Arthritis
is an inflammation of the joints, while the term 'rheumatism'
includes a variety of symptoms, such as inflammation, pain,
tenderness and stiffness of muscles and joints. These conditions
are extremely widespread and most people develop some form
of arthritis or rheumatism during their lifetime.
The
most common forms of joint diseases are usually classified
as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and gout. Apart
from joint and muscle pain, rheumatism may also involve
the tendons, bones and nerves and may manifest as rheumatic
fever, sciatica, lumbago, spondylitis, low back pain, bursitis,
neuritis and myositis.
Rheumatoid
arthritis affects mainly younger individuals and is three
times more common in females than in males. It can persist
into old age, progressively becoming more disabling. Early
symptoms include redness, swelling and soreness of joints.
Often joints are affected symmetrically, that is both wrists
or knees are involved. Pain and stiffness may also travel
to other joints and affect the whole body. In later life
lumps and nodules may appear at the joints and lead to deformities.
Osteoarthritis
starts usually after the age of 40. It is also called degenerative
joint disease. It develops more slowly than rheumatoid arthritis
and does not spread to different parts of the body. Due
to chronic inflammation around a joint, the protective cartilage
wears away, causing bone ends to rub together, erode and
sometimes fuse together (ankylosis).
Gout
is characterized by painful joint inflammations, chiefly
those in the hands and feet, usually the big toe is prominently
involved. There is a high level of uric acid in the blood
and tissues. Uric acid and other toxins and metabolic residues
accumulating in muscles and around nerves, often in combination
with food allergies, cause the inflammations and pain in
muscles (myositis) and nerves (neuritis).
The
common medical treatment for these conditions consists mainly
of anti-inflammatory drugs, pain relief measures and physiotherapy
to maintain a degree of mobility in affected joints, but
it cannot slow or reverse the progressive deterioration
of the disease. As a last resort affected joints may be
surgically replaced.
WRONG
FOOD
Arthritis
is sometimes called the 'cooked food disease'. A high intake
of cooked, sweet and fatty food is usually characteristic
in the development of the disease. Alternatively, there
is an inability to handle sweet and fatty food. Other main
factors are a high incidence of food allergies, nutritional
deficiencies as well as an unhealthy intestinal flora.
Rheumatoid
arthritis in particular is closely linked to food allergy.
Most sufferers greatly improve when they are on a fast or
restricted diet, which eliminates the foods to which they
are allergic. Cows' milk products and wheat products are
the most common offenders, but there is usually a whole
range of foods to which individuals react with a worsening
of symptoms.
When
aspirin and other commonly used pain relieving drugs are
taken, the intestinal wall becomes less effective in blocking
harmful partly digested nutrients and frequently a worsening
of symptoms occurs in the longer term. The same happens
if fruit acids are ingested or sweet food is eaten. The
inefficient metabolism of these individuals converts sweet
food only partly into energy; the rest forms lactic acid.
Acids liberate histamine, which in turn causes swellings
and strong inflammatory reactions. Therefore, inflammatory
conditions deteriorate if fruit acids or acid-forming foods
are ingested, while alkaline-forming foods, generally vegetables
and those rich in minerals are beneficial.
Another
group of foods to increase allergic inflammations and pain
sensitivity are the polyunsaturated oils. These are converted
to arachidonic acid (also present in meat) and further into
a group of tissue hormones, called prostaglandins, which
are pro-inflammatory. Also inorganic iron in supplements
and water (brown residues) can trigger inflammations.
The
opposite effect, reducing pain sensitivity and inflammation,
has another group of oils containing so-called Omega-3 fatty
acids. These are mainly present in linseed and fish oils
and form prostaglandins, which are anti-inflammatory.
While
food incompatibility is a frequent trigger of rheumatoid
arthritis, there may also be allergies to inhaled substances,
such as gas from a gas stove or heater, car exhaust fumes,
cigarette smoke, solvent fumes, perfumes, moth balls or
any strongly or persistently smelling substance at home
or work. Even toothpaste, make-up, detergents in dishwater,
synthetic clothing, especially nylon or any environmental,
agricultural or food chemicals may contribute to this condition.
All
of the factors causing or influencing rheumatoid arthritis
can also contribute to the development of osteoarthritis.
As the onset later in life shows, there must be another
negative factor, which develops over time. As we will see,
it is not age itself, which is the real problem, but the
declining health of most people with advancing age and that
is an important difference.
Joints
need to be well nourished to maintain a healthy structure.
Vitamins, minerals and other nutrients are required in sufficiently
high concentrations to maintain and regenerate the cartilage
linings of the joints and the synovial membranes and fluids
surrounding them. Most individuals living on a 'normal'
mixed diet are more or less deficient in one or more of
these essential nutrients and this will lead over time to
a gradual deterioration of joints, especially those which
are heavily used but do not receive an adequate supply of
nutrients. Commonly affected are the weight-bearing joints
in overweight individuals and also joints with old injuries.
Medical
Evidence
There
are various experimental studies, which show the extent
of the allergy problems, especially in the causation of
rheumatoid arthritis. In one report all 45 patients significantly
improved in all seven objective and subjective disease parameters
while on a 7-day water fast; a similar result was reported
by another author in a study with 25 patients. Subsequent
challenges with implicated foods provoked intense reactions
with severe deterioration.
Reactions
occur mainly against foods, which are overused in a society.
While in Australia these are mainly wheat, cows' milk products
and meat, in the United States there is also a high incidence
of allergy to corn and soy products. However, the deciding
factor is the individual food preference of the affected
person. Foods to which we are addicted and like to eat every
day are usually the worst offenders.
Another
report concerns 6 patients with rheumatoid arthritis who
all had remissions of joint symptoms when they went on a
low-calorie fat-free diet. When, after 7 weeks, either animal
fat or vegetable oil was reintroduced they all experienced
return of their symptoms within 72 hours. Chicken, cheese,
safflower oil, beef or coconut oil all caused inflammatory
deteriorations in their joints.
Foods
of the nightshade family frequently have a negative effect
on arthritis. These include potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant
and capsicum. In a study with 5000 arthritics who avoided
nightshades over 70% reported a gradual improvement over
the 7 years of the experiment.
Nightshade
foods contain the alkaloid solanine, which is highest in
greened potatoes but also to some degree in green tomatoes
and green capsicum. It may be assumed that it is mainly
the occasional ingestion of green parts of nightshades,
which cause the arthritic problems. This may include green
capsicum and the green inner parts of some commercial tomatoes.
