Rheumatism, Gout & Arthritis

Do you suffer from Rheumatism, Gout, or Arthritis?

What is arthritis?

Arthritis means ‘inflammation of a joint.' There are many types of arthritis, and most cause pain, swelling, limited movement, and stiffness.

What causes arthritis?

Arthritic joint

There are at least 150 types of arthritis. Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis are the most common. Septic arthritis is a medical emergency.

• Osteoarthritis – is primarily caused by ‘wear and tear,' where a breakdown of the cartilage allows the bones to rub together and may be painful. It usually occurs later in life and affects the hips and knees, although it can also cause problems in the spine, shoulders, hands, or any other joint.
• Rheumatoid arthritis – is less common but more severe.

  It occurs when your immune system attacks the tissue lining the joints and can lead to pain, swelling, stiffness, and joint deformity. The joints most affected are the hands, wrists, shoulders, knees, or feet. The cause is not known. Women are affected more than men.

• Septic arthritis – is an infection in a joint that causes pain, redness, heat, and swelling of the affected joint. You may also have a fever and feel unwell. The most commonly affected joint is the knee, but it can also occur in the ankle, hip, or wrist. Septic Arthritis is a serious condition that needs treatment with antibiotics and an operation in which the joint is washed out.

What are the symptoms?

All types of arthritis can result in pain, stiffness, and inflammation (a hot, swollen, and tender joint).

Arthritis can affect you at any age.

The severity, location, and progression of arthritis can vary significantly from person to person.

For many people, the cause is not known. You may or may not have another family member with arthritis.

Rheumatoid pain is often worse in the morning, while osteoarthritis results in stiffness at the end of the day. Gout can occur at any time.

If you get sudden pain and swelling in a joint, this may be septic arthritis, and you need to see your doctor to rule this out.

What is gout?

Gout (also called metabolic arthritis) occurs when uric acid crystals form in and around joints, causing sudden and intense pain, redness, and swelling.

It mainly affects men over 40 and is usually found in the big toe, but can occur in almost any joint. Gout may be inherited, caused by dehydration and bad diet, or due to the side effects of medication such as fluid tablets.

Alcohol and eating rich food can make it worse. Gout may also lead to kidney stones.

• Associated with affluence (“rich man's disease”); meats (organ meats) high in purines; ETOH inhibits uric acid secretion by kidneys; primarily a disease of adult men (95% of cases – men over age 30); incidence = 3 adults in 1,000; 10 – 20% of the adult population have hyperuricemia.

Gout is a disease associated with disordered uric acid metabolism. Gout is usually categorized as either increased uric acid production, reduced uric acid excretion, or a combination of both. Excess uric Acid moves rapidly from the blood and becomes deposited into joints.

Treatment

Blood tests and X-rays may be needed to diagnose the type of arthritis or gout. A sample of fluid (aspirate) may be taken from the joint to test for infection and gout crystals.

There is no cure for arthritis. However, with the right treatment, arthritis can be managed. Treatments include anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritis medications, injections, and occasionally surgery.[1]

Aims of Treatment:

Conventional treatment for gout is colchicine, an anti-inflammatory drug initially isolated from plant Colchicum autumnale (autumn crocus, meadow saffron)?

Colchicine does not affect uric acid levels – it stops inflammation by inhibiting neutrophil migration into areas of inflammation; 75% of patients improve within the first 12 h of taking colchicine, but 80% of patients are unable to tolerate optimal dose – GI side-effects preceding or coinciding with improvement; colchicine may cause bone marrow depression, hair loss, liver damage, depression, seizures, respiratory depression, and even death; other anti-inflammatory agents are also used (indomethacin, phenylbutazone, naproxen, fenoprofen)

Therapeutic Approach

Basic approach:

• Nutritional dietary measures, herbal, homeopathic, healthy lifestyle, reduced stresses and adopting preventative medicine strategies help maintain normal uric acid levels
• Controlled weight loss for obesity
• Avoidance of known precipitating factors (ETOH abuse, high-purine diet)
• Nutritional substances to prevent acute attacks
• Herbal and nutritional substances to inhibit inflammation.

