Arthritis Treatment Using Natural Medicines

There are two main players who have shown themselves to be very popular in natural arthritis treatment, these are glucosamine and fish oil.

Glucosamine

Like other tissue in the body, joint cartilage is built and repaired using nutrients. For joint cartilage, one of the most useful nutrients is glucosamine sulfate. It can help to repair cartilage that has been damaged by long term wear.
Glucosamine is one of the building blocks of healthy cartilage, used by the body to give the joint cartilage strength and also to carry moisture which is important to allow full normal joint mobility.

Glucosamine sulphate has been tested in clinical trials and found to assist in the management of osteoarthritis helping to reduce joint swelling, pain and inflammation, and increasing joint mobility. Unlike some treatments that mask the joint pain, glucosamine can help to maintain cartilage health while moderating the arthritic pain.

Clinical trials with glucosamine sulphate have generally used a dose of 1500 mg a day, divided into 3 doses. Patience is required when first taking glucosamine as it usually takes 4 to 6 weeks to feel any benefit from the supplement.

Glucosamine - is it suitable for everyone?

It is important to talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using glucosamine. This is especially important if you have diabetes. You should not take glucosamine if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Glucosamine is derived from seafood; therefore it should not be taken if you are allergic to seafood or fish.

Chondroitin

Chondroitin sulphate is derived from shark cartilage and is another substance that plays a part in your body's manufacture of cartilage. Chondroitin is sometimes added to supplements that contain glucosamine and is not usually available by itself. Chondroitin has been as widely researched as glucosamine, but some people find that they have a greater improvement in symptoms when they take a supplement with chondroitin in it.

You should not take chondroitin if you are pregnant, planning to be pregnant or after pregnancy while breastfeeding. You also not take chondroitin if you are allergic to seafood or fish.

Fish Oil

Fish oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, substances that can be used by the body to help reduce inflammation. Fish oil has been widely used to provide temporary relief from the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. A number of studies have consistently found that fish oil is especially effective in reducing morning stiffness and the number of tender joints in people with rheumatoid arthritis, and may help improve the effectiveness of prescribed arthritis medication.

It is also a good idea to increase the amount of fish they eat. When you increase the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet, it is important to reduce the amount of omega-6 fatty acids as omega-6 has the opposite effect as omega-3 in the body and actually encourages inflammation.
Foods that are high in omega-6 fatty acids (and therefore should be avoided) include:

• Nuts - almonds, brazil, cashews, peanuts, pecans, pine nuts, sesame seeds and sunflower seeds


• Oils and spreads - made from sunflower, safflower, peanut, sesame, and other vegetable oils. Instead, use olive oil, olive oil spreads, canola oil and canola oil spreads

How much Fish Oil do I Take?

The Arthritis Foundation suggests 2 to 3 x 1g (1000mg) capsules of fish oil a day is usually enough to assist in managing arthritis if you are also eating fish. If you are not eating fish you may increase the dosage and take 5 to 6 1g capsules a day. Always discuss your requirements with a health care professional.

It is also recommended to take vitamin E supplements of around 400 - 800mg a day. The vitamin E protects the omega-3 fatty acids fro oxidization so they can work properly in your body.

Is Fish Oil Suitable for Everyone?

If you have rheumatoid arthritis and you are interested in taking a fish oil supplement, you should first talk to your doctor. This is very important if you are taking any other medicines, and especially if you are taking any blood-thinning medicines (such as warfarin or heparin).

You should not take any natural medicine while pregnant or breastfeeding without first talking to your doctor or obstetrician.