Osteoarthritis Archives - Carson Natural

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.

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

Natures Answer for Osteoarthritis Pain

May 17, 2015 by Phil Carson Leave a Comment

I am afraid of the side effects of the prescription arthritis medication. What natural medicines can I take to help with my arthritis pain?

This is a question that I received from patients quite often.

Osteoarthritis is most often treated medically with two types of anti-inflammatory drugs, steroidal and non-sterodial. The steroidal are commonly known as cortisone drugs, available by prescription only. There are a multitude of non-steroidal drugs on the market, but the most popular is probably the over-the-counter drug ibuprofen. Both of these types of medications do a good job of temporarily relieving joint pain. Unfortunately, at the same time they have a long list of potential adverse effects, one of which is the deterioration of joint tissue. I want people to know that there are some good safe natural alternatives to these drugs. These alternatives can often provide equal or better relief of the pain without the adverse effects caused by the medications. Unfortunately these natural products don’t work as fast as the drugs, but they can, most of the time, provide relief within two to three weeks.

I hate to see people suffering from the pain of arthritis and I also hate to see them suffering from the adverse effects of the drugs. I believe that most people can find the relief of pain they are searching for with these three natural products that I often recommend.

Baxyl is a new natural product that I have recently discovered. My patients have been getting tremendous results with this supplement. I have two patients with severe arthritis in their knees that tell me this product has changed their life.

Baxyl is an effective and convenient way to:

Promote healthy joint mobility and lubrication*
Enhance the maintenance of cartilage and joint tissues*
Support healthy bone formation*
Support vertebrae and spine health*
Enhance ocular health*

Natural Egg Shell Membrane is a new novel supplement that recent studies are showing to be very helpful in relieving pain and improving joint flexibility. Until recently, the majority of eggshells were immediately discarded once the shell was broken and the yolk and albumen were extracted. What we failed to realize was that the majority of the beneficial egg membrance surrounding the interior shell of the egg was discarded along with the shell. Scientific research has now confirmed that these egg membranes contain components such as Chondroitin Sulfate, Collagen, and Hyaluronic Acid which may help support healthy joints and flexibility.

Wobenzym N and Glucosamine/MSM complex, two products that I discussed in my previous blog for prevention have also been shown to be very effective in providing natural relief of pain over a period of time. Studies show that all of these products actually promote healing of the joint tissue.

If you think one of these products may be right for you but have further questions please contact me by filling out our contact form or leaving a voice message by clicking the “Ask Dr. Phil” microphone! I look forward to your questions!

Healthy Blessings,

Dr. Phil

I am afraid of the side effects of the prescription arthritis medication. What natural medicines can I take to help with my arthritis pain?

I hate to see people suffering from the pain of arthritis and I also hate to see them suffering from the adverse effects of the drugs. I believe that most people can find the relief of pain they are searching for with these three natural products that I often recommend.

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