| Joint pain, swelling, and stiffness can alter your | | | | rheumatic diseases with rheumatoid arthritis and |
| lifestyle dramatically, preventing you from participate | | | | osteoarthritis the most common. According to annual |
| in the activities you most enjoy. With the onset of | | | | estimates, approximately 46 million adults in the |
| pain in our fingers, wrists, knees, hips or virtually any | | | | United States (about 1 in 5) report doctor-diagnosed |
| joint in the body, we tend to jump to the conclusion | | | | arthritis. |
| that arthritis has set in. While joint pain is a natural | | | | The Most Common Forms of Arthritis |
| response to inflammation in the body, it doesn't | | | | Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative arthritis, |
| necessarily mean you have one of the hundred | | | | refers to the pain and inflammation that can result |
| forms of arthritic conditions. Often, pain in your joints | | | | from the systematic loss of bone tissue in the joints. |
| simply alerts you to the need for positive changes in | | | | This wear-and-tear form of arthritis is most |
| your diet, exercise habits, stress level, body weight | | | | commonly associated with the natural aging process. |
| and even your emotional well being. | | | | Rheumatoid arthritis, also known as rheumatism, is |
| Whether your joint pain is caused by hormonal | | | | most common among people over 40 with women |
| changes, excessive acidity in your diet, cold and | | | | afflicted two to three times more frequently than |
| damp weather, arthritis or other factors from the list | | | | men. It is characterized by inflammation and pain in |
| below, rest assured there are natural ways to | | | | the hands, arms, legs and feet. Organs such as the |
| increase your mobility while reducing and even | | | | eyes and lungs may become inflamed as well. |
| eliminating your painful symptoms. With inflammation | | | | Gout usually occurs in men over 40 and is caused by |
| the common denominator of all joint pain, determining | | | | the elevated blood levels of uric acid which forms |
| its source and implementing positive lifestyle changes | | | | crystals in the joints causing them to become |
| is a great place to start. | | | | inflamed and painful. The immune system reacts to |
| Joint Pain - Contributing Factorso Inflammationo | | | | these crystals as if they were foreign invaders. Avoid |
| Hormonal changes, especially in women as | | | | excessive amounts of red meat, alcohol and sugar to |
| menopause approaches.o Severe or recurrent joint | | | | keep gout at bay. |
| injury from heavy physical activity.o Skeletal postural | | | | Degenerative Bone Disease - Osteoporosis |
| defects.o Age-related changes in collagen matrix | | | | Degenerative bone disease or degenerative arthritis is |
| repair mechanisms.o Excessive weight.o Activities | | | | caused by inflammation and the breakdown and loss |
| such as long-distance running performed over many | | | | of the cartilage in the joints. It affects the hands, |
| years.o Cold climate and atmospheric pressure | | | | feet, spine, hips and knees or virtually any joint in the |
| changes.o Food allergies such as dairy and wheat.o | | | | body. The cartilage helps the bones glide over one |
| Overly acidic diet including nightshade vegetables; | | | | another and acts as a shock absorber. Over the |
| potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants.o A diet | | | | years, the bones begin to rub against each other |
| high in animal products.o Nutrient deficiency: calcium, | | | | beneath the cartilage. This leads to pain, swelling and |
| magnesium, manganese, protein, essential fatty | | | | loss of joint movement. |
| acids.o Low-grade infections (dental infections) and | | | | Osteoporosis can be present without any symptoms |
| autoimmune disease.o Build up of toxicity in the | | | | for decades. Therefore, people may not be awareof |
| body.o Dehydration. | | | | their osteoporosis until they suffer a painful fracture. |
| Acidity and Joint Pain | | | | In America, more than one million fractures occur |
| In his best-selling book "The pH Miracle," Dr. Robert | | | | annually in women 45 years or older, only 70% of |
| Young says: "Pain cannot exist without acidity and | | | | whom are diagnosed with osteoporosis. Hip fractures |