Also damaged potatoes are higher in solanine.
Arthritics
frequently do not have sufficient gastric acid for the proper
digestion of proteins. This causes deficiencies in proteins,
minerals and vitamin B12 as well as over-sensitivity to
bacteria in food and water. Of a group of 35 arthritics
28.6% did not have any gastric acid (achlorhydria) while
another 17% had only very low gastric acid levels (hypochlorhydria).
Supplementing
meals with hydrochloric acid to assist in the digestion
does not adversely affect joint inflammations. Such inflammations
are aggravated by insufficiently metabolized fruit acids,
such as citric acid, but also vinegar. However, with advancing
age inflammatory processes decrease to be replaced by increasing
calcifications and stiffness. In this situation it is actually
beneficial to supply plenty of fruit acids and cider vinegar.
This
difference in the reaction to fruit acids results from age-related
changes in the metabolism. Initially the ingestion of sweet
foods causes overacidity in the tissues through accumulation
of lactic acid and metabolic fruit acids from the citric
acid cycle. This causes joint erosion by leaching calcium
from the bones. With advancing age, on the other hand, the
metabolism slows down. Sugars may then cause diabetes or
be converted to fat and cause overweight. Now a deficiency
of metabolic acids develops. The tissues and fluids around
the joints become too alkaline, inflammations fade out,
instead calcium starts to deposit around the joints, forming
spurs and causing joints to grow together (ankylosis).
The
generally low gastric acid levels in combination with an
unhealthy intestinal flora may be the major causes for the
high incidence of malnutrition in individuals with rheumatoid
arthritis. In one study it was reported that nearly 75%
of patients in Alabama have signs of malnutrition. Most
frequently deficient are protein, zinc, folic acid, pantothenic
acid, vitamin C, selenium and cystine. Cystine is a sulfur-containing
amino acid that is high in connective tissue, skin, nail
and hair. In arthritics the cystine content of fingernails
was only 8.9% compared to a normal value of 12%. Raw egg
yolk is the best source of sulfur-containing amino acids
(except if allergic to it). The best supplement for organic
sulfur is MSM.
Sludged
Blood
A
major contributing factor, especially with rheumatoid arthritis,
is an overgrowth of the intestines with undesirable bacteria
and fungi. The main cause for this is usually antibiotic
treatment, sometimes also the meat from animals reared with
routine antibiotic feeding as well as other drugs. The problem
is aggravated by low gastric acidity as well as a diet high
in sweet foods.
Frequently
the intestinal walls are damaged by a high gluten intake
as well as by allergenic inflammations and this allows bacterial
decomposition products to enter the bloodstream and weaken
the immune system as well as aggravate the joint inflammations.
Another contributing factor in this process is the use of
aspirin and other analgesics that make the intestinal walls
more porous.
This
invasion of bacterial allergens combined with food allergens
not only produces joint inflammations, but also a phenomenon
called 'sludged blood': the red blood cells begin to aggregate
and clump together.
In
this condition they cannot be sufficiently charged with
oxygen and in addition they clog the blood capillaries in
the muscles, leading to oxygen starvation, lack of nutrients
and accumulation of metabolic waste products. This results
in a generally sluggish blood circulation, which is a major
cause of the morning stiffness in arthritis.
The
clumped blood cells and the resulting sluggish circulation
could be directly observed in the capillaries of the conjunctiva
of the eyes of arthritics. This same condition is responsible
for a raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate or E.S.R. in
the blood with inflammatory arthritis. A raised E.S.R. is
usually indicative of a general infection or of inflammatory
and widespread immune reactions in the body.
In
addition to infections, inflammations and allergies, also
a high fat intake induces temporary sludging of the blood.
This is probably the reason for the improvement experienced
on a low fat diet. Arthritics often have poor liver functions
and a slow clearance of fat particles (chylomicrons) from
the bloodstream. This makes blood cells stickier, causing
them to clump together and the resulting oxygen deficiency
increases the pain in the affected area.
It
has been shown that sludging of the blood occurs temporarily
in an area, which has been traumatized by a sudden impact
injury such as a fall or a strong blow. This localized sludging
may be the cause of the frequently resulting 'traumatic
arthritis'.
Meat
and Sugar
Calcium
leaching out of joints, bones and teeth is a major cause
of arthritis, osteoporosis and tooth decay. There are two
commonly used foods, which lead to elevated calcium blood
levels and subsequently increased loss in the urine. These
are meat and sugar.
Meat
stimulates the parathyroid glands to become overactive,
due mainly to high phosphorus content. Also many soft drinks
are very high in phosphorus. Increased parathyroid activity
means raised calcium blood levels and the sources of this
additional calcium are the joints and bones. Compared to
vegetarians, meat-eaters lose on average two to four times
the amount of calcium in the urine; the higher the intake
of meat and other animal protein, the greater is the calcium
loss.
It
is similar with sugar. After ingesting sugar, insulin blood
levels are raised and these, in turn, raise the calcium
level. When individuals with a normal insulin response ingest
100 g of sugar, the loss of calcium in the urine approximately
doubles. However, many individuals have a poor sugar metabolism
with an exaggerated insulin response as in hypoglycemia.
In these individuals a test load of 100 g sugar increases
the calcium loss with the urine about four-fold. It is unconceivable
that joints could remain healthy with such huge and continuing
loss of calcium.
Another
important nutrient for joint health is magnesium, which
is also regulated by the parathyroid glands. If calcium
is raised in the blood, then magnesium is lowered and vice
versa. This means, an increased magnesium intake will lower
the calcium blood level and therefore less or no calcium
needs to be leached from bones and joints. With sufficient
magnesium intake calcium may even be redeposited into joints
and bones. However, experience shows that a high calcium
intake in this situation leads only to calcifications in
the wrong places, such as spurs, kidney stones, ankylosis
and arteriosclerosis.
With
these insights we can also understand why the common medical
advice for the prevention of osteoporosis - to ingest more
milk products and use calcium supplements - is generally
ineffective. Clinical statistics show that calcium loss
from the bones continues unabated. Instead, the real solution
is to minimize the intake of animal protein and sugar and
increase the intake of magnesium and boron. In addition,
hormonal changes (menopause) play a role as well as vitamin
D deficiency.
