With arthritis treatments such as Vioxx being removed from the market and the controversy companies such as Merc are facing, many arthritis patients are looking for alternative treatments. Natural arthritis remedies for often find a willing ear, not simply because the remedies are ‘Natural’ but because of the extreme side-effects accompanying many of the current Pharmaceutical arthritis remedies. The real question though is ‘Do these Natural arthritis remedies work?’

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common types of arthritis. Symptoms associated with this type of arthritis are pain and restricted movement. The pain is often chronic with varying degrees of distress when standing and walking. Pain is generally portrayed as aching, sharp, or a burning sensation in the associated muscles and tendons. Often descriptions include loss of mobility and stiffness in the arthritic areas.

Pharmaceutical treatments for arthritis begin with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These include acetaminophen (paracetamol) - which mainly decreases the pain - and agents such as diclofenac, ibuprofen and naproxen. High doses are often required.

All NSAIDs act by inhibiting the formation of prostaglandins, which play a central role in inflammation and pain of arthritis. Unfortunately, there is an increased risk of peptic ulceration with NSAIDs remedies. COX-2 selective inhibitors reduce this risk substantially, but carry a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, and some have now been withdrawn from the market. Studies continue with COX-2 with hopeful signs that better remedies will soon be produced. How soon, at this time, is not known.

Natural Supplements

The natural supplements glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate have recently been shown to improve arthritis symptoms, and to delay progression. Recent evidence however shows that glucosamine is not effective in reversing osteoarthritis of the knee.

Another isolated natural supplement showing promise in the arthritis area is S-adenosyl methionine (SAM-e). SAM-e is an amino acid. Small scale studies have shown it to be as effective as NSAIDs in reducing arthritis pain although it takes about four weeks for the effect to take place. If you do decide to try using SAM-e, make certain your diet includes fruits, vegetables, and a high intake of these three B vitamins: folic acid, B-6, and B-12. Using these can lower homocysteine levels, in case SAM-e raises them.

Though standardized dietary and natural supplement treatment of arthritis is still young, many researchers believe that antioxidants such as vitamins C and E will often help a great deal in the areas of pain relief. In 2005 a report from Arabelovic showed that Vitamin D deficiency is often in patients with osteoarthritis and recommended increasing natural supplement Vitamin D3 for pain relief.

Altman in 1991 showed that rhizome ginger’s extract has improved arthritis knee symptoms moderately.

In 1994 a study done by Flynn MA provided an arthritis remedy including large dosages of oral vitamins B9 and B12 significantly reduced osteoarthitic hand pain. This was done by reducing systemic inflammation.

Curtis CL in 2002 introduced the arthritis remedy which included natural supplements of omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil which reduces both the “degradative and inflammatory aspects of chondrocyte metabolism.”

One thing is very certain, the growing interest in seeking out natural remedies of dealing with the chronic pain associated with arthritis is producing greater results. Most of these arthritis remedies and natural supplements have little or no threatening side effects, and all of them can normally be used in conjunction with on-going pharmaceutical answers.

Always be sure to inform your doctor about arthritis remedies or natural supplements you are interested in, preferably before you try them.

Posted by Glenn Hefley in Example -- Health