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Natural Remedies for Arthritis
The Arthritis Foundation estimates that approximately 50 million Americans currently have arthritis. In fact, their statistics show that arthritis affects 1 out of 2 people age 50 and older. Although more than 100 different forms of arthritis have been identified, two types are most prevalent and of greatest concern: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis, tends to damage larger weight-bearing joints (i.e. hips, knees, shoulders), and is far more prevalent than rheumatoid arthritis, which attacks and inflames the smaller joints, (i.e. fingers, wrists and toes). Under the age of 45, osteoarthritis is more common in men; after age 45, it is 10 times more common in women. The National Rheumatism Foundation estimates that 8 to 10 million Americans have rheumatoid arthritis, the majority being women aged 36-50.
Traditional allopathic medicine treats arthritis with Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) despite the fact that they only mask the symptoms of the disease. NSAIDs can cause many serious side effects with long term use. In 1994, The New England Journal of Medicine published a study reporting that people taking NSAIDs over several years had an 800% increase in renal (kidney) failure and that these drugs directly led to about 75,000 hospitalizations and 7,500 deaths each year. Recently the FDA pulled the arthritis drug Vioxx off the market because of the increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. Vioxx was the largest recall ever in the pharmaceutical industry!
Because of the dangerous drugs that are being prescribed for arthritis, it is important to become educated about the natural remedies available. Consider trying natural remedies first and reserving the pharmaceutical drugs as the last resort.
Glucosamine Sulfate Sulfate is officially classified as a remedy for osteoarthritis and is considered a superior long term strategy by the World Health Organization. Glucosamine, formed from glucose, is present in high concentrations in healthy joints. Through the aging process glucosamine levels can decrease, causing a thinning of the cartilage, which contributes to the onset of osteoarthritis. Glucosamine sulfate is the preferred source of glucosamine used for the treatment of arthritis pain. Glusosamine sulfate has been the subject of many double blind studies all concluding that it not only relieves pain, but also promotes re-building of the cartilage. Also, it is virtually free of side effects.
Pregnenolone is a human hormone derived from cholesterol that helps reduce inflammation. The FDA considers pregnenolone a food additive and is sold as an over the counter nutrient as described by the Dietary Supplement Law of 1994. Originally it was researched in the 1940's for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Those studies showed that patients experienced between a 70% and 75% reduction in pain, with no side effects reported. Then, the pharmaceutical industry studied pregnenolone in the 1950's for rheumatoid arthritis with very good results. However, because pregnenolone is a natural product, and couldn't be patented, they worried about the financial viability of recouping their research and development costs. At that moment, Cortisone, a synthetic drug, was invented and was able to be patented. The study of pregnenolone stopped. Cortisone showed good short term results for relieving pain, but after a few years, its harmful side effects, including immune suppression and osteoporosis emerged. At this point, it was too late to stop the pharmaceutical industry's promotion of Cortisone. A few years later, an equally dangerous drug - Prednisone was invented.
Ginger is an anti-inflammatory herb. It has the ability to inhibit the production of inflammatory compounds in the body, particularity those seen in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) sufferers. The benefits of ginger have been scientifically tested in clinical studies. One study was conducted on 7 RA patients who had failed conventional treatment. One patient was treated with 50 grams of lightly cooked ginger each day, and the remaining patients were treated with either 5 grams of fresh or .1-1gram of powdered Ginger each day. Despite the differences in the form and dosage of the ginger, all the patients reported a noticeable improvement in their pain, joint mobility, stiffness and joint swelling. In a follow up study, 56 patients with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis and 10 patients with muscle pain were evaluated. After 3 months of taking powdered Ginger 75% of the arthritis patients and 100% of the muscle pain patients experienced pain relief.
EMU Oil has been used by Australian Aborigines for the treatment of muscle and joint pain for generations. Emu oil, containing many essential fatty acids, has been found to be the greatest skin emollient in the world. It penetrates the skin deeper than any other natural oil. Emu Oil is found to reduce the pain and swelling best in joints that are close to the skin's surface, like the hands, feet, knees elbows and back. Rheumatoid Arthritis sufferers receive the most benefit by massaging Emu Oil into painful joints 2-3 times per day.
