My husband suffers with arthritis in his hands (knots on his knuckles).?

Question

Anything natural he can use to correct it? In the mornings his fingers are really stiff and his knuckles stiff. It is often very painful. We really prefer something natural. He has taken condroiten and glucosamine...it just doesn't really help him (after 6 mos) enough.

Answer 1

Hello Suthinga,

There are really a lot of natural remedies that can help with arthritis pain and swelling. Diet is important too. There's vitamins, minerals, herbs and enzymes that help.

You may have heard that eating fresh bing cherries help with gout? I believe they may also help with arthritis.

Researching the alternative medicine information about arthritis seems like the thing to do in order to get more detailed info on what things to try.

To your health and happiness,

Diane

Answer 2

Sounds like he could benefit from the medical use of MARIJUANA!!!!

Recent research is accumulating evidence that cannabis therapies are effective for arthritis and the other rheumatic and degenerative hip, joint and connective tissue disorders. Since these are frequently extremely painful conditions, the ability of cannabis to combat chronic pain makes it useful for that aspect, both on its own and as an adjunct therapy that enhances the efficacy of opiod painkillers. The use of cannabis as a treatment for musclo-skeletal pain in western medicine dates to the 1700s.

But cannabis has also been shown to have powerful immune-modulation and anti-inflammatory properties,indicating it may treat chronic inflammatory diseases directly. In fact, one of the earliest records of medical use of cannabis, a Chinese text dating from ca. 2000 BC, notes that cannabis “undoes rheumatism,” suggesting its anti-inflammatory effects were known even then.

A number of good studies have shown that Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD)- key components of the cannabis plan- have anti-inflammatory properties.

The most recent study was reported by the Rheumatology department at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Disease at the University of Bath in England. The study was published in the journal Rheumatology. It compared a total of fifty-eight patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Thirty-one patients took the active drug versus 27 patients who received placebo.

The drug, Sativex, was administered as an oral spray in the evening. Dosing started at one dose then gradually built up to six doses. The trial lasted 49 days and patients were seen seven to ten days after treatment completion.

The drug was shown to improve pain with movement, pain at rest, quality of sleep, and inflammatory markers.

These results confirmed previous findings from other studies.

If you live in one of the 12 states that currently have Medical Marijuana Compassion Acts (Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington) apply for a card!

Visit www.norml.org

Answer 3

Arthritis Pain Essential Oil Blend

Relieve stiffness and pain by blending Rosemary and Lavender oils or Marjoram and Juniper (2 % of oils to vegetable base oils). It will improve blood supply to muscles and also help in speedy removal of Toxins.

* Eucalyptus oil can be used mixed with other oils such as Baby Oil, Almond Oil or Jojoba Oil to use as a massaging liniment to relieve aches and pains of muscle stiffness, soreness or cramping. This same mix can be used on joints, tendons, and ligaments to help relieve symptoms of Arthritis, Rheumatism, Fibrositis, and sore tendons.

Living With Arthritis

While Arthritis is usually considered to be a condition that affects the older generation, it can affect people of any age. It can affect any part of the body and there are thought to be over 200 different forms of the disease. However, the three most common types of Arthritis are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid and juvenile Arthritis.

People who are affected by Arthritis can go through many different feelings ranging from anger, frustration, worries for the future and concern about dependency. For the younger person affected by the disease feelings such as how other people will see you is a main concern, while the disease can be debilitating and so not easy to be positive about the outlook, people do come to terms with the condition. In order to come to terms with the disease you can

Talk about your feelings and fears – getting your feelings out in the open is essential to coping with your illness. Talking can relive the feelings of anxiety and Stress you feel about your condition and how others see you. Your confidant can be your doctor, a friend or family member or someone that is suffering from Arthritis themselves.

Learn how to relax and de-Stress – many people who suffer from Arthritis get stressed easily and are unable to relax. You should learn routines that allow you to relax quickly and easily or find an activity or hobby that you could take part in to ease and forget your Stress.

Seek help from a professional – if you don’t feel you can talk to a family member or friend then seek help from a professional. This could be a counselor, doctor, social worker or your local citizen’s advice.

One of the most debilitating aspects of Arthritis is the persistent pain it brings to the sufferer. However sufferers do seem to manage to keep the pain under control to a level where it doesn’t interfere too much with their day-to-day living. Here are some ways to help you deal with and manage the pain associated with Arthritis.

* Keep a note of the best time to take medication in order to get the best benefit

* Notice when cold, heat and getting rest helps the most

* See which form of exercise works best for you and when to do them

* Keep practicing relaxation techniques

* Take a pain management course

* Purchase a device such as the TENS unit to help manage your pain

* Consider hypnosis or acupuncture treatment

* Attend pain clinics recommended by you Doctor.

Catch fish

Eating fish or taking fish-oil Supplements enables people with rheumatoid Arthritis to reduce or even eliminate nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Arthritis Research and Therapy, 2006, vol. 8, no. 1). Although 1,500 mg of omega-3s per day is a good standard dose, Arthritis sufferers need upward of 3 grams daily for anti-inflammatory effects to kick in, says Paul Ratte, ND, of Woodbury, Minnesota. Or try cod-liver oil. “It’s more of a food source, and by taking it by the spoonful it’s more cost-effective than capsules,” he says.

Check out cherries

New research recommends tart cherry juice “for those aching pains postexercise or after a long day,” says Declan Connolly, PhD, director of the University of Vermont’s human performance laboratory. He recorded data from participants who drank 12 ounces of tart cherry juice or a placebo twice daily. “Our research has shown [that the juice] reduces muscle soreness and pain and speeds up recovery from a strenuous exercise bout.” He attributes this effect to anthocyanins, compounds in the juice that help inhibit inflammatory COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes (British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2006, vol. 40, no. 8).

