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Better Health Update #22 - Monte Kline, Clinical Nutritionist

Arthritis

Though usually not regarded as a terminal disease, arthritis is one of the most prevalent diseases, affecting millions. Of the 60+ age group, 97% show some arthritis on X-rays. However, while most think of arthritis as an old person's disease, often children and young adults are among its worst victims.

The term "arthritis" comes from the Greek words, "arthron" meaning "joint" and "-itis" meaning "inflammation." So in the general sense of the word, you have arthritis if your joints are inflamed. There are, however, specific medical tests to confirm particular types of arthritis, particularly tests indicating autoimmune disease.

JUST PART OF GETTING OLDER?

Many regard arthritic inflammation and pain as "just part of getting older." Yet there are many areas of the world, India being one example, where arthritis is virtually non-existent.

Someone told me the story of a 74 year-old man that went to his M.D. with pain in his left knee. The doctor just patted him on the back saying, "You have arthritis; you're just getting older." The old man thought a moment and then said, "But doc, my right knee is the same age as my left one, and it doesn't hurt!

I am reminded of Proverbs 26:2:

"The curse causeless shall not come."

If you have arthritis, there's a reason, and therefore the strong possibility of a solution.

TYPES OF ARTHRITIS

While there are many types of arthritis, the two most common are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis:

1. Osteoarthritis - Affecting approximately 16 million people in the United States, osteoarthritis is generally the elderly person's "wear and tear" type of arthritis. It affects women two to one over men. Symptoms are often fairly mild, yet progressive with age. Anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly used to relieve pain.

To better understand arthritis, it's important to understand the three types of joints in the body: (1) synarthroses - joints with little movement like the bones in the skull; (2) amphiarthroses-joints limited movement, like the vertebrae; and (3) diarthroses-freely moving joints, like the knees, elbows, fingers, hips, etc. Arthritis is rare in synarthrotic joints and occurs only occasionally in amphiarthrotic joints. But 90% of the arthritis occurs in diarthrotic joints-the ones with the greatest movement! Therefore, one of the most important points to understanding arthritis is that it is the function of joint movement.

The joint is encased in a fibrous capsule called the synovial membrane, which produces a lubricating liquid called synovial fluid. This would be analogous to joints on the suspension of a car with rubber fittings that hold the grease in. The ends of the bones within the joints are covered with a cushion called articular cartilage. This is sort of like a "Teflon coating" that reduces friction, making the joints move smoothly.

Throughout life the joints receive a certain amount of trauma resulting in some chipping away of this cartilage, but like all tissues, it tends to regenerate. When we're younger, the articular cartilage regenerates quicker than it does when we're older. Thus, with advancing age the cartilage wears down leaving only the rough, hard ends of the bones within the joints to rub against each other producing arthritic pain. Yet not all elderly people experience this degeneration.

2. Rheumatoid Arthritis - Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis is a young person's disease, afflicting a median age of around 30, though it also strikes children. It affects women three to one over men. This is the crippling, deforming type of arthritis, which may also produce fever, weakness,and fatigue.

In this type of arthritis the synovial membrane is inflamed and thickened. The synovial fluid changes chemically and begins to destroy the articular cartilage. The cartilage is roughened and ultimately eaten away. Next, the bones begin to send spurs into the synovial cavity with the joint becoming immovable. Finally, the spurs fuse together - no joint remains.

3. Gout - Typically gout affects overweight people consuming rich foods and/or alcohol. Most often it affects the big toe or other small joints of the hands or feet by depositing uric acid crystals, which in turn produce swelling, redness, heat sensation and extreme pain. One million Americans are affected, and unlike osteo or rheumatoid arthritis, gout affects men four to one over women.

4. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) - This form of arthritis affects the lower back vertebrae, producing swelling, stiffness, and ultimately a fusion of the joints. It may cause the entire spine to become rigid and deformed or produce breathing problems due to the inability of the chest to expand. Over 300,000 Americans are affected - men are affected two and a half to one over women.

5. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) - This is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system produces antibodies that destroy connective tissue. Its symptoms are similar to rheumatoid arthritis as far as producing painful, inflamed joints, although it does not cripple. Around 130,000 Americans have SLE, eight times as many women as men.

SUPEROXIDE RADICALS

The key to understanding the destructive chemical change that takes place with rheumatoid arthritis are chemicals called superoxide radicals. A radical in chemistry is an atom or molecule with a deficiency of electrons. This makes it chemically unstable - another way of saying it would be that it's "anxious" to combine with other molecules or atoms to stabilize itself. Superoxide radicals stabilize themselves by combining with oxygen. Think of them as oxygen sponges. Superoxide radicals in the synovial fluid of the joints produces chemical changes that destroy the articular cartilage.

So, why do the superoxide radicals develop in the joint? They're actually a result of the body's own immune system response. The typical pattern is the joint is traumatized or injured in some way, this causes inflammation, the immune system dispatches the PMN white blood cells to clean up the inflammation, these white blood cells produce superoxide radicals as a by-product, and arthritis results.