| acidity cannot be present without pain." The human | | | | are the second leading cause of death in people |
| body requires a balance of acidity and alkalinity to | | | | 47-74 years of age. Aching in hips, lower back, or |
| function well. However, Americans have a tendency | | | | wrists often signal worsening osteoporosis, kidney |
| to become overly acidic due to stress and the | | | | weakness or immune system dysfunction. |
| consumption of processed foods, carbohydrates, | | | | Joint Pain Therapy for Symptom Relief |
| sugars, red meat, and sodas. Very simply, acidity | | | | The downfall of conventional joint pain remedies such |
| causes inflammation while alkalinity reduces it. | | | | as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), |
| An excess of acid in the body causes increased | | | | which have dangerous side effects, have people |
| amounts of calcium, minerals, and acid toxins to | | | | turning to natural products to address joint pain and |
| deposit in the joints, resulting in inflammation and pain. | | | | prevent inflammation and degenerative conditions. In |
| Over time, this can lead to joint pain and arthritic | | | | fact, The Council for Responsible Nutrition found that |
| conditions. Decreasing sources of acid and increasing | | | | bone and joint issues are among the primary |
| your intake of alkalizing foods and drinks will help | | | | conditions for which American health professionals |
| restore healthy pH levels and help relieve the pain | | | | recommend their patients use natural, dietary |
| and stiffness in your joints. Avoiding acidic foods can | | | | supplements and initiate healthy lifestyle changes. |
| be confusing with lemons, which are alkalizing rather | | | | Aspirin and ibuprofen might temporarily suppress pain |
| than acidic, as a prime example. | | | | and inflammation, but they do not build tissue or |
| The Role of Inflammation | | | | cartilage and carry side-effects. For example, the |
| Most of us think of inflammation as a hot, red and | | | | side-effects associated with ibuprofen include nausea, |
| swelling reaction to over exertion or an injury, but | | | | vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and occasionally |
| that's just the beginning. Chronic systemic | | | | ulcers of the upper intestinal tract. Other possible and |
| inflammation is an underlying cause of a long list of | | | | less frequent side effects involve the central nervous |
| seemingly unrelated, age-related diseases including | | | | system, liver and allergic reactions like skin rashes. |
| atherosclerosis, cancer, obesity, diabetes, congestive | | | | Heavy use of non-aspirin pain relievers also put you |
| heart failure, digestive system diseases, arthritis, | | | | at risk for developing high blood pressure. |
| Alzheimer's disease and osteoporosis. With regard to | | | | Natural approaches to Pain Relief |
| joint health and arthritis, cytokines regulate various | | | | Balance your hormones: Bio-identical progesterone |
| inflammatory responses. | | | | cream is calming to the nervous system and nurtures |
| Cytokines are a group of small proteins secreted by | | | | the adrenals to lessen the impact of inflammation |
| specific cells of the immune system that are released | | | | causing cortisol. |
| into the circulation or directly into tissue and act as | | | | Make wise choices: Substances like alcohol, caffeine, |
| messengers to the cells of the body. They regulate | | | | nicotine, and marijuana place a heavy burden on your |
| the body's response to disease and infection and play | | | | system, so eliminate them or at least moderate your |
| an important role in maintaining normal cellular | | | | intake. One of the fastest ways to reduce |
| processes in the body. Cytokines are | | | | inflammation is to stop smoking and using stimulants. |
| pro-inflammatory and tend to trigger the | | | | Supplements to consider: Use a high quality, |
| overproduction of free radicals creating a health | | | | absorbable multiple vitamin and mineral complex to fill |
| compromising cause-and-effect loop. | | | | any nutritional gaps. Pregnenolone improves joint pain |
| A strong immune system triggers the inflammatory | | | | and mobility. Get plenty of Omega 3 (fish oil). |
| response to deal with injury or infection. But, our | | | | Hyaluronic Acid is a major component of the synovial |
