Arthritis: Causes, Prevention and Treatment
by Andrea Zengion, ND, LAc
Naturopathic medicine treats the whole body, so when we address arthritis, we don’t just look at your joints.
Reduce Inflammation
Arthritis is a disease of inflammation. We can help to prevent most types of arthritis from progressing by addressing inflammation in the joints themselves, but also in the rest of the body. One of the major ways we can reduce systemic inflammation is by maximizing the health of the digestive tract.
Healing Digestion to Help the Joints
The digestive tract does more than digest food. It also contains a large percentage of the body’s nervous system (sometimes called the “gut brain”) and immune cells. Because of this, when the gut is inflamed or irritated, it can produce a significant amount of inflammatory mediators which are circulated to, and increase inflammation in, the rest of the body. Reducing inflammatory cells produced by the gut can reduce the amount of inflammation that occurs in the joints.
How can we do this? One major way this can be done is by reducing intake of foods that may irritate the gut. Food sensitivities may show up as digestive irritation, but may also manifest in other parts of the body, such as joint pain. Many people have food sensitivities without realizing it; unlike allergies, symptoms of food sensitivity may appear hours or days after eating the food, making it difficult to correlate the food with the symptom. Allergy elimination testing or blood tests can be good ways to identify food sensitivities.
Other steps to improve gut health include detoxification, like the naturopathic detoxification protocol many of you have undertaken with us (Detox with the Doctor is also coming up on March 13!). Probiotics, glutamine, fiber that feeds healthy gut flora, and certain bitter herbs can improve overall gut health and rebalance the good bacteria that help us digest properly and keep inflammation at a minimum.
Beyond Gut Healing
We also address inflammation in the body by promoting immune pathways that control inflammation. Increasing anti-inflammatory fatty acids in the diet and with supplements can help push a person’s immune response away from pro-inflammatory pathways. Fish oil can make a big difference in treating inflammation, as can herbs like ginger or turmeric.
Treatments also focus on the mechanisms of different types of arthritis. For example, since rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, we choose medicines such as pine sterols that help to rebalance the immune system.
Acupuncture for Pain and Healing
Acupuncture can also be an extremely effective treatment for arthritis. Acupuncture helps to address pain, reduce inflammation and improve function of joints. One study, for instance, showed that acupuncture was as effective as ibuprofen in treating osteoarthritis pain in the short term and even more effective than ibuprofen in the long term. Regular acupuncture can help keep joint pain under control, treat acute flare-ups and improve overall joint function. Combining acupuncture with naturopathic therapies is very effective for both controlling pain and preventing progression of arthritis.
If you would like to develop a comprehensive strategy to treat and manage your arthritis or would like a free 15-minute consult, contact us today.
Men’s Health—Herbs and Supplements
by Carl Hangee-Bauer, ND, LAc
When we think of men’s health, we often think of problems related to the prostate or erectile dysfunction. But men are more than their reproductive organs, and their health issues are more global than their reproductive and sexual health. For example, the leading causes of death and illness in men are related to cardiovascular problems such as heart attacks, high blood pressure and strokes, cancer and liver disease.
Hence, my list of the most important herbs and supplements for men focus on these health issues.
We also have to remember that one size doesn’t fit all. Men of different ages, races, occupations, etc, face different health issues. There is no one set of herbs and supplements which is right for everyone. The list below are those that I think are most helpful for the most men and have little risk of side-effects or other problems associated with their use.
Fish Oil: Contains the Omega-3 Oils EPA and DHA. Fish oil has been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and is helpful in a wide range of inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, colitis and skin disease. It has also been found to be useful for depression and lung conditions such as asthma and emphysema. I believe that virtually everyone can enjoy better health by eating fish and supplementing with fish oil.
Dose: 2 capsules 2x/ day (each capsule should contain a minimum of 300 mg EPA and 200 mg DHA, and be free of heavy metals).
Coenzyme Q10: CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant and aids in the production of ATP, the body’s energy molecule. It’s been shown to help male fertility issues, and is especially helpful in cardiovascular health. For anyone taking statin drugs to lower their cholesterol, CoQ10 supplementation is a must!
Dose: 20-100 mg/day, or 50 mg/day of the water-soluble form (Ubiquinol).
Selenium: This mineral, which is often depleted in our soils and food, activates glutathione peroxidase, an enzyme that may help protect the body from cancer. It is also essential for healthy immune function and enhances male fertility.
Dose: 200 micrograms daily.
Vitamin D: Most people I test are deficient in this important vitamin, which has been shown to support bone health, improve immune function, and be protective against many types of cancer. Sufficient levels are in the 30-100 range on blood tests, with optimum range being 50-70.
Dose: 2,000 IU daily (or greater) to reach optimum levels.
Zinc: A component of more than 300 enzymes involved in wound repair, male fertility, immune system health and prostate health. Zinc gluconate lozenges have been shown to reduce the duration and severity of the common cold.
Dose: Up to 50 mg/day on an ongoing basis; for a cold; 5-10 mg Zinc Gluconate lozenges up to 10x/day in the first few days of the cold.
