What's An Arthritis Sufferer to Do?

[Daily Health News]

December 30, 2004

In This Issue... What's an Arthritis Sufferer to Do? -- Prescription medications can kill Keep Your Vision Healthy Antacids and Your Lungs -- Surprising connection between antacids and pneumonia Next Medical Revolution on the Horizon WHAT'S AN ARTHRITIS SUFFERER TO DO? First the pain and arthritis drug rofecoxib (Vioxx) was pulled from the market due to an increased risk for heart attack and stroke. Next came news that another COX-2 inhibitor, the anti-inflammatory drug valdecoxib (Bextra), can double the risk for heart attack and stroke. Then headlines focused on celecoxib (Celebrex) and the warning that it could increase risk for heart attack. Another arthritis drug -- infliximab (Remicade) -- is on cancer-causing alert. And now, there are warnings of the heart risks connected to the over-the-counter drug naproxen. What's an arthritis sufferer to do? A growing number of arthritis sufferers are seeking relief through alternative approaches. According to the Arthritis Foundation, 64% of Arthritis Today readers have used a dietary supplement in the past six months, as compared with 49% of the general population. (Order a free copy of Arthritis Today's Supplement Guide at www.arthritis.org.) With their trust shattered, arthritis sufferers now are looking beyond conventional drugs for solutions. To learn about natural alternatives, I consulted Mark A. Stengler, ND, a naturopathic physician in private practice in California and author of The Natural Physician's Healing Remedies (Bottom Line Books). He told me that dietary supplements often can provide effective pain relief, and sometimes even more benefits, such as reduced joint inflammation. REVIEWING YOUR OPTIONS: DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS Dr. Stengler recommends a variety of supplements for the relief of arthritis pain and inflammation. Since you may have to mix and match remedies to find the combination that meets your individual needs -- and because even supplements can have side effects -- it is best to consult a naturopathic physician for evaluation and guidance. You can find one in your area at www.naturopathic.org. Among Dr. Stengler's recommendations are... Boswellia (Boswellia serrata), which comes from the Boswellia serrata tree that grows in the dry hills of India. It can ease pain and improve function in people with arthritis. Take 1,200 to 1,500 mg of a standardized extract containing 60% to 65% boswellic acids two to three times daily. Bromelain, an enzyme found in pineapples, has a natural anti-inflammatory effect. Take 500 mg three times daily between meals. Dr. Stengler suggests products standardized to 2,000 MCU (milk clotting units) per 1,000 mg or 1,200 GDU (gelatin dissolving units) per 1,000 mg. Check the label. Cayenne (Capsicum annuum) cream works by depleting the nerves of substance P, a neurotransmitter that transmits pain messages. For symptomatic relief, apply a cream standardized to 0.025% to 0.075% capsaicin to the affected area two to four times daily. This old standby is one of today's recent medical discoveries. Ben-Gay, which contains capsaicin, is another option. Cetyl myristoleate (CMO) is an oil commonly found in fish and dairy butter. Preliminary studies have shown promise for treating arthritis. Take 540 mg daily. Devil's claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) improved knee and hip pain when taken in combination with NSAIDs in a recent study. Take 1,500 to 2,500 mg of the standardized powdered herb in capsule or tablet form daily, or use 1 millimeter (ml) to 2 ml of the tincture three times a day. Do not take devil's claw or NSAIDs if you have a history of gallstones, heartburn or ulcers. Evening primrose, black currant and borage oils contain the essential fatty acid gamma linolenic acid (GLA), which reduces joint inflammation. Adding good oils like these to your body -- and eliminating your intake of bad ones such as saturated oils -- can help you feel better overall. Take up to 2.8 g of GLA daily. Fish oils contain a direct source of the omega-3 fatty acids that reduce joint inflammation and promote joint lubrication. Dr. Stengler recommends a daily dose of at least 1.8 mg of DHA and 1.2 mg of EPA. Be patient -- improvement may take up to 12 weeks. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a popular choice for inflammation and pain relief. Pour boiling water over the grated root to make a tea, or add fresh ginger to your meals. If you want a stronger remedy, take 1 g to 2 g of the dried powder in capsule form two or three times daily, or use 1 ml to 2 ml of the tincture three times daily. Glucosamine sulfate from the tissues of shellfish and chondroitin sulfate from animal cartilage are good basic supplements for those with arthritis. Taken for four to eight weeks, they help decrease pain and inflammation. Recent evidence from two European studies suggests that glucosamine even may halt or reverse disease progression, and some people taking it may be able to reduce their use of NSAIDs. (See Daily Health News, May 17, 2004.) Dr. Stengler recommends 1,500 mg daily of glucosamine and up to 1,200 mg daily of chondroitin. MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) -- organic sulfur -- has natural anti-inflammatory benefits because sulfur is an integral component of cartilage. Take 2,000 mg to 8,000 mg daily. Reduce dosage if diarrhea occurs. SAM-e (S-adenosylmethionine) is an excellent supplement to reduce the symptoms of arthritis. A naturally occurring substance in the cells of the body that activates chemical reactions, it is required for methylation reactions, meaning that it makes available a carbon-hydrogen molecule for crucial chemical reactions to take place. In regard to the joints, SAM-e's methylation helps prevent the loss of water in cartilage, which keeps the joint more flexible. Take 600 mg to 1,200 mg daily for two months, followed