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NSAIDS: Every year 25,000 people die from gastrointestinal bleeding due to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. (Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images)
“Why shoot a mouse with an elephant gun?” I recently asked a patient suffering from osteoarthritis (the wear-and-tear type of arthritis).
Before using strong drugs that may cause major complications, ask your doctor about these natural ways to treat arthritis.
Vitamin C. I believe this vitamin is the most-overlooked remedy for the treatment of aging joints. It’s an indisputable fact that vitamin C is needed to produce healthy collagen, a vital component of cartilage. Unhealthy cartilage means bones eventually grind against one another, causing pain.
Researchers at Boston University Medical Center studied the vitamin C intake of 640 people. They discovered that those with a higher intake of vitamin C were protected against the progression of osteoarthritis of the knee.
Remember, animals produce vitamin C and humans do not. Linus Pauling, two-time Nobel Prize winner, believed that humans receive enough C in food to avoid dying of scurvy but not enough to prevent arthritis or coronary attack.
Glucosamine and Chondroitin. These supplements have been used for years in Europe to prevent and treat arthritis. Glucosamine gives cartilage its structure.
Chondroitin works with glucosamine to attract and hold water, providing cartilage its cushioning effect. Several reports show that patients taking 1,500 milligrams of glucosamine and 1,200 milligrams of chondroitin daily with meals had less pain and increased mobility compared to those treated with a placebo.
Diet. A sound diet is powerful therapy for any condition, and arthritis is no exception. Studies show that a mostly vegetarian diet has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect on joints, thereby reducing joint pain. Patients with arthritis should concentrate on complex carbohydrates, such as whole grains, vegetables, legumes, and fruits.
Omega-3 fatty acids are high in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and are present in fish oils. They help to ease arthritis pain by decreasing the production of the prostaglandins that cause pain and inflammation. You can take two 360-milligram capsules of EPA twice a day with meals.
Low Intensity Laser Therapy (LILT). Many medical practitioners are using this treatment to ease arthritis and other painful joint conditions. LILT causes the release of endorphins, the body’s own painkillers; increases cortisol, the precursor of cortisone; and stimulates new blood-vessel formation. It is a non-invasive treatment without complications.
To my knowledge, natural approaches to arthritis treatment have not killed anyone. But in North America, every year 25,000 people die from gastrointestinal bleeding due to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, Tylenol, Advil and Motrin (ibuprofen), and Aleve (naproxen).
Pound for pound, natural remedies are much safer than prescription drugs, and it seems logical to try these first.
Dr. Gifford-Jones is a medical journalist with a private medical practice in Toronto.
His website is DocGiff.com He may be contacted at Info@docgiff.com