A
diet high in meat and other animal proteins contributes
also to the formation of high levels of uric acid. Purines
are formed from the breakdown of nucleic acids, which are
part of the nuclei of cells. Uric acid is formed from the
oxidation of purines, but it can also be synthesized from
simple metabolic molecules. While it may not be advisable
to eat large amounts of cooked beans and peas due to their
purine content, sprouted legumes are still recommended even
with gout.
Sugars,
especially fructose and the fructose part of household sugar,
increase the production of uric acid and possibly the breakdown
of nucleic acids. However, an even stronger effect on uric
acid production has alcohol, especially in the form of beer.
95% of those affected with gout are males and of these the
most common feature is high beer consumption.
Caffeine
from coffee and theophylline from tea are methylated purines.
While they do not seem to have a direct effect on uric acid
levels, they greatly contribute to the loss of calcium and
magnesium from the body. 300 mg of caffeine, which may be
found in three cups of coffee, doubles urinary calcium loss
in both men and women.
SPECIFIC
NUTRIENTS
Arthritics
of all types generally show a wide range of vitamin and
mineral deficiencies. Often there are abnormalities in the
metabolism, which require much higher amounts than normal
in order to be effective.
Nicotinamide
(also called niacinamide) is most effective with osteoarthritis
and especially with knee problems. In one controlled study
663 patients on nicotinamide had a much better range of
joint movements than untreated controls. Decreased pain
and increased joint mobility are noted in 2 - 6 weeks. The
dosage increased gradually to 1 g three times daily and
was tapered off once effective. In addition a high dosage
B complex was used.
Pantothenic
acid, on the other hand, another B-group vitamin, is more
effective with rheumatoid arthritis. Acute deficiency of
pantothenic acid in the rat produced pathological joint
changes, which were like those in osteoarthritis. Supplementation
of patients produced a limited variable improvement, which
ended when the supplementation was stopped.
Patients
with rheumatoid arthritis have significantly lower pantothenic
acid blood levels than controls and the degree of the deficiency
has been shown to correlate directly with the severity of
symptoms: the lower the levels of the vitamin, the more
severe were the symptoms. After 2 months on 4 times daily
500 mg of pantothenate a group of patients showed significant
improvement in morning stiffness, degree of pain and disability.
In
another trial a group of patients received a daily injection
of 50 mg of pantothenate either alone or with Royal Jelly.
Symptoms had improved after 7 days but showed no further
improvement with continued injections. When the injections
were stopped, blood levels gradually fell to their original
low levels with a return of the former symptoms.
Vegetarians
generally had higher pantothenate blood levels and responded
better to pantothenate supplements. Interestingly, the degree
of sludging of the blood and with this the E.S.R. improved
with pantothenate supplementation.
Vitamin
B6 is mainly beneficial for problems with the hands, fingers,
wrists, arms and shoulders. Numbness, tingling, pain, stiffness
and weakness commonly improved in 8 - 12 weeks while on
100 - 150 mg vitamin B6 daily. Sometimes doses of 500 mg
or more are given daily together with zinc supplements.
Vitamin
E is an inhibitor of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins. In
this way it should be beneficial in all forms of arthritis.
During a 10 day trial with 900 I.U. of vitamin E daily 52%
of patients reported a good pain relieving effect.
Vitamin
C supplementation has been shown to be beneficial in all
forms of arthritis. Guinea pigs with artificially induced
osteoarthritis developed severe symptoms on a low vitamin
C intake but only mild symptoms on a high intake. Blood
and tissue levels of vitamin C are especially low with rheumatoid
arthritis. With gout 4 g of ascorbic acid daily increased
the urinary excretion of uric acid while a daily intake
of 8 g in addition strongly lowered the uric acid blood
levels. High vitamin C blood levels reduce histamine levels
and with this inflammations. A high intake of niacin or
nicotinic acid, on the other hand, may decrease uric acid
excretion and provoke an attack of gout.
While
folic acid levels are generally low with rheumatoid arthritis,
supplements seem to be most helpful with gout. High doses
of 10 - 75 mg daily have been used to block uric acid production
and have been reported to be more effective than drugs in
reducing uric acid blood levels. Additional vitamin B12
may be required with such high folic acid intakes.
Minerals
Copper
has a reputation of being an effective anti-inflammatory
agent in arthritis. Medically it is mainly used in the form
of copper salicylate. It can increase joint mobility, decrease
swellings and pain and normalize the E.S.R. In one study
65% of 620 patients became symptom free, also other inflammatory
joint diseases improved for an average of 3 years. Commonly
60 mg of copper salicylate are used twice daily for 10 days,
if not available experiment with chelates or gluconate of
copper. Copper deficiency causes uric acid levels to rise
in gout. Copper blood levels in rheumatoid arthritis are
elevated as liver stores are mobilized in response to the
inflammatory processes, causing tissue deficiency.
However,
arthritis sufferers have found that it is often quite effective
just to wear a copper bracelet around the affected limb.
This practice has been validated by medical research. When
after one month the copper bracelet in a large group of
patients was replaced by a placebo (an imitation bracelet)
those who had previously improved deteriorated again. The
average loss of copper from the bracelets for one month
was 13 mg, presumably dissolved by the sweat and absorbed
into the skin.
Zinc
levels in the blood and cells of patients with rheumatoid
arthritis are markedly reduced as compared to controls,
however, more zinc than normal is lost with the urine. High-level
zinc supplements led to significant improvements in most
patients in regard to all disease parameters. However, if
very high intakes (e.g. 3 X 50 mg of zinc) are maintained
for long periods, say for more than 6 months, copper deficiency
may develop with deterioration in symptoms. In addition,
high doses of zinc sulfate may irritate the digestive system.
Iron
is a problem mineral. Like zinc, it is elevated in the synovial
fluid around the joints but too low in the serum. Iron deposits
can often be seen in the membranes of affected joints. There
are reports of female rheumatoid arthritis patients deteriorating
with ferrous sulfate supplements. On the other hand, there
is often anemia in female patients which calls for more
iron. The suggested solution is to supplement meals with
ascorbic acid, which greatly increases iron absorption in
an organic form, which is less likely to cause problems.
Selenium
levels are depressed with rheumatoid arthritis. The longer
the duration of the disease and the more severe the symptoms,
the lower are usually the blood selenium levels; conversely,
increased selenium levels are also related to improved hemoglobin
levels in the blood.
