Arthritis Archives - Carson Natural

Nature’s Answer for Rheumatoid Arthritis

May 30, 2015 by Phil Carson Leave a Comment

For years I have watched many people suffer from the pain and the crippling effects of Rheumatoid Arthritis. One thing I have observed is that the degree of suffering varies dramatically with many of these patients. I’ve seen several do very well on minimal medications, and I’ve seen others crippled and bed ridden while taking handfuls of medications. Why is this? Why do some people suffer much more severely than others? Why does this horrible disease effect people to different degrees? Well I cannot give you a definitive answer to those questions, but I will tell you what I think are the distinguishing factors as to why is there such a varying degree of pain, suffering, and complications among Rheumatoid Arthritis patients. This variance that I see in patients, I believe for the most part has to do with their total well-being. Those that have a strong spiritual life, a positive mindset and stay physically active as well as have healthy eating habits seem to fare much better with with this debilitating disease. Most people suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis just want some quick relief, and there are many drugs on the market which can provide that, but I want to see people get more than just quick relief of their pain and suffering. I want to see the progression of this terrible disease halted, possibly even reversed, without the use of these harmful drugs.

As I mentioned in my previous post, Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease. Therefore I believe if you want to see optimal relief of the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis, you must start with balancing the immune system. 15 years ago a doctor from Savannah, Georgia, Dr. Carson Burgstiner, set out to find what he called a cure for his autoimmune condition. I don’t know if you can truly call it a cure, but he did find what he was looking for, supplements that actually did restore balance to his immune system. Not only did he help himself, but he helped many of his patients also suffering from autoimmune diseases. His story has been documented and you can read about it in this article profiling Dr. Burgstiner several years ago.

This disruption in the immune system that happens in the cases of autoimmune diseases, whether it Rheumatoid Arthritis or any of the other Rheumatic conditions can be caused by numerous environmental factors, as well as allergenic foods and substances consumed in our daily diets. Dr. Johnathan Wright from Tacoma, Washington, has written much about this, and you can find his suggestions and recommendations by following this link. As a sufferer of allergy problems myself, I believe Dr. Wright is spot on with what he suggests about the effects of certain allergenic foods on our immune system and how they can trigger and worsen the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

If you are suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis or you know someone that is, please share this information with them. It is my hope that you will find that nature can possibly have the answer you’ve been looking for. Rheumatoid Arthritis and all autoimmune diseases are very serious conditions. If you do decide you want an answer from nature, don’t go at it alone. Please consult with your healthcare provider and ask them to work with you as you work to take back your health and your life. If you have any further questions on Rheumatoid Arthritis or if you would be interested in learning more about the supplements that Dr. Burgstiner used with his patients, please fill out the contact form, or leave a voice message by clicking on the “Ask Dr. Phil” microphone on CarsonNatural.com

Healthy Blessings,

Dr. Phil

Rheumatoid vs Osteoarthritis, What are the Differences?

May 27, 2015 by Phil Carson Leave a Comment

Rheumatoid Arthritis is much less common than the previously discussed Osteoarthritis. Statistics show that Rheumatoid Arthritis affects about 1/10th as many people as Osteo. The main difference between these two forms of arthritis is the cause behind the symptoms. Osteo is primarily caused by wear and tear on the joints whereas Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease. The body’s own immune system attacks the body’s joints, which is what causes the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Unlike Osteo which usually begins later in life, Rheumatoid Arthritis can begin at any age. Many of the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteo are similar, but Rheumatoid Arthritis can produce more swelling of the joints and often more pain in the joints. One of the distinguishing characteristics of Rheumatoid Arthritis would be the lumps that can form underneath the skin called Rheumatoid Arthritis nodules, which can be very painful and affect the movement of the joints. Both forms of arthritis are often treated with the same anti-inflammatory medications mentioned in my previous blogs, however with Rheumatoid Arthritis there are also immuno-suppressant drugs used to try and suppress the immune system from attacking the joints. These drugs can have very dangerous side effects.
My granny is 73, and she had a terrible episode of shingles last year. The rash was covering the entire right side of her body; she was in so much pain. Her doctor prescribed Valtrex 3 g per day in divided doses. She has been taking it for a week. I’m not sure if the drug https://alldaypill.com/valtrex/ speeded up her recovery, but she definitely felt better than without treatment.