ENTER S.O.D.

S.O.D. stands for superoxide dismutase, an enzyme which neutralizes superoxide radicals by turning them into water and free oxygen. Diets high in superoxide radicals, like fried foods or other heated oils, deplete the body's natural supply of the S.O.D. enzyme opening the door for arthritis and other diseases of oxygen deficiency.

CONGESTED LYMPHATIC SYSTEM

The synovial cavity does have a "drain plug" for getting rid of these bad fluids in the form of a branch of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is a second circulatory system of the body that acts like a storm sewer, draining away toxic fluids.

But what happens if that lymphatic duct is congested and blocked due to mucous from allergic reactions or lack of exercise? Toxic accumulation will result in the joint that can in turn produce arthritic symptoms.

AMOEBIC INFECTION

There has been some research to suggest that infection in the joints by amoeba organisms may at least produce some kinds of arthritis. In these cases, increasing systemic copper levels should kill the organism, just as copper compounds are used to kill microorganisms in swimming pools and hot tubs. Conventional medicine uses various drugs to kill the infection.

NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES

Several nutrient deficiencies may be related to arthritis. Vitamin A has been shown to be deficient in most rheumatoid arthritics. B-vitamin deficiency is also very common. In my testing at our clinics I generally find a lot of mineral deficiencies as well.

CONSTIPATION

Chronic constipation is often found in arthritis sufferers, just as with virtually all other degenerative diseases. Toxic build-up in the body ultimately will lead to some disease - maybe arthritis.

SENSITIVE FOODS

Food sensitivities to common foods like milk, wheat, baker's yeast, potatoes, tomatoes, citrus fruits, or others may significantly produce or aggravate arthritic symptoms. Since inflammation is a common reaction to eating something you're sensitive to, testing specific foods, as we do in our clinics, is essential.

NATURAL MEDICINE STEPS

1. Strictly avoid refined sugar - This adversely affects every health problem, including arthritis.

2. Stop eating red meat - That means beef, pork, lamb, etc. Metabolic by-products of meat digestion can be very irritating to the joints.

3. Totally avoid fried foods.

4. Avoid sensitive foods - Get tested to find out which ones.

5. Drink distilled water - This is one of the best arthritis remedies I know of. Distilled water will flush out harmful mineral deposits that are irritating joints and connective tissue.

6. Correct constipation - Use psyllium husk and possibly herbal laxatives. Put good bacteria back into the digestive tract with a good acidophilus supplement.

7. Correct nutrient deficiencies - Get tested for deficiencies and compatible supplements.

8. Exercise - Milder exercises like walking are excellent for stimulating the lymphatic flow.

9. S.O.D. supplement - An S.O.D. supplement is often helpful. We test you for compatibility.

10. Anti-inflammatory homeopathics - Various homeopathic formulas have been used successfully in reducing arthritic inflammation. Rhus Toxicodendron is one of the most effective.

11. Anti-inflammatory enzymes - Bromelain, papain, trypsin, chymotrypsin, and others are often useful.

12. Anti-oxidant supplements - A number of anti-oxidant supplements are being widely marketed to help with many different diseases. These include Pycnogenol, grape seed extract, green tea extract, and others. I generally have not found that many people that test compatibly on these products or get that good of results. Like all supplements, they're good for some, but don't help others.

13. Shark cartilage - Though often promoted for arthritis, I haven't seen that good of results.

14. Glucosamine sulfate - We do find many arthritics that test well and note good symptomatic improvement using glucosamine. This is a natural substance that is found in the joints and stimulates repair of the cartilage.

15. Chondroitin sulfate - Often marketed with glucosamine sulfate, this has produced good results in studies in reversing pain and disability. In our testing at Pacific Health Center, we find a pretty limited number that test well on chondroitin sulfate, though.

16. Cetyl Myristoleate - CM is an ester of a fatty acid found in glands of beavers and certain mice. A researcher at the National Institutes of Health discovered that a certain species of mice did not get arthritis and determined their naturally occuring high levels of CM were the reason. When lab rats were given a substance that normally produces arthritis symptoms, 100% of the rats that did not get CM developed arthritis and 100% of those that did get CM did not get arthritis. CM has three properties: (1) Anti-inflammatory; (2) Joint Lubrication; and (3) Immune System Modulation (making it a useful supplement for autoimmune diseases. It's an expensive supplement, but usually not needed long-term to maintain benefits.

The key is this: different supplements are right for different people. Individual testing will determine the right ones for you.

DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this publication is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose illness nor prescribe treatment. Rather, this material is designed to be used in cooperation with your nutritionally-oriented health professional to deal with your personal health problems. Should you use this information on your own, you are prescribing for yourself, which is your constitutional right, but neither the author nor publisher assume responsibility.