M.S.M.- Methylsulfonymethane, a biological sulfur, is the 4th most abundant mineral in the human body. It is important for keeping connective tissues strong and healthy. Many doctors today believe that most people don't consume enough dietary sulfur to keep them healthy. Sulfur rich foods are red peppers, asparagus, cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and fish. Dr. Stanley Gerlinger, professor at the department of surgery at Oregon Health Sciences Center states, "MSM is a fascinating life-enhancing agent. I've studied a number of individuals who have taken MSM that have degenerate or rheumatoid arthritis, disc problems in their back, acute injuries, tendonitis, bursitis and the like, and it is certainly an important adjunct that gave long-lasting relief." Even muscle pain associated with multiple sclerosis and muscle cramps have responded well to MSM.
Commonly Asked Questions about the OE Joint Pain Formulas
The most asked question asked about the Joint Pain Formulas is: Why don't you have Chondroitin in your Joint Pain products? This answer is easy. The Chondroitin molecule is too big to be absorbed through the skin and therefore would sit on the surface of the skin and block the absorption of the other ingredients.
The second most asked question is why we use an animal product - Emu Oil in our Joint Pain products? The reason is that Emu Oil penetrates into the skin and draws the other ingredients in to the skin better than any other product except the chemical DMSO. DMSO is a known carcinogen. Given that choice, I chose the Emu Oil. Emu Oil is the main reason that the Joint Pain Products work so quickly, (within 3-4 minutes) and are so effective long term. We are constantly trying to find an oil from the plant kingdom that has the same properties as Emu Oil, but haven't found one yet. Please know that when we do, we will substitute it for the Emu Oil immediately.
When to use Joint Pain Formula - Arthritis,
And when to use Joint Pain Formula- Inflammation
Joint Pain Formula- Arthritis was designed for the Osteoarthritis sufferers who have thinning cartilage in large joints due to a decrease in glucosamine from the process of aging. It is formulated with the highest amount of Glucosamine Sulfate that can be stabilized in a cream, to help rebuild the cartilage, and then has the added natural anti-inflammatories: Pregnenolone, Ginger, Emu Oil, and MSM for maximum pain relief.
Joint Pain Formula- Inflammation was designed for everyone from Rheumatoid Arthritis sufferers to people with a sprained ankle. It is formulated with a lower amount of glucosamine sulfate, and much higher amounts of the natural anti-inflammatories: Pregnonolone, Emu Oil, Ginger and MSM. The RA sufferers and those injured do not need much glucosamine sulfate to rebuild their cartilage because the cause of their pain is either a temporary injury (as in the case of a sprained joint) or an autoimmune problem (as in the case of rheumatoid arthritis).
Testimonials for the Organic Excellence Joint Pain Formulas
Thank you for having this wonderful product, Joint Pain Formula- Arthritis, available. I was introduced to it by my chiropractor. It has worked so very well. I never want to be without it. Sincerely,
L. H.
I think you have a wonderful product! My wife had sprained her ankle and couldn't walk- after massaging it with Joint Pain Formula - Inflammation, within minutes she walked without any pain at all. My fellow doctors also feel as I do. You will probably be hearing from some of them soon. Thanks again,
Dr. S. H.
We would like to thank you for your fine product line and great customer service. You are the best! A while ago we ordered Joint Pain Formula - Arthritis for the knee joint. In no time at all the pain was gone and has not come back. Wow! Also, none of your products we have used have ever given us any side effects. You're a fine company and we thank you again.
K.& P. R.
PS: My wife loves your face creams too.
© Copyright 2006 by Cynthia Drasler, MBA. Permission is granted by Cynthia Drasler to reproduce this newsletter in whole or in part only if she and OrganicExcellence.com is credited as the source.