| stressful lifestyles and poor dietary choices can cause | | | | fluid and increases the viscosity of the fluid to literally |
| sustained low-grade inflammation that prevents cell | | | | lubricate the joints. Glucosamine sulfate aids in the |
| regeneration and repair which gradually tears down | | | | formation and repair of cartilage. Emu oil is a highly |
| tissues, including those in your joints. As examples, | | | | effective pain relieving anti-inflammatory. Shark |
| elevated cortisol, the hormone released in response | | | | cartilage, rich in chondroitin sulfate, has been found to |
| to stress, works as an inflammatory agent, and a | | | | reduce pain of joint inflammation. MSM is an organic |
| diet high in refined carbohydrates and sugars can | | | | source of sulfur known to restore connective tissue, |
| create a constant state of inflammation. | | | | ease joint pain and much more. Vitamin D daily often |
| Toxicity and Joint Pain | | | | brings noticeable results. Blue Green Algae is very |
| Inflammation is the body's response to toxicity. Poor | | | | alkalizing and helps reduce inflammation. |
| food choices, smoke, alcohol, sodas, coffee, | | | | Positive dietary changes: Lower your intake of |
| pesticides, household cleaning products, allergens, | | | | carbohydrates and sugar to reduce the pain caused |
| herbicides, and chemicals in your personal care | | | | by inflammation. Avoiding acidic foods and drinks will |
| products all contribute to toxic overload. Detoxify, | | | | make a remarkable difference. Drink plenty of pure |
| purify, and regenerate with a gentle cleanse to | | | | water every day to avoid dehydration. Reduce your |
| reduce the toxic burden on your body and relieve | | | | intake of animal protein, especially if it is not organic, |
| the pain, stiffness and swelling associated with | | | | processed foods and any additives or preservatives. |
| inflammation. | | | | In the words of Dr. Bernard Jensen, "Every day, eat |
| Hormonal Imbalances and Joint Pain | | | | the colors of the rainbow." |
| Changing levels of estrogen, progesterone, and | | | | Utilize natural anti-inflammatory herbs and foods: |
| testosterone play a role in inflammation so it's no | | | | Alfalfa, blackstrap molasses, boswellia, celery, |
| surprise that women often notice the onset of joint | | | | cherries, dandelion, devil's claw, feverfew, fish oils, |
| pain during perimenopause and menopause. | | | | garlic, ginger, goldenrod, nettle, tumeric and yucca are |
| Because estrogen has an anti-inflammatory effect in | | | | all helpful in reducing inflammation and easing pain and |
| the body, fluctuating estrogen levels during this | | | | stiffness in your joints. Use them generously in your |
| natural life transition can exacerbate the symptoms | | | | foods or supplement with capsules or tinctures. |
| of chronic inflammation. | | | | Exercise: A program of regular physical activity can |
| Bio-identical Progesterone | | | | strengthen the muscles, tendons, and ligaments |
| Bio-identical progesterone can ease the inflammation | | | | surrounding the affected joints and preserve mobility |
| burden by helping to balance your hormones, nurture | | | | in joints that are developing bone spurs. Remaining |
| your endocrine system and ease stress. When it | | | | active, maintaining an ideal body weight, and |
| comes to degenerative diseases like osteoporosis, | | | | exercising the muscles and joints regularly nourish the |
| progesterone cream has been shown to have | | | | cartilage and promote mobility and flexibility. |
| remarkable results. Verified by a three year study of | | | | Manage stress: Lower stress levels and inflammation |
| 63 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, those | | | | causing coritsol with meditation, Tai Chi, yoga, deep |
| using progesterone cream experienced an average | | | | breathing exercises, prayer, stretching, gentle |
| 7-8% bone mineral density increase the first year, | | | | exercise, etc. |
| 4-5% the second year and 3-4% the third year. | | | | Get plenty of rest: Sleep restores and heals the body |
| Arthritis | | | | and is a perfect inflammation antidote. Get between |
| The word arthritis literally means joint inflammation, | | | | 7 - 9 hours of restful sleep daily. |
| but it is also refers to a group of more than 100 | | | | |