Go nuts

In addition to providing good fats that reduce joint inflammation, nuts contain bone-protecting minerals, including calcium, magnesium, and potassium, that help fend off bone density loss (British Journal of Nutrition, 2006, vol. 96 Suppl 2).”Because nuts are so full of great nutrients, by substituting nuts for other less nutritious snack foods you may maximize the benefits to bones and joints. By the way, the skins contain a lot of the nutrients, so it’s a good idea to eat them, too,” says Sara Kurlandsky, PhD, of Syracuse University in New York. Walnuts are a great choice because they contain omega-3s, but all nuts have bone and joint benefits. Aim for a handful a few times a week.

## Herbs & Supplements

Cushion cartilage

Glucosamine and Chondroitin get (and deserve) the lion’s share of acclaim for joint health. They actually rebuild ailing joint cartilage by helping the body make a spongy material to hold water within joints, providing a springy resiliency. Look for a combined product that provides 1,500 mg Glucosamine and 1,200 mg Chondroitin daily; check the label for quality testing by a third party, such as the United States Pharmacopeia (www.usp.org) or NSF (www.nsf.org).

Check pain with sulfur

Joints need the mineral sulfur to keep connective tissues strong and stable. You’ll get plenty through the supplement methylsulfonylmetha ne (MSM), shown to ease joint inflammation and prevent cartilage breakdown. Recently, when a group of boomers with osteoarthritis of the knee took either 3 grams MSM or a placebo twice daily for three months, the MSM group experienced significant pain relief and improved use of knee joints (Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 2006, vol. 14, no. 3). A smaller amount, say 2 grams a day, might be enough to relieve joint pain, although it’s safe to increase it to 3 to 6 grams if necessary. Only a few people at this intake level report problems, such as Diarrhea, headache, and skin rash.

Boost calcium absorption

Vitamin D, which the body creates through sun exposure, is underappreciated for its crucial role in preventing osteoporosis. “Vitamin D is necessary for the efficient absorption of calcium, the principal bone mineral,” explains Robert P. Heaney, MD, a bone-mineral specialist and professor at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. “Therefore, if you’re going to get enough calcium in your body and keep it there, you have to have enough vitamin D.” Heeding well-known concerns about staying out of the sun, 65 percent to 85 percent of American adults are walking around with a vitamin D shortfall, Heaney says. He advocates Supplements of 1,000 to 2,000 IU per day.

Mind your magnesium

Getting too little of this mineral interferes with proper calcium metabolism and the hormones that regulate calcium, making usable calcium less available to the body. As a supplement, 250 mg magnesium is a safe, beneficial amount.

These are just some of the ways that people have been known to successfully manage their Arthritis and of course you should discuss ways to help you with your doctor. You doctor will also be able to advise you of clinics in your area that you can attend to learn how to deal more effectively with the disease and the pain that it brings.

** The best supplement for arthritis I have found: http://www.natural-holistic-health.com/a...

Hope this helps! :)

Dee

Answer 4

Some natural supplements are really effective for Arthritis:

Co-Q-10 60-100/day

Flax seed oil capsules 1000 mg/day

Olive & Grape seed oils

Fresh Pineapple (helps reduce inflammation)

B-50 (high dose/therapeutic B-complex) 1/day

Copper 4mg/day

Magnesium

Manganese

grape & grapefruit seed extracts

Vitamin C 1000/day

Vitamin E 400-800/day

Colloidal Silver (as instructed on the container)

Colloidal Gold (as instructed on the container)

Probiotics containing a minimum of 3-4billion live species per serving

Green Tea

Devil's Claw (herb)

MSM (natural sulfur) 1000-1500 mg/day in divided doses

honey+ginger tea......a few cups/day freshly made

sage+oregano tea....few cups/day also freshly made

Foods to avoid:

Salt

White/refined Carbohydrates

dairy products except yogurt which is actually very beneficial

All kinds of beer

Red meat

All kinds of Pop Sodas especially

All kinds of Artificial Sweeteners

Coffee ( can be drunk in moderation)

Hydrogenated & trans fats (Margarine, Gee, butter, fast foods, etc..)

Usuful things to do:

Direct sunlight 20 minutes/day

light excercise like walking, swimming..etc..

Sauna

Check out the link below, you'll find more answers there..

Best wishes to you and your husband.

Answer 5

good luck.  I have osteo arthritis in my fingers, hip, ankle, spine, wrists and shoulders.  I too have taken a boatload of the following, chondroiten, glucosomine, omega 3, aspirin, ibuprofen, Tylenol, celebrex, Vioxx, Bextra and ate cookies with grass(cannabis) in them.Some work for a bit, some made me sick, some are a waste of time and money and some just made me high without the pain relief.  The best was celebrex but my doc won't give it to me any more.  Hope you find something else that works. I haven't tried SAM-E yet and that is on my list next.  The natural supplements help somewhat and it is better than without but considering the stomach upset I get along with them, who knows!

Answer 6

Hi Suthingal,

Have you tried Gaia Garden 's Arthro Tone Tincture. It reduces pain and swelling in the joints and aids the elimination of acid wastes in arthritic conditions. Devil's Claw, Bogbean, Celery, Meadowsweet, Prickly ash, Willow, Black Cohosh, Turmeric, Guaiacum.

http://www.charismatichealth.com/gaia-ga...