There
is a history of taking sulfur baths for arthritis. The beneficial
effect of this has been confirmed in medical studies. Blood
sulfur levels rise following sulfur baths. Alternatively,
patients may take powdered sulfur. This resulted in an improvement
in many cases with the generally reduced cystine content
of fingernails returning to normal values. Cystine is a
sulfur-containing amino acid, which is high in egg yolk.
Molybdenum is required to incorporate sulfur into cartilage.
Boron
has been reported to be of help to many arthritics. This
may be because boron lowers the urinary excretion of calcium
and magnesium and raises the blood level of sex hormones,
especially in post-menopausal women. Boron occurs naturally
in fresh fruit and vegetables or may be supplied as borax
or boric acid.
Other
Anti-Rheumatic Agents
While
polyunsaturated oils from oil seeds tend to produce inflammatory
tissue hormones or prostaglandins, fish oils, the linolenic
acid in linseed and a rare kind of oil in evening primrose
oil (gamma linolenic acid) help to produce anti-inflammatory
prostaglandins. Commonly linseed oil, cod liver oil or capsules
of fish oil concentrates are used. With evening primrose
oil (e.g. 4 times daily) it may take 4 - 12 weeks for benefits
to be felt. Some patients who show the best long-term benefits
may feel worse during the first 2 weeks. Also other anti-inflammatory
remedies are helpful, such as fresh ginger, turmeric, feverfew,
golden seal and propolis.
Flavonoids
are mainly yellow, orange, pink or purple plant pigments
as in various fruits and flower petals. Some of the more
potent ones are called bioflavonoids; these include rutin
and hesperidin. Flavonoids strengthen the blood capillaries,
improve the absorption and action of vitamin C, they are
strong antioxidants and have anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory
properties. In this way, they are especially beneficial
with inflammatory forms of arthritis. In particular, some
flavonoids inhibit the autoimmune reactions around the joints.
A good diet contains 1g or more of flavonoids. They are
also available as supplements.
The
amino acid D,L-phenylalanine is quite effective as a pain
reliever. It may take up to 3 weeks to get results. Commonly
750 mg 3 times daily has been used; if not effective double
the dose for another 3 weeks. Inflammation and swellings
may be reduced. A similar beneficial effect has been found
with the amino acid tryptophan. Patients who had been treated
with tryptophan for depression also had relief from arthritis.
Also the amino acid L-histidine may be beneficial.
Mucopolysaccharides,
also called proteoglycans, form long chains which are the
basis of the cartilage and connective tissue. Normally proteoglycans
make up about 80% of cartilage. In arthritic cartilage this
may be reduced to 40% or less. Ingesting proteoglycans as
food or supplements has been shown to be very beneficial.
These
can be supplied from green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus).
Several experimental studies have shown significant improvement
in most patients with long-term supplementation. In addition,
calf cartilage has been used with good results, especially
injections of pre-digested cartilage. Now also liquid oral
bovine cartilage is available. I regard it as preferable
to shark cartilage, which is difficult to digest and absorb.
Other foods rich in proteoglycans are Aloe vera, oats, okra,
sweet potato leaves, shark fin soup, Irish moss and especially
broth of fish heads. The amino sugar glucosamine is a main
raw product for the synthesis of proteoglycans. Supplying
sufficient glucosamine, about 1.5 g per day, helps to restore
normal cartilage composition and is very beneficial for
affected joints. Another basic building block of cartilage
is chondroitin sulfate.
Yucca
is one of the few herbs’ that have been scientifically assessed
in the treatment of diseases. Of 149 arthritics 61% had
less swellings, pain and stiffness. Some required several
months of treatment before improving. Encouraging reports
are also available for the bitter root of devil's claw.
Protein-digesting
or proteolytic enzymes are well known for their anti-inflammatory
properties. Bromelain, an enzyme from pineapple, was found
to improve most inflammatory arthritic conditions.
WASTES,
TOXINS AND MICROBES
Tense
muscles surrounding a joint have a further strong influence
on joint deterioration. Such muscle tensions may originate
from overwork of this particular muscle group or the cause
may be unreleased emotional tensions. If we feel an emotion
but do not properly act to release it, then this energy
is stored in a corresponding muscle in the form of a permanent
contraction of some muscle fibers.
This
is called muscle armoring. Unreleased anger may, for instance,
affect the shoulder muscles and unreleased sexual tension
may amour pelvis and hip muscles. An armored muscle has
a permanently contracted core with greatly reduced blood
and lymph circulation. This in turn encourages the accumulation
of toxins and metabolic wastes in this area. Such armored
muscle groups around a joint will also prevent an adequate
supply of nutrients from reaching the joint.
Furthermore,
armored muscles, because of their lack of nutrients, tend
to produce large amounts of lactic acid. This in turn liberates
histamine and leads to inflammations. At the same time,
these over-acid conditions contribute to the erosion of
bones and joints (e.g. osteoporosis). On the other hand,
when conditions are too alkaline (e.g. when the metabolism
slows down with advancing age) then calcifications will
occur as with joint deformities.
While
armored muscles will in this way lead to malnourishment
of joints and to arthritis, also the reverse is true: an
inflamed joint will lead to muscle tension and armoring
around it and this in turn will further contribute to the
long-term joint deterioration.
Dental
Hazards
In
addition to an unhealthy intestinal flora, another main
source of endogenous toxins, those produced within the body,
are dead teeth. Dead teeth are even more dangerous than
mercury amalgam fillings and having two different kinds
of metal in the mouth. Teeth with a root canal filling,
a post-crown and sometimes also teeth with large fillings
or pins are dead.
Dead
teeth slowly disintegrate and cause a chronic osteitis with
softening and inflammation of the surrounding jawbone. Toxins
are continuously released into the surrounding tissue and
blood stream. This process may continue even after removal
of a dead tooth if the diseased bone is not curetted or
scraped out back to the healthy jawbone, or if any fragments
of root or metal remain embedded.
In
addition, in the acupuncture system each tooth is related
to a specific energy meridian, organ and also joint. Therefore,
an interference field in a specific tooth can trigger or
intensify arthritis in a related joint. To give some examples,
number 3 teeth in all locations are associated with the
hips, the lower 6 to 8 and the upper 4, 5 and 8 are related
to the shoulders and elbows, also to the hands, feet and
toes in various locations, numbers 1 to 3 in all locations
connect to the feet, back of knees and sacrococcyx and lower
4 and 5 and upper 6 and 7 to the front of knees and the
jaws.
