| Vinegar | | | | Allen, being a scientist, put 2 and 2 together. He helped |
| Vinegar has played a role in relieving aches and pains | | | | organize a rigorous double0blind, placebo controlled |
| forever. They gave it to Jesus Christ when he was | | | | aspartame study. Subjects with osteoarthritis were |
| being crucified. | | | | tested fro grip strength, stair climbing ability, and pain |
| Perhaps the most successful advocate of vinegar for | | | | after walking. Relief was reported in about one hour |
| arthritis however, was Dr. D.C. Jarvis. He learned about | | | | and peaked between two and three hours. People |
| home remedies from the farm families he cared for. | | | | were able to walk farther and climb faster, and they |
| The recipe isn't that different from one reported to | | | | noted a 56% reduction in pain. |
| have been used by Texas legend Sam Houston. Lore | | | | Dr. Edmundson and his colleague, Dr. Carl Manion, |
| has it that he made apple juice, and one part cider | | | | concluded that their research has "broad implications to |
| vinegar and drank half a cup a day to relieve the | | | | therapy for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and pain |
| aches and pains of arthritis. | | | | relief in general. |
| Aspartame | | | | In extensions of the present work, we have noticed |
| This was not only found by chance, but it was later | | | | clinical benefits of aspartame in such divers |
| proven to be effective in a controlled, double blind | | | | applications as postoperative pain, sports injuries, |
| study. | | | | stiffness after daily routines such a gardening, and |
| Allen B. Edmudson, PhD., is an X-ray crystallographer | | | | partial replacement of morphine and NSAIDs in the |
| who happens to have osteoarthritis. One day he | | | | management of chronic pain in multiple sclerosis. |
| "consumed a six pack of diet cola (containing | | | | With the exception of aspirin, aspartame may be the |
| approximately 1.1 gm aspartame) while watching a | | | | most inexpensive NSAID-like medicine currently |
| football game. At the end of the game, arthritic pain | | | | available. Moreover, the relative safety and general |
| and stiffness had disappeared from the hip joints, | | | | effectiveness of aspartame seem to rival those of |
| knees, and feet." | | | | aspirin, without the gastrointestinal distress. |