Alternative Arthritis Medicine
The Best And The Worst
If there is someone in your life who has arthritis, you have probably noticed from time to time that an entire industry has evolved to relieve the symptoms of the disease. There are believed to be approximately a thousand different arthritis remedies and supplements - examples of alternative arthritis medicine if you will. It's an industry worth $ 25 billion. How do you know who to trust or what to buy when so many products attract your attention and money? An article in the American Family Physician medical publication recently reviewed many of the formulations stored on the shelves to try to distinguish the authentic article from the slag.
Of all the strange, rare, and odd things you find in alternative arthritis medicine products, glucosamine sulfate is still your best bet today. It is a substance that is distilled from the material that shells are made of. Although most examples of alternative arthritis medicine are poorly researched and poorly tested, this is the exception - it has been studied everywhere and has been the subject of rigorous scientific research with large-scale studies and almost everywhere it is done it is enthusiastically accepted ,
There is enthusiasm in the evidence, although the results are not entirely consistent. There are many formulations of glucosamine on the market and no one seems to be able to agree on the best way to study their effectiveness. What you see in the studies is that not all formulations on the market are all good. For example, glucosamine sulfate works pretty well; Another compound, called glucosamine hydrochloride, has been found to have fairly poor potential. The effects, if you take the right type, glucosamine sulfate, are not particularly strong or miraculous. The effects are stable, modest and reliable. There are many alternative arthritis medicine glucosamine formulations that nutritional supplement manufacturers have developed from the cartilage present in the limbs of the cows. The substance is called chondroitin, and there are many formulations of glucosamine with chondroitin. So far, no study has shown that chondroitin does any good. Pharmaceutical manufacturers also like to mix other products with glucosamine - MSM and turmeric. However, researchers believe that apart from increasing the price, it makes no difference to you.
Some alternatives to arthritis medicine also include a product called S-adenosylmethionine or SAMe. Seniors with osteoarthritis are often prescribed a traditional anti-inflammatory pill called Celebrex. SAMe works just as well as Celebrex - it also helps patients with pain and other effects. So why should we want SAMe if it works the same way as the set route you requested? The well-known drug Celebrex really is not compatible with our digestive system. People who take it for long periods of time have headaches, upset stomach and it can really mess up your system with any other medication you take. Unlike glucosamine, which is cheap and affordable, SAMe can typically cost two or three times as much.
You could easily buy SAMe if you don't mind, but you wouldn't believe how different the quality of the products is from batch to batch. When you buy a bottle of your favorite drink, you expect it to taste about the same as last time. No luck with SAMe, which happens to be a very unstable product. Most of the lots on the shelves contain little or no active ingredients that you need. Thats how it works.
Arthritis And Gout - Is There A Difference?
Gout is considered a form of arthritis, but is unique in at least one aspect. What you eat and drink has a big impact when you feel intense pain from a flare up. In fact, herbal remedies and medications can also play a role in this disease.
The usual sequence of events when an outbreak occurs can affect your previous day's activities. Consume a large amount of protein or maybe a beer or two (or both). You are perfectly good. When you wake up (sometimes in the middle of the night) your sheet is too painful to carry. Welcome to gout.
It's best to have this diagnosed by a doctor, as other things can imitate it. One is called pseudo-gout and is treated in a completely different way. The doctor will do blood and urine tests to determine the amount of uric acid in your body.
This is another difference between osteoarthritis and osteoarthritis. It is caused by something that your body produces. Uric acid is the waste product of purine, a substance that is found in most vegetable and animal proteins. Most often, it is filtered by your kidneys. However, if there is a large amount, the kidneys may not be able to filter everything.
Unfiltered acid circulates in your bloodstream and when it is added it begins to crystallize. Eventually, the crystals become too heavy to move and fall into your joints. They irritate the tissue and cause pain, inflammation and redness.
What should you do if you are diagnosed with gout? Three things can be done, but they can force you to make a big difference in your life. The most important thing is your diet.
Although most proteins contain purine, they do not all have the same amount. The organ meat of all animals (including fish and seafood) contains the most. Processed meats like hot dogs and salami are also very rich in this element. Other parts of meat and vegetable protein have less, but still enough to cause problems if you overeat.
What you drink may need to be changed. Beer and loved ones have two problems. Alcohol becomes dehydrated, which increases the risk of crystal formation, and the yeast contains purine. Cherry juice, on the other hand, can be very helpful in stopping a current outbreak and preventing future attacks.
The last thing is to take a good look at your medication and supplements. Even fish oil contains some of the components that cause problems. Aspirin should be avoided as well as the willow bark. If you are taking low-dose aspirin, this shouldn't be a problem. If you regularly take a higher dose and / or take other medicines that increase your risk factors, contact your doctor to see if they can be changed.