To
avoid problems, all dead teeth should be removed and any
areas of osteitis curetted. If in doubt about the condition
of the jawbone with missing teeth consult a therapist who
does electro-acupuncture testing as with Vega equipment.
As there are no nerves, there may be no pain to indicate
osteitis. Many testimonials of former sufferers attest to
the benefits of having hidden dental hazards removed. For
further details see the article on Dental Problems.
The
P.C. Microbe
As
a result of the accumulation of waste products and the chronic
release of endogenous toxins in combination with food allergies
there is a serious decline in our immune functions, which
then allows the proliferation of harmful internally generated
microbes.
Virginia
Livingston-Wheeler has named this endogenous microbe Progenitor
Cryptocides or short P.C. It normally lives in a virus-like
form in a beneficial symbiosis within our body cells, but
when our immune system becomes too weak, P.C. can leave
the cells and start an uncontrolled growth with changes
in size and shape to bacterial and fungus-like forms.
In
its virulent condition P.C. has been shown by various researchers
to be a major factor in the development of the group of
collagen and connective tissue diseases. These include rheumatoid
arthritis and even cancer. P.C. attacks mainly the areas
with the lowest vitality by releasing enzymes, which lead
to a localized disintegration of the collagen structure.
This
allows any cancer cells, which may be present to become
embedded and start growth as a tumor. If this process of
connective tissue disintegration starts in the joints the
immune system initially contains the damage by infiltrating
the attacked area with a large number of white blood cells.
These release enzymes, which dissolve the fragments of denatured
cartilage resulting from the activity of P.C. and most likely
also try to kill P.C. This process looks superficially as
if the immune system destroys its own tissue and is therefore
called an autoimmune disease.
In
animal experiments it has been shown that the injection
of large doses of virulent P.C. culture leads to tumor development
while lower doses lead to various forms of degenerative
connective tissue diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis.
Finally, the immune system becomes too weak and the body
limits the damage by calcifying the joint.
Poor
Elimination
Generally,
in arthritis the organs of elimination are weak, leading
to mucus congestion of the lymphatic system and to fatty
degeneration of organs and muscles.
Uric
acid is an especially unpleasant metabolic residue because
of its low solubility, which leads to deposits of needle-like
crystals. These crystals irritate muscles and joints and
greatly add to the pain caused by tight muscles with tension
and inflammation. This results in gout and various forms
of rheumatism.
High
levels of uric acid are formed by a diet high in meat, sugar,
coffee and tea. Because uric acid is only slightly soluble,
it needs plenty of water and well functioning kidneys to
flush it out of muscles and joints and remove it from the
body.
Other
organs that are usually weak in arthritis are the stomach,
the liver, gall bladder and generally the whole of the digestive
system. The prominent involvement of the big toes with gout
is especially significant as these are the starting points
of the acupuncture meridians of the liver. While the sugar
metabolism is especially weak with other forms of arthritis,
with gout it is mainly the protein and fat metabolism.
Besides
the kidneys, other organs of elimination are the bowels,
the liver, the skin and the lungs; all of these need to
be greatly stimulated to remove toxic and obstructive waste
residues from arthritic joints and rheumatic muscles.
DIET
The
basic arthritis diet consists of plenty of raw food such
as sprouted seeds, fresh vegetable juices with plenty of
wheat or barley grass and beetroot, also vegetable salads
in increasing amounts according to the strength of the digestion.
You may cook lentils and brown rice, usually eaten together
at the same meal, and also steamed vegetables, especially
onions, green beans, okras, sweet potato leaves and beetroot.
Generally, sweet vegetables, such as carrots, pumpkin turnips
and sweet potatoes are best eaten raw and finely grated
as part of a salad. Frequently have raw food days.
Instead
of using commercial bread, experiment with sourdough baking
from lentils, buckwheat and brown rice, soak and blend the
seeds, possibly use acidophilus culture as starter. Use
free-range raw egg yolk (e.g. as part of a salad dressing),
otherwise soft-boiled egg. Fish and seafood are good and
especially the broth of simmered fish heads and bones. Liver
may be used occasionally except with gout. Other helpful
foods are avocado, almonds, pecans, celery, coleslaw, peanuts,
peanut oil and extra-virgin olive oil.
The
more sensitive the skin is against cold, insect bites and
irritants, the less fruit should be used or, alternatively,
any fruit acids may be neutralized with sodium bicarbonate.
With insensitive skin use a fair amount of fruit, including
bananas, before or instead of meals. Mix 1 tbsp. of ground
linseed (grind in blender or coffee grinder and refrigerate)
and 1 tsp. of lecithin with most meals.
Some
arthritis sufferers improve when avoiding foods of the nightshade
family: tomatoes, potatoes, capsicum and peppers, eggplant
or aubergine. These may contain the toxic alkaloid solanine,
especially high in green parts of potatoes and tomatoes.
Best
avoid these until sufficient improvement, then introduce
gradually with careful self-observation. Use only red capsicum,
not green ones. However, raw potato juice and broth of potato
peels are helpful to some sufferers and you may experiment
with these.
Avoid
cows' milk products, wheat products (except wheat grass
juice), and other gluten foods such as rye, barley and oats;
sweeteners and sweetened food, salt, red meat, yeast fat,
fried products, commercial polyunsaturated oils, margarine
or other highly processed food or food containing preservative,
coloring or other unbiological chemicals. If sensitive avoid
also unneutralized food acids, such as lemon juice and vinegar,
fruit juice or dried fruit. Avoid alcohol and smoking; be
careful with coffee and tea. Try to avoid chlorinated and
fluoridated water for cooking and drinking. Minimize cooked
legumes with gout.
Because
of the usually weak digestive powers, it is important to
have only small meals, chew very well. Have breakfast as
the main meal or possibly lunch, but only a light, early
evening meal. Ingest any water in which vegetables or brown
rice has been cooked. If meat, fish or nuts are used, eat
these as the first part of any meal. If possible, lie down
after lunch.
While
it is important to have plenty of fluid-intake, this should
not be taken with or after meals so that digestive juices
are not diluted. Drink about one liter of preferably warm
water, weak herb tea (peppermint is good) or, most recommended,
fresh diluted vegetable juice about 30 minutes before breakfast.