The difference in health and comfort is clear in a hand with and without Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Just as with Osteoarthritis, there are various natural products that can help with the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis. I believe anyone suffering Rheumatoid Arthritis can benefit from these natural products. The Wobenzym-N that I recommend for Osteo can help with the symptoms and even possibly help in regulating the body’s immune system, studies show. Because Rheumatoid Arthritis is an auto-immune disease, the focus of the treatment needs to be on balancing the immune system. Keep in mind, the drugs being used to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis do not balance the immune system but rather suppress it. This suppression provides temporary relief of symptoms, but it does not correct the underlying problem. I have seen numerous patients find tremendous relief using natural products that help balance the immune system. I believe with this debilitating disease, we as health professionals, should be focusing on finding something to treat the underlying immune imbalance rather than treating the symptoms and suppressing the immune system. There are some health professionals out there who are doing this today, and in our next blog, we will discuss what they are recommending and are often getting great results with.

To learn more facts about Rheumatoid Arthritis visit the Rheumatoid Arthritis foundation website, and if you have any questions please contact me by filling out the contact form or leaving a voice message by clicking on the “Ask Dr. Phil” microphone on CarsonNatural.com. I look forward forward to hearing from you and serving you!

Healthy Blessings,

Dr. Phil

Is the Cure for Arthritis in Your Kitchen?

May 21, 2015 by Phil Carson Leave a Comment

Open up the fridge, open up the pantry! The relief you’ve been in search of for your arthritis pain and prevention of arthritis all together may very well be in your kitchen! I know from my personal experience and my patients the pain and discomfort of arthritis is no joking matter. However I am not joking when I say relief may be in your kitchen. Just as there are many foods that can cause inflammation in the body there are many others that can possibly relieve or prevent that inflammation from occurring in our bodies and joints. I believe you can improve your arthritic condition dramatically, if you will incorporate these foods into your diet on a daily basis. There are various types of foods, but I want to recommend three of my favorites.

First is Fruit! There are several fruits that can help with inflammation, but the berries are the best! Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and acai berries to name a few. These berries are rich in phytochemicals and antioxidants that have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties! Here is a great post detailing the healing properties of blueberries!

Second is the vegetable family! Broccoli, onions, and garlic are considered the best for anti-inflammatory purposes. Just as with the fruit, there are numerous studies that can validate these claims. Check out this post on broccoli!

Last, but not least, and found in your pantry, are the spices, such as turmeric, ginger, cinammon, oregano, and cayenne. For those of you who may not like to spice up your food, all of the forementioned spices can be purchased in capsule form for easy and convenient consumption. Again there is much scientific evidence verifying the anti-inflammatory properties of these wonderful spices. Here is a post detailing the specifics of many of the spices listed above!

As I mentioned previously, there are also many foods that cause inflammation. For optimal arthritic symptom control, here are three common types of foods that you need to limit or avoid all together.

1. Processed Dairy and Processed Sugar – The Froyo fad could be increasing inflammation in your body through the two main ingredients: sugar and milk, not to mention those cookies or candy you put on top.

2. Processed Grains – This category includes processed breads and pasta as well. These two foods are quickly broken down in your body into sugar, and if you haven’t been keeping up with current health trends, sugar is one of the most inflammatory ingredients out there.

3. Processed Meats – According to studies, the saturated fats found in most supermarket meat causes inflammation. They can also contain a compound called arachidonic acid which triggers a natural inflammatory response in the body.

If these are some of you favorite foods, don’t be discouraged! The key with consuming these inflammatory foods is to do so in moderation. It is when your body is in a constant state of inflammation, caused by exclusively consuming these ingredients and foods, that it begins to cause problems!

If you are interested in learning about more foods that are naturally anti-inflammatory, then you’re in luck because, I will cover those in my next blog. For information on specific anti-inflammatory supplements check out my last post! If you have any great recipes using any of these ingredients please share them in the comment section below, and if you have any questions about arthritis fill out the contact form or leave a message using the “Ask Dr. Phil” Microphone!

Healthy Blessings,

Dr. Phil