Health Tips

It may begin so gradually that at first you aren’t sure there is anything wrong — you don’t have much of an appetite or you feel tired for no apparent reason. You may notice muscular aches and wonder if you caught a “bug” or overdid your workout. Then one morning you realize your joints feel stiff. Eventually, you experience pain in your joints, too, along with warmth, swelling and tenderness. You may have a problem — one of the most debilitating problems you could encounter. You may have the crippling condition known as rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (or “RA”) is, simply put, the inflammation of joints. It is a disease that is chronic (recurring) and systemic (affecting the entire body). In most cases of RA, there are periods of remission when you may seem to “get better,” but this is usually followed by a worsening of the symptoms.

Rheumatoid arthritis can affect many joints in the body (knee, ankle, elbow, wrist), and the joints that are actively involved with the condition are usually tender, swollen and have reduced mobility. Deformities can result from the destruction of cartilage and the supporting tissues around the bones. But because rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic condition, other parts of the body are also affected, and that accounts for a feeling of fatigue even though there may be no specific joint problems.

Except in very rare cases when RA may spontaneously go into full remission, there is no cure for the condition. It can, however, be controlled in most patients. The usual treatment of arthritis involves the use of painkillers, either non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin or ibuprofen, or the more potent corticosteroids.

The good news is that eating right and getting regular exercise often helps support bone and joint health without drugs. Yoga exercises, for example, can help keep joints limber. Eating dark green leafy vegetables, fresh fruits and whole grains helps maintain an adequate supply of magnesium and calcium — a critical factor, as many people with RA have calcium deficiencies. Papaya and pineapple contain the enzymes papain and bromelain, which are natural anti-inflammatory agents. And nutritional research indicates that certain foods may actually cause inflammation, so eliminating those foods from your diet can be helpful. (It’s necessary to systematically eliminate specific foods to determine which cause trouble.)

Additionally, alternative treatments have often had a positive effect on joint confort. Glucosamine sulfate and chrondroitin (derived from animal tissue) are natural substances that can stop or reverse the degeneration of joints by inhibiting the enzymes that break down cartilage, as well as stimulating the repair of cartilage, which then allows for smooth pain-free movement.*

The herb Boswellia serrata, used in Ayurvedic medicine, has shown good results in reducing inflammation and improving the blood supply to joint tissues. Antioxidant vitamins A, C and E, along with zinc and selenium, may help alleviate symptoms of RA because they fight free radicals, which damage body tissues. Certain oils (e.g., flaxseed, grape-seed, borage, primrose) can decrease pain and swelling, as can ginger and turmeric. Garlic (taken as capsules or used in cooking) acts as a natural antibiotic and anti-inflammatory.*

Rheumatoid arthritis doesn’t have to cripple you. The best advice? Maintain proper nutrition, exercise and learn which natural remedies best support your body. Once your body is in balance, it can begin to heal itself.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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