5 Natural Remedies for Arthritis - and the Why and the Why

5 Natural Remedies for Arthritis - and the Why and the Why

A short preamble:

Another chronically unpleasant disease that is still on the rise worldwide is rheumatoid arthritis (RA).or as my old mother calls it, “Arfer”, AKA “Arthur” in proper Queens’ English, is triggered and exacerbated by our toxic modern diet of highly refined and processed sugars, grains and vegetable oils…

...most people these days simply don't consume enough of the oh-so-necessary nutrients needed to build and maintain strong bones and supple joints..simply..!!

RA is a chronic inflammatory disease that mostly affects the smaller joints in your hands and feet and causes painful swelling as it affects the joint linings, subsequently leading to severe erosion of the joint bones and the typical ugly deformity that is now well known and too often seen this painful disorder gaining ground.

Unfortunately, it doesn't always stop there either... In its worst stages, RA is a great all-rounder and will very often have catastrophic effects on other parts of the body such as the skin, lungs, eyes and delicate blood vessels.

Go hunting:

Although it can affect virtually anyone at any age, it is more common in women than men and usually only after the age of 40+.

Another thing to consider is the hereditary factor... your risk of developing the disease may be increased if a family member has RA.

The cause..?

Aside from poor eating habits and lack of exercise…

The truth is that the medical and scientific fraternities still don't know how it starts in your body... no one can yet define exactly what drives the development of RA, although a growing theory is that it's probably due to genetics... not specifically a malfunction in your genes, but the effect that infections, viruses and bacteria can have on your genes, effectively triggering the disease as we know it.

What is known is that the tendons and ligaments that hold your joints together become stretched and eventually weakened to the point where the joints eventually fall completely out of alignment... all caused when inflammation thickens the lining of the membranes that surround the joints - the "synovial".

This initial inflammation begins after your immune system appears to attack the synovial lining... for reasons not yet fully understood, as explained above.

A few basics for prevention…

!!!… Of course, of course, of course, of course and so on and so forth, ad infinitum… !!!

There really isn't much more I can say here that I haven't already said in other articles - and of course many others...

... it's about a holistic lifestyle of Natural Health & Wellness...Did you know that there are still areas of our world, i.e. parts of Africa, Asia, Indonesia and South America, where the population NEVER suffers from arthritis... EVER...?

And the reason...?

They do not live the typical “Western” modern lifestyle of toxin-filled, processed, sugar- and carbohydrate-rich foods that the rest of the world has been “persuaded” to accept – for all the wrong reasons…!

So… get enough vitamin D from sun, tuna, mackerel, salmon and sardines and vitamin K2 from liver, meat, milk, butter and cheese… all grass-fed.

In other words, eat healthy, healthy foods and healthy oils..!

And of course, EXERCISE (I know... a dirty word for some, right...?)... especially some strength training... It's crucial for bone and joint strength, no matter how old you are.

Some of the most common ugly symptoms...

♦ Swollen, tender/painful joints.

♦ Rheumatoid nodules – hard bumps under the skin of the arms.

♦ Stiffness of the joints that lasts hours after resting or sleeping.

♦ Weight loss and constant fatigue.

RA symptoms are very diverse and can vary greatly in intensity from person to person and may even appear as just a temporary pain - come and go, so to speak...

...but the most common characteristic is that it always starts in the smaller joints... the knuckles and the toe-to-foot joints... then eventually to the larger body joints - ankles, knees, hips, elbows and shoulders.

Over time, the joints of those affected become misaligned and take on the characteristic deformation and misalignment that can only be the result of this disease..!

Other risks associated with AR…

If you have RA, there's every chance you'll also suffer from:

♦ Osteoporosis – along with actual RA, RA medication can actually increase your risk of developing osteoporosis... Your bones are weakened, making them susceptible to fractures.

♦ Lung disease – increasing shortness of breath due to inflammation and subsequent scarring of the lungs.

♦ Heart disease – again inflammation… of the main sac and increased risk of clogged and/or hardened arteries.

♦ Carpel Tunnel Syndrome – Inflammation and swelling cause compression of the median nerve that runs through your wrist, resulting in tingling and/or numbness in the hand area near the thumb.

Some “natural” remedies…

These are my 5 favorite natural remedies that I know work... I've seen pretty amazing results with each one - a combination of all 5 is an absolute winner...

♦ LIFESTYLE CHANGES – As mentioned, proper nutrition with plenty of vitamin D and K2 – if you are not getting the right type of food, a supplement from your local health food store is the way to go.

♦ COCONUT OIL - one of my favorite natural power foods...it is very effective in reducing inflammation and soothing inflamed tissue and joints - it also strengthens bones.

♦ JOINT FRIENDLY EXERCISE - Resistance training is good for everyone, but RA sufferers should definitely do this - start gently and build up - IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU..!

...and I don't just mean weights - although that is my preference, how about a gentle daily dip in a warm pool..!?!

♦ DAILY STRETCHES - Yoga stretches are perfect... I practice a light yoga stretch almost every day and have my mother - an arthritis sufferer - practice them too... they work.

♦ MEDITATION - no, I'm not kidding... as an RA sufferer, you need to relax your muscles and joints as much as possible whenever possible - and the calming, relaxing meditation practice is absolutely the perfect way to achieve that.

One last anecdote:

In most cases, rheumatoid arthritis is uncomfortable and can look quite ugly as a person's joints twist and deform... it can become extremely painful and cause other health problems that only make the sufferer more miserable.

But it can be prevented... Lifestyle - as always, is the big thing here and while it's not always easy, changing diet and lifestyle habits is always a serious game-changer when it comes to improving your health..!

* * *

To end this harsh truth about an unpleasant illness, a short and warm poem called“Mother’s Hands”fromReena Sharma:

To the strongest woman I will ever know.

At first glance, Mom's hands may seem crippled and meek.

She flinches when you poke her and her grip is quite weak.

But these hands are a reflection of the woman inside,

although burdened with limitations, still strong with pride.

If opening a jar is too big a task,

Only after much hesitation does she finally ask.

Don't let this fool you because you need to understand it.

It's not about what they can't do, but what they can do.

These hands have the power to raise a family law,

To wipe away every tear and hold you tight.

They come together in prayer every day,

and whenever you need them, they are always there.

So if these hands don't seem too hard,

Remember, they are full of tenderness and love

and that's enough for me.

* * *

Inspired by Peter Kirwan