Use mainly wheat grass, barley grass, celery, parsley, edible
weeds and other green leaves as well as beetroot for a vegetable
juice and only a smaller amount of flavoring sweet vegetables
(e.g. carrots, pumpkin) and apple. A further glass of water,
herb tea or fresh juice may be taken before other meals.
Drink juices slowly and spaced out to minimize any rise
in the blood sugar level. For further information on allergy
testing, juices, food selection and preparation as well
as metabolic types and blood groups see Healing Foods.
Cleansing
Periods
Fasting
or cleansing periods are of greatest importance, the more
so, the more the disease has progressed. Frequency, duration
and food restrictions are to be selected according to the
severity of the disease and the sensitivity of the body.
On
the average, fast about one week each month until much improved,
then gradually less. However, you may start with one-day
fasts and then three days before proceeding to a full week.
Insensitive individuals and those with gout may often fast
on fresh fruits, especially (unsprayed) apples. Sensitive
individuals should use mainly fresh green vegetable juices,
sprouted seeds and vegetable salads, flavored only with
herbs and a small amount of olive or peanut oil.
On
the first morning of each fasting period take a tablespoon
of Epsom salts in water to clean the bowels. If your digestion
is rather weak, use mainly freshly pressed raw vegetable
juices; wheat grass or barley grass juice is excellent.
The first cleansing period may have added cooked brown rice.
After fasting reintroduce new foods gradually and watch
for signs of allergy or worsening of symptoms, exclude any
reacting food.
Sanitize
your intestinal flora by taking a course of cultures of
acidophilus and bifido bacteria. Preferably eradicate most
harmful bacteria and fungi by drinking one liter of water
with the addition of 1 tbsp. of Epsom salts or if this is
not tolerated with 1-heaped teaspoon of table salt and also
one large crushed clove of garlic.
Drink
this first thing in the morning of each fasting day. Then
take a suitable acidophilus - bifido culture as yoghurt
or as high potency capsules or powders in a large glass
of diluted vegetable juice one hour after the last garlic
drink. After starting with the cultures use only small amounts
of fresh raw garlic to flavor meals, large intakes would
kill the beneficial bacteria. For further information see
The Basic Cleanse and also Intestinal Sanitation.
Supplements
As
a basic supplement take a B-complex tablet with each meal.
Additions of specific vitamins may be of vitamin B6 used
for certain problems, such as 500 mg or more for hand, arm
and shoulder problems, up to several grams of pantothenic
acid with rheumatoid arthritis and up to 3 g of nicotinamide
with osteoarthritis, especially effective with knee problems,
all to be taken in divided doses during meals and snacks.
Mix half a teaspoon of sodium or calcium ascorbate with
each meal and a natural form of vitamin E in tablet form
for easier absorption, preferably also mixed tocopherols.
Minerals
that have been found to help are 30 - 50 mg of zinc, 10
- 20 mg of manganese, 500 mg of magnesium, 100 - 200 mcg
of selenium and also chromium and molybdenum. The therapeutic
dose of boron commonly is 9 mg and the maintenance dose
3 to 6 mg. 50 mg of borax or boric acid contain about 6
mg of boron. To measure this amount, dissolve one level
teaspoon of borax in one liter of water and take a teaspoonful
twice daily with meals.
Chelated
or otherwise organically bound copper has been used to reduce
inflammations; mainly as copper salicylates (copper salicylates
do not appear to cause problems like other salicylates).
Often it helps instead to wear a copper bracelet around
the affected limb. Sulfur is an important ingredient of
cartilage. If one or two egg yolks are not used daily or
plenty of onion, use 5 - 10 g of MSM, alternatively the
amino acids methionine and cysteine or, if these are not
available or affordable, even about 300 mg of powdered sulfur
may be helpful.
Kelp
and dried thyroid (absorb in mouth) increase energy. Preferably
use plenty of magnesium chloride as recommended in the article
on Magnesium Chloride or alternatively use vinegar of fruit
acids neutralized with dolomite. Dolomite supplies calcium
and magnesium in the ratio of 2:1. For details see The Acid
- Alkaline Balance with inflammations also select foods
high in calcium and low in phosphorus.
Highly
recommended is glucosamine, 500 mg before or with each meal,
if available also liquid bovine cartilage (1 tsp daily)
or possibly extract of green-lipped mussel, about 350 mg
3 times daily. Also try chondroitin sulfate. Cod liver oil
is very helpful. You may shake a tablespoonful together
with some lecithin and fresh orange juice in a jar, some
recommend taking this before going to bed. This provides
the essential omega-3 fatty acid DHA and the vitamins A
and D. If you suspect fat malabsorption you frequently need
to rub cod liver oil into the skin. You may rinse it off
several hours later.
If
insensitive, elderly or with signs of mineral deficiency
(soft fingernails), a hydrochloric acid supplement with
meals may be beneficial, especially with protein foods.
For further information see Hydrochloric Acid.
Also
digestive enzymes from supplements or pineapple, pawpaw
or ripe Kiwifruit will be helpful in advanced conditions
with cooked food meals. The protein-digesting enzymes bromelain
and papain (pineapple and papaya) can also be taken before
meals to reduce pain and inflammation. If food or chemical
sensitivities remain a problem even after allergy testing
and avoiding offenders, then several grams of the amino
acid glutamine can help to make the intestinal wall less
‘leaky’.
D-or
D,L-phenylalanine (but not L-phenylalanine) reduces pain
by blocking enzymes which destroy natural pain-killing hormones
in the brain. Start with 500 mg 3 times daily. It may take
up to 3 weeks until it becomes effective; possibly increase
to 1500 mg per dose, once effective decrease again to a
minimum maintenance dose. White willow bark may be used
as herbal salicylate for pain relief but is not recommended
for long-term use as it may increase allergies, it is much
better to use copper salicylate. With gout copper salicylate
and 5 mg of folic acid with meals are helpful.
Other
beneficial supplements are Royal Jelly (absorb under the
tongue), evening primrose oil, octacosanol, spirulina, bee
pollen, ginseng and yucca; with rheumatoid arthritis also
immune stimulants such as propolis, echinacea, and freeze-dried
thymus (absorb under the tongue). Good anti-inflammatory
herbal remedies are golden seal, feverfew, ginger, pau d’arco
or taheebo and turmeric.
To
improve liver functions use Kyolic aged garlic, milk thistle,
and after meals half a cup of a bitter liver herb such as
centaury, devils claw or gentian. At other times also diuretic
herb teas are useful, such as meadowsweet and sarsaparilla
which both help to remove uric acid. For osteoarthritis
the homeopathic remedies Rhus.Tox and Bryonia taken in alternation
may be beneficial.
