as most people know, can cause stomach | | | | are anti-inflammatory and Cox-2 inhibitors. |
| upset and eventually ulcers. Ibuprofen has caused liver | | | | Alternative Therapies for Rheumatoid Arthritis |
| damage, anemia, intestinal bleeding, diminished vision | | | | According to Dr J. Frederic Templeman, M.D. in |
| and meningitis. People who have aspirin sensitive | | | | response to the question "Will the Mangosteen help |
| asthma may also be sensitive to ibuprofen. It has not | | | | with pain?" he states: "...Presumptively the mangosteen |
| been proven safe for use by children and should not | | | | inhibits the pain-related action of the Cox-2 enzyme in |
| be used by pregnant women or nursing mothers. | | | | the CNS [Central Nervous System] and blocks pain |
| These side effects and possible dangers are some of | | | | impulse generation. |
| the reasons that people look for alternative therapies | | | | So yes, the mangosteen may significantly reduce any |
| for rheumatoid arthritis. | | | | pain you might be experiencing." [End Quote] |
| Naproxen is another of the fast acting or | | | | Prescription Cox-2 inhibitors are being shunned by a |
| anti-inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis medications. In | | | | great many people due to their numerous undesirable |
| clinical trials of patients taking naproxen, one to ten | | | | and serious side effects. Indeed, the Cox-2 inhibitor, |
| percent experienced one or more of the following | | | | Vioxx(TM), was taken off of the market worldwide |
| adverse reactions: heartburn, abdominal pain, nausea, | | | | for a time because of the health dangers associated |
| constipation, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, drowsiness, | | | | with it and has embroiled Merck in a nightmare of legal |
| lightheadedness, vertigo, itching, sweating, hearing | | | | woes. |
| problems, visual problems, cardiovascular edema, heart | | | | Lab rats or cell lines have been used to conduct |
| palpitations, vomiting, gastro-intestinal bleeding, ulcers, | | | | mangosteen research and there were no reported |
| anemia and other side effects. | | | | side effects. It is believed that because the |
| Natural anti-inflammatory botanicals, nutritional | | | | mangosteen contains the anti-ulcer compounds |
| supplements and herbal remedies may be considered | | | | ascorbic acid, beta carotene, fiber and pectin, it would |
| as alternative therapies for rheumatoid arthritis. | | | | not have any of the gastric side effects common in |
| Zinc, an essential mineral, has been shown to be | | | | anti-inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis medications. |
| capable of inhibiting the inflammatory response, but | | | | Other compounds found in the fruit may promote |
| most studies of zinc supplementation in rheumatoid | | | | heart health and are anti-hypertensive, so health |
| arthritis patients have been inconclusive. Like many | | | | problems associated with prescription Cox-2 inhibiting |
| supplements and alternative therapies for rheumatoid | | | | rheumatoid arthritis medications should not occur with |
| arthritis, zinc seems to help some people and has no | | | | mangosteen usage. |
| side effects, unless high doses are used. | | | | It is possible that mangosteen could one day be |
| Botanicals and herbal remedies which may be | | | | considered an effective supplemental or alternative |
| considered as supplemental or alternative therapies for | | | | treatments for rheumatoid arthritis. Hopefully, at some |
| rheumatoid arthritis include ginger root, bromelain, | | | | point, clinical studies can confirm this, but research is |
| feverfew, turmeric and mangosteen. | | | | expensive and usually funded by pharmaceutical |
| Ginger, turmeric and mangosteen have all been used | | | | companies, which is why there are so few studies of |
| historically by native peoples to treat pain and reduce | | | | the effectiveness of herbal and botanical remedies, |
| swelling. The effectiveness of ginger as an alternative | | | | particularly in the United States. |
| to rheumatoid arthritis medications has been studied in | | | | Studies of alternative therapies for rheumatoid arthritis |
| clinical trials and indicates that it does show promise. | | | | have shown that diet plays a possible role. Patients |
| A small clinical study (18 patients) concluded that | | | | who have used a diet that excluded common food |
| turmeric was nearly as effective as one of the | | | | allergens such as grains, milk, nuts, beef and eggs |
| anti-inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis medications, but it | | | | reported being symptom free for as long as five |
| is not clear whether this was a placebo effect, since | | | | years, as long as they stuck to the diet. |
| there was no control group. Additionally there is some | | | | In addition to or as an alternative to anti-inflammatory |
| disagreement concerning whether it should be used in | | | | rheumatoid arthritis medications, some doctors |
| the powdered form or as a tea. | | | | prescribe corticosteroids like prednisone. But, while |
| Mangosteen is a relatively new and exciting addition to | | | | these may be effective for short-term relief of |
| the western world as an anti-inflammatory. It was used | | | | symptoms, long-term use of corticosteroids is known |
| historically by the native peoples of Thailand, Vietnam, | | | | to cause many other health problems including |
| India, China, Malaysia and the Philippines to treat a | | | | diabetes. |
| variety of bodily aches and pains. | | | | In addition, they tend to lose their effectiveness, and |
| The mangosteen is a fruit and its most readily available | | | | can be habit forming. When a patient has been taking |
| form is a drink that contains a puree of the fruit and its | | | | corticosteroid rheumatoid arthritis medications, they |
| rind. It is important when purchasing mangosteen | | | | must be "weaned" off of them, meaning the |
| products to consider only the ones that include the rind, | | | | medication must be gradually reduced before switching |
| because anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatory components | | | | to alternative therapies for rheumatoid arthritis. |