Contributing Factors:

• High purine-rich foods: Alcohol
• High refined sugar diet
• Anchovies, Sardines, Shrimp
• Dried legumes
• Organ meats
• Low complex carbohydrate diet
• Low fluid intake
• Mackerel

Lifestyle Treatment

• Obesity is linked to an increased rate of gout. Weight reduction helps to reduce serum uric acid levels. Alcohol, particularly beer, has a higher purine content than wine or spirits.
• Alcohol increases uric acid production and reduces uric acid excretion.
• Drink plenty of water to keep hydrated. Water promotes uric acid excretion, and dehydration may exacerbate gout.
• Restrict purines in the diet: red meats, yeast, poultry, organ meats, fish, and shellfish. Spinach, asparagus, beans, lentils, and mushrooms contain moderate amounts of purines. Uric Acid is the final breakdown product of purine metabolism.
• Restrict refined carbohydrates (increase uric acid production) and saturated fats (increase uric acid retention).
• Fresh or frozen cherries and unsweetened cherry juice help to Reduce Uric Acid and prevent attacks.

Naturopathic Treatment

• Celery seed has traditionally been used for the symptomatic relief of gout.
• Celery seed helps reduce the concentration of Uric Acid in the blood, prevents uric acid deposition in the joints, and increases urinary excretion of Uric Acid.
• Sour cherry has traditionally been used for the symptomatic relief of gout. Sour cherry is considerably rich in proanthocyanidins, the critical component thought to benefit gout sufferers. Sweet cherries from Prunus avium are substantially less effective than tart or sour cherries.
• Berries – Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Blackberries. Berries contain antioxidants called anthocyanins. These compounds have anti-inflammatory effects that may reduce the risk of disease.
• Alfalfa has traditionally been used to treat arthritis due to its anti-inflammatory action. Alfalfa increases urine production, provides nutritional support, and has a general tonic effect.
• Turmeric – is anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Reduces pain, inflammation, and stiffness related to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA); treats bursitis. [2]
• Folic Acid inhibits xanthine oxidase, an enzyme that produces Uric Acid.
• Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties.
• Bromelain has potent anti-inflammatory actions. Take between meals.
• Quercetin inhibits xanthine oxidase and contains anti-inflammatory properties. Take with Bromelain between meals.
• Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly the EPA component, helps improve circulation and reduces inflammation.
• Vitamin C helps maintain healthy uric acid levels. Higher vitamin C intake is significantly associated with lower blood uric acid concentrations.
• Adopt a high alkaline diet. Increase in Vegetables and Fruit. Drink a fresh organic, if possible, vegetable juice every day with the fiber (Carrot, celery, greens, celery, ginger, turmeric. Can dilute with coconut water). Use a blender like Vitamix, so you don't lose any nutrients.
• Hydrate with plenty of filtered water.

There are many natural options to help reverse and manage these conditions.

We use various naturopathic principles to treat the cause and look for the disharmony in your body and mind to bring your body back to balance. Please see below a brief treatment (Rx) protocol and reference guide, with choices to help improve your health and wellbeing. Click on the headings and links within for more treatment information.

Supplement – if a practitioner assessment indicates high acid pH and mineral deficiency

Basica – may be prescribed and recommend as an alkaline cure for a time period (2-3 months). This results in deacidification of the body and therefore stabilizes the acid-base balance.

Diet high in magnesium. Eat a large variety of green leafy vegetables every day.

Magnesium supplementation e.g. Disporal, Ultramuscleze

HEEL:

For general symptomsArthritis and pain, these remedies from Heel (Germany) have excellent results. Only available by prescription after a consultation.

Degeneration phase

Main remedy: Zeel – for temporary relief for the pain of arthritis.

Secondary remedies: Traumeel – to help reduce joint inflammation associated with arthritis.

Spascupreel, Rhododendroneel, Colnadul, Bryaconeel, Discus compositum (spinal OA)

Phase remedies:

Coenzyme compositum, Galium-Heel, Thalamus compositum

Metabolic Kit – to assist with cellular respiration

Detox Kit – if a practitioner assessment indicates toxins are contributing to arthritis

Glyoxal ampoule – for intracellular detoxification in chronic conditions

Cartilago suis ampoule – to maintain healthy cartilage

Galium Heel – for intracellular detoxification and stimulation of the nonspecific defensive mechanisms of the body

Reduce stress !