Increase
and decrease high-dosage supplements gradually, such as
initially or before and after fasts and with improvement.
The more you use fresh green juice, raw food, cleansing
and suitable additional therapies, the less supplements
will be needed
BLISTERING
Blistering,
also called counter-irritation, is a direct cleansing method
for local conditions and has been used successfully for
centuries with arthritis and other rheumatic complaints.
It often gives results quicker and more reliably than other
methods.
The
usual technique to irritate the skin over a painful or stiff
joint is by applying a blistering agent. One may also vigorously
brush affected joints or even intentionally expose them
to insect bites or stings. A folk remedy for arthritis it
to hold a stiff or sore joint in an ants nest or let it
be bitten by sand flies or mosquitoes, even bee stings have
been used. Another folk remedy is beating the affected area
with a bunch of stinging nettles.
The
principle is to draw the toxins and congesting energies
from the inside to the surface. Liniments, compresses and
plasters may be used. Vegetable turpentine or kerosene are
suitable as blistering agents, but most commonly used are
cayenne, mustard powder and Cantharides. Cayenne or mustard
powder may be mixed with water to make a paste. This is
spread on a linen or cotton cloth and applied to the affected
area. Leave it on until the burning becomes too uncomfortable.
Preferably a blister should have been raised or pussy pustules
may appear. Wash off any remaining paste residues and open
the blister with a needle to drain the fluid. For healing
the skin keep a fresh cabbage leaf over the blistered area,
later rub vitamin E oil onto it.
If
Cantharides plaster is available cut out and apply a piece
the size of one to several postage stamps. Leave for 12
- 24 hours, depending on the sensitivity of the skin. With
rather insensitive skin, the skin must first be pricked
in many places or otherwise mechanically irritated over
the affected joint before applying the plaster. In long-standing
conditions blistering may have to be repeated several times
in different places around the joint or along the course
of an infected nerve as with shingles.
Blistering
can also be used with low back pain, sciatica, myositis,
bursitis, neuralgia and neuritis, lumbago, spondylitis as
well as with pain, inflammation and infection of inner organs.
While in many countries Cantharides plaster is not for sale,
in Germany it is freely available in health food shops (Reformhaus).
In Germany also a combination of cantharidin and croton
oil is available as Oel Braunscheidtii (Pyonex Oil), which
is rubbed into the pricked skin (Pyonex Treatment or Braunscheidtismus).
Continue the blistering process until the pain or stiffness
has disappeared.
I
found kerosene very effective. Moisten a cloth with kerosene
and wrap it around the affected joint. Possibly cover the
cloth with plastic. After some time the skin may start burning
but try to keep the pack on as long as you can stand it.
This may be less than half an hour with sensitive skin or
several hours if the skin is insensitive. After removing
the pack, the burning will stop very quickly, but do not
wash with water. The skin should be very red as after sunburn
and it may start peeling after a few days, just like sunburn.
FURTHER
MEASURES
In
addition to the direct elimination of harmful residues through
the skin it is of greatest importance to improve the elimination
through the bowels and kidneys. Much of the morning stiffness
with arthritis is due to water retention. This, can improve
by avoiding salt and taking herbal diuretics, such as juniper
berries or tea of elder or peach leaves, also meadowsweet,
sarsaparilla or sassafras.
Bowel
Cleansing
Fatty
and fat-soluble toxins and wastes are released through the
liver and gall bladder into the bowels. Bitter herbal teas
as recommended to improve the digestion will also assist
in this task. In addition, the bowels must be kept active
and open. The cleaner the bowels are the easier and quicker
it is to clean the rest of the body. Congested bowels lead
to congested lymph, blood and tissues.
Use
sufficient laxative food, foremost ground linseed and magnesium
chloride, to have 2 - 3 bowel movements daily. In addition,
you may take 1 tsp. of Epsom salts with warm water first
thing in the morning or at bedtime. A good herbal cleanser
is aloe, which may be combined with senna for an occasional
thorough cleanout, especially before and during fasting.
If available, have initially a series of professional colonics
(colonic irrigations). See also the page on Hydrotherapy.
Packs,
Rubs, Baths, Colors
Packs,
baths and rubs can be very helpful. As a rub use warm peanut
oil. Rub it into affected joints while at the same time
and for 5 - 15 minutes afterwards keeping the area warm
with an infrared lamp or heater. For more immediate pain
relief, you may also add some oil of sassafras, wintergreen
or cloves to the peanut oil.
As
a pack use Epsom salts. Soak a cloth in a saturated solution
of Epsom salts or alternatively in very warm water, wring
out lightly and cover with a heavy layer of Epsom salts.
Apply this to a painful or stiff area and keep warm for
1 - 2 hours with a hot water bottle. If the problem is in
the hands or feet, make a concentrated Epsom salts solution
and bathe the affected part in it while keeping the solution
as hot as possible. For the hips or if joints and spine
hurt in many places, you may buy a big fertilizer bag of
Epsom salts and dissolve 1 - 5 kg in a hot bath, the more
concentrated the better. Repeat all of these once or twice
a week. Often induce sweating after a bath.
If
you can obtain the necessary herbs, a very warm hand or
foot bath with the following may bring relief: one crushed
head of garlic, one handful each of greater celandine leaves,
dandelion (whole plant), buttercup (whole plant), meadowsweet
flowers and two handfuls of nettle (whole plant). Even if
not all of these are available, you may try it with part
of the ingredients.
If
you like to experiment with color therapy, you may shine
a strong blue light at close range onto a painful or inflamed
area, while for chronic weakness and stiffness use an orange
light. You may use a colored light bulb, or alternatively
a color-filter or colored cellophane may be used with a
normal light bulb or the sun as a light source. Expose the
affected area for about 60 minutes at a time with a colored
light bulb as close as possible to the skin but far enough
that excessive heat is not a problem. Eliminate other light
sources during this time, for instance by covering the colored
light source and the irradiated area with a blanket. It
may be more convenient just to wrap the affected joint or
area with colored cellophane and expose it to normal daylight
or sunlight or electrical light.
Deep
muscle massage can be extremely effective. Unfortunately
it is also rather painful, but if you have the opportunity
and courage, I strongly recommend it. If it cannot be done
professionally you may ask a friend or relative to press
deeply into sore or tight muscles or you may even do it
yourself. Also press sore spots in the shoulders for arm
problems and in the buttocks for leg problems.
