From the Desk of Carolyn Dean MD ND
There are few things I love more than enjoying my garden or volunteering at my favorite farmer’s market and I’m happy that where I live, I can do that year-round. But in many parts of the world spring is upon you and as you plot out your gardening escapades, you might be noticing discomfort in your hands, making digging, hoeing, weeding, and planting uncomfortable or painful, or impossible. I’m not saying you have, or might have arthritis, but it’s time to dive into this topic and find out what you can do for yourself to get relief and get back into the dirt.
What Dr. Google or an MD might say about Arthritis
According to Dr. Google, there are more than 100 different types of arthritis, but this blog will focus on the most common, osteoarthritis.
This is considered a common, chronic, degenerative condition of the joints, mainly in the hands, knees, hips and spine and especially in people over 50. In the joints, where two bones meet, the tissues and cartilage protecting the bones breaks down and this reduction in cushioning results in the bones rubbing together and wearing down. They call this wear and tear.
Dr. Google says the symptoms of arthritis can be managed but cannot be reversed, which is a scary thing to say!
Typical symptoms include:
- Pain in joints
- Tenderness to the touch
- Swelling and inflammation
- Stiffness
- Reduced flexibility
- Grating, popping or clicking in joints
The cause of arthritis remains a mystery for the medical community, with their best guesses being age and genetics, overuse, injury and obesity contributing to the risk of arthritis. Women are more likely to develop arthritis than men.
When people read online that arthritis is a naturally occurring condition, like Dr. Google says, they interpret that as meaning it’s inevitable and they don’t take measures to correct the problems that are contributing to this joint pain and inflammation.
Sidebar: while I’m writing this, I have the www.arthritis.org website open and every few seconds, a popup window proclaims that somebody donated to this foundation. Here’s what they’re donating to:
“We vigorously advocate for better access to prescription drugs and we’re providing grants for new research that give more treatment options for people with arthritis”.
What do I say? Step away from the computer!
Dr. Google might suggest medical testing
Dr. Google says if the pain and stiffness don’t go away, it’s time to go to a doctor where you’ll likely be sent for x-rays and / or MRI to get images of the tissue and cartilage around your joints. You might have a blood test and a painful joint fluid test to rule out other causes of the pain and inflammation. Actually, there is no specific blood test for arthritis.
Dr. Google might … I mean, Will, suggest drugs
For the pain you might be prescribed increasing strengths of ibuprofen, acetaminophen and antidepressants for the chronic pain. Yes, antidepressants! You might also be subjected to cortisone injections which might relieve pain for a few weeks, but you can only have this steroid injection a few times a year because of the side effects. These naturally occurring degenerative conditions are big money for Big Pharma as your doctor is committing you to pain medication for the rest of your life!
What I say about Arthritis
First, I’m going to address the mainstream medical treatment of arthritis, which is directed toward suppressing pain and inflammation with stronger and stronger prescription medication without understanding that those drugs will cause more inflammation as they build toxicity and drain the body of magnesium and other minerals.
Historically, the first drug used to treat arthritis and hailed as a miracle cure was cortisone. It wasn’t long before the horrible side effects of bleeding ulcers, suppression of adrenal gland function and thinning bones turned the miracle into a disaster. Suppression of the adrenal glands begins in as little as 7 days on drugs like prednisone. This is why you’re limited to 3 or 4 cortisone shots per year.
A series of NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) that claimed to be safer than cortisone were also associated with bleeding ulcers. A newer generation of NSAIDs – Vioxx, Celebrex and Bextra – came under extreme fire in 2005 when Vioxx was shown to have caused approximately 140,000 heart attacks – many fatal. I say that the reason these drugs cause heart side effects is because they deplete the body of magnesium.
Ironically, magnesium is the best anti-inflammatory agent you can take for arthritis.
In my view, you can develop joint symptoms due to toxicity from processed foods, sugar, gluten, alcohol, coffee, or food to which you are allergic. These toxins can gather in vulnerable, overworked joints or in areas where you have suffered an injury. The only way to find out if these substances are causing problems is to eliminate them from your diet and see if your joints feel better.
Menopausal women often develop arthritic symptoms. Does cessation of the monthly period, which serves to rid the body of toxins, mean that, instead, the toxins are building up in the joints? That’s my theory, and the solution is quite simple; stop ingesting toxins!
A common cause of small-joint arthritis is allergy or sensitivity to the deadly nightshade family of potato, tomato, green pepper, tobacco, eggplant and paprika. These should be avoided for at least two months to determine possible allergy.
I’ve had so many patients “diagnosed” with “irreversible” arthritis whose joint pain and inflammation disappeared when they quit consuming the deadly nightshades.
It’s very simple to incorporate a good healthy diet for arthritis which includes whole grains (non-gluten), vegetables, nuts, seeds, fruit, fish, and chicken. Reaching optimum weight is also very important because any excess weight on an inflamed joint creates more pain.
Dr. Dean First Aid:
Simple advice for relief from the pain of arthritis includes:
* Castor oil packs or massaging with the oil. This oil has been proven to increase lymphatic blood flow to clear away toxins and inflammatory by-products.
* Gentle stretches and exercise; tai chi and yoga are especially helpful.
* Hydrotherapy: swimming or simple exercises done in a heated pool can do wonders. The downside to most pools, however, is the harsh chlorine used as a disinfectant. Ozone and saline pools are much safer.
* Massage therapy, especially lymphatic drainage massage helps circulation and clears away inflammatory by-products.
Supplements
Certain supplements can treat arthritis in several ways: they can alleviate symptoms caused by mineral and vitamin deficiencies, build cartilage, address pain and inflammation, and help you avoid the potentially life-threatening side effects of anti-inflammatory medications.
Magnesium
I will always guide you towards the use of magnesium, and in my book, Magnesium, the Missing Link, I present studies that have made distinctive links between having osteoarthritis and low levels of magnesium.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an essential building block for collagen. Remember those painful joints that rub together? They are lacking the collagen cushioning material that protects the joints.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D promotes healthy bones by regulating calcium levels and reducing inflammation in osteo and even rheumatoid arthritis.
If you, or someone you care about has been diagnosed with arthritis, please share this blog. And don’t forget to call our customer service if you have questions about our dietary supplements.
Carolyn Dean MD ND
The Doctor of the Future.