by 400 mg to 800 mg daily as a maintenance dosage. Caution: Many arthritis supplements (including devil's claw, fish oil, GLA oils and ginger) thin the blood, which means you may be at a higher risk for bleeding if you also are taking NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen), blood-thinning medications or other dietary supplements that slow clotting, or if you have a blood-clotting disorder. PAIN RELIEF: THE SAFE AND NATURAL WAY Of course, dietary supplements are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to natural treatments for the relief of arthritis pain and inflammation. Other options you may wish to explore are diet, exercise, physical therapy, stress management, massage therapy, acupuncture, acupressure and yoga. Rest assured that, as drugs with toxic side effects are removed from the market, there are still plenty of safe and natural alternatives that can make arthritis easier to live with. KEEP YOUR VISION HEALTHY Keep the eyesight of a 25-year-old, with ingredients that have been shown to... Promote strong central vision Improve focus -- well into old age Strengthen night vision Block harmful UV and free-radical damage. Get real results guaranteed, with a powerful, doctor-developed vision formula that may help you naturally and safely keep your vision healthy for years to come. http://www.agora-inc.com/reports/650SV09/W650EC08 ANTACIDS AND YOUR LUNGS Antacids, such as Prilosec and Nexium, taken to suppress stomach acid and control heartburn and acid reflux, are among the bestselling medicines in the US. However, a recent Dutch study questions the safety of these drugs, suggesting that they may raise the risk for pneumonia. Although the risk is small, so many people take them that a large number might be affected. Link: Stomach acid not only plays a valuable role in the digestive process, it also kills bacteria and viruses such as those that cause pneumonia and influenza. According to Daily Health News contributing editor Andrew L. Rubman, ND, one also has to ask: Do acid-suppressing drugs similarly cause increased vulnerability to the flu? In his view, there is no such thing as "excess stomach acid." Dr. Rubman believes that there are safer ways to control heartburn and reflux, and suppressing stomach acid is not the answer. ABOUT THE STUDY Researchers in the Netherlands examined the medical records of 364,683 individuals, in whom 5,551 cases of pneumonia were diagnosed. They found that those who used proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs (such as Prilosec, Nexium and Prevacid), were almost twice as likely to risk developing pneumonia than former users. These drugs work by blocking the chemical pump necessary for stomach cells to make acid. People who took another class of acid-suppressing drugs known as H2 receptor antagonists (including Tagamet, Pepcid and Zantac) also faced a higher risk, although to a lesser degree. Older people and those with chronic lung conditions were especially vulnerable, and researchers recommended that these groups use acid-suppressing drugs only when necessary and at the lowest possible dose. WHAT YOU CAN DO According to Dr. Rubman, using antacids on a short-term basis for two to three weeks is fine for stomach ulcers or acute gastritis. However, on a day-to-day basis he advises that you instead follow a natural approach to efficient digestion... Eat slowly and take more time to chew your food thoroughly. Do not drink fluids with meals. In the absence of fluid, saliva becomes more concentrated and contributes to more efficient digestion of food. Do not lie down immediately after meals -- wait at least an hour. Do not eat late at night. Identify and avoid the foods that contribute to your heartburn. Common offenders include fried foods, fatty foods, spicy dishes, coffee, alcohol and chocolate. Stop smoking. If you are overweight, make an effort to shed pounds. If despite following these measures you experience heartburn and reflux, Dr. Rubman recommends that you see a naturopathic physician. He/she can prescribe a digestive enzyme to take with meals, which will calm your stomach without suppressing beneficial, germ-fighting stomach acid. As for the risk of pneumonia -- the healthier your entire body, the better able you will be to fight it. Be well, Carole Jackson Bottom Line's Daily Health News NEXT MEDICAL REVOLUTION ON THE HORIZON Until the 1950s, we just didn't know much about the major health problems. Perhaps 90% of our scientific studies have come since that time. Now we have the opposite problem. Now we have too many ways to cure cancer... too many ways to cure heart disease... too many ways to deal with strokes... and on and on. Fifty years of research have given us mountains of studies and a wealth of new options to improve our health. The end result is that with so much to read, we're still not sure what to do about our rheumatoid arthritis or hypoglycemia! It's great to have a choice -- but which remedy do we choose? Read on... Sources... What's an Arthritis Sufferer to Do? Mark A. Stengler, ND, naturopathic physician in private practice at La Jolla Whole Health Clinic in La Jolla, California, associate clinical professor at Bastyr University in Kenmore, Washington, and National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon. He is author of 16 books, including The Natural Physician's Healing Remedies (Bottom Line Books) and Prescription for Natural Cures (Wiley). Arthritis Foundation, www.arthritis.org Antacids and Your Lungs Andrew L. Rubman, ND, medical director of Southbury Clinic for Traditional Medicines in Connecticut and adjunct professor of medicine at I.W. Lane College of Integrative Medicine in Winter Park, Florida. You received this free E-letter because you have requested it. You are on the mailing list as [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or... a friend forwarded it to you. 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