Vomiting
Therapy
Another
method that can bring surprisingly good results in difficult
cases is induced vomiting. This not only clears the stomach
of any accumulated waste but more importantly, it relaxes
the digestive organs and stimulates the solar plexus.
To
induce vomiting, drink five or six cups of lukewarm water
within a few minutes and then touch or tickle the throat
far down. Repeat induced vomiting until the water comes
back clear. If this is not successful to induce vomiting,
herbal emetic may be used, such as bayberry bark, black
root, boneset, horehound, lobelia, mustard, ragwort or vervain.
Afterwards drink mint tea to settle the stomach. Best consult
an herbalist or herb book about the correct use of herbal
emetics.
Exercise
The
best exercises to energize and relax tight muscles are tensing
and shaking exercises. Sometimes you may shake the whole
body, at other times just the affected parts. You may do
this standing, sitting or even lying down. Shake the limbs
or the whole body for one minute or longer while at the
same time breathing as rapidly and deeply as you can.
Tensing,
too, may be practiced in any position. You may either just
tense the muscles around a painful, weak or stiff joint
or leg, or gradually tense all your muscles, starting with
the feet and proceeding towards the top. At the same time
inhale deeply. Hold breath and maximum tension for several
seconds and then exhale while at the same time relaxing
the muscles from the head downward. Do this about ten times
and repeat several times during the day. Also isometric
exercises may be done: press with the arms or legs against
a wall or other unmovable objects. Hold a deep breath while
pressing and pay attention to relaxing the muscles afterwards.
If
you can walk without much pain, then go for long walks and
practice deep breathing in clean air at the same time. If
you have difficulty walking, try swimming. As a general
health measure, get into the habit of doing suitable yoga
exercises, especially those, which strengthen the spine
or the back and the intestinal area.
Emotions
and Imagination
Unreleased
emotions contribute significantly to muscle armoring and
with this to the development of arthritis. The most frequent
problems are suppressed anger, suppressed sexuality and
resentment.
If
you have arthritis in the leg joints or hip, violently kick
a cushion or something similar for several minutes. If the
problem is in the arms or shoulders, hit a cushion or mattress
with the fists. If you remember having felt a grudge against
a particular person, you may imagine hitting or kicking
him or her. Make angry sounds at the same time, you may
also cry or shout. You may have to repeat this on subsequent
days. When you feel that you have reacted out all the stored
resentment, frustration and anger and feel emotionally empty,
begin creating an imaginary scene in your mind in which
you forgive that person and any others you do remember.
Try to send out some kind thoughts in the end.
Even
if you do not remember a particular incident or person that
caused you to be frustrated and resentful, do the exercise
anyway. Some memories may come up while you are doing it.
Finally, forgive yourself formally for problems you may
have caused to others or which others may have caused you.
Another
very helpful exercise is mental imagery. Sit or lie in a
comfortable position and do one of the many available relaxation
exercises. Then imagine that with each inhalation you draw
in a cool blue stream of healing energy, which you mentally
direct to any painful area. Imagine the pain as a red fire
ball around the inflamed joint. See the blue healing energy
washing away at the fireball and with each exhalation a
murky mixture of red and blue energy leaving the body. Gradually
the fireball becomes smaller and smaller until after several
minutes it has completely disappeared. Feel the joint being
immersed in the soothing blue healing energy. Repeat this
exercise as necessary to control any pain.
If
a joint is weak or stiff, you may imagine the healing energy
to be orange or golden-yellow and see it washing away any
constricting grey or black waste matter or calcifications.
Then see the joint in a perfect shape and condition, have
a look at an anatomical picture to know what a healthy joint
should look like. Finally, see yourself in a mental movie
exercising, working and using the diseased joint and also
the whole body in a normal way or as you would like to use
your body.
Other
Aspects
There
are various other aspects, which may have either a positive
or negative influence on your condition. I want to mention
briefly just some of them. Keep warm during cold nights.
It may be beneficial to sleep in a natural fiber sleeping
bag during cold periods. A featherbed, on the other hand,
may aggravate symptoms due to static electricity generated
between feathers. Have a pillow of some natural material
and preferably the same for the mattress. If you want to
continue sleeping on a foam rubber mattress, put several
natural fiber blankets on top.
Do
not sleep or work for long periods close to operating high-powered
electric appliances, avoid being exposed to fluorescent
lighting for long periods – see Electromagnetic Pollution.
Do not sleep with the head resting on an arm or sit with
your knees crossed. Do not wear synthetic clothing. Preferably
have natural fiber carpets and curtains and only a minimum
of large synthetic or plastic items in living and work areas.
Minimize
wearing glasses, frequently look without glasses at the
blue sky and green surroundings; be outdoors as much as
possible. Walk barefoot on moist grass. As an elderly male
restrict semen loss from sexual activity until much improved.
Females should avoid strenuous activity during period time,
which may suppress menstruation and worsen arthritis. However,
it is fine for the period to stop due to a vegetarian or
raw food cleansing diet.
Have
any dead teeth removed and osteitis in the jawbone curetted.
Preferably have also amalgam fillings replaced with biocompatible
composite fillings, if in doubt find a therapist who does
electro-acupuncture testing, also called electro-dermal
screening.
Try
reflexology, it is very effective; see the article on Reflexology.
Also stimulate the skin with alternating hot and cold showers
and with vigorous skin brushing, especially over stiff areas.
Low
back pain is often due to problems in abdomen and sexual
organs. An excellent therapy for low back problems, beside
yoga exercises, is to hang upside down. Special inversion
equipment is available from sporting goods stores. However,
if you are sufficiently adventurous, you may also hang from
a firmly secured ladder. Cushion two upper rungs, sit on
the lower of these and let the torso hang down, the feet
find safe support behind the upper cushioned rung. Have
a helper for support.
As
you can see there is so much you can do to help yourself
that you may not know where to start. Begin with the most
essential items: diet improvement, basic supplements, cleansing,
blistering and improving the intestinal flora. By and by
as your time, money and energy allow experiment with other
recommendations. Your reward will be proportional to your
efforts. For interesting and helpful articles on arthritis
and related skin and collagen diseases see http://www.glucosamine-arthritis.org
or http://www.arthritistrust.org
(click "Education" and then "Articles").
