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| Guaranteed Natural Joint Relief | |
By Shane Ellison M.Sc
2004 All Rights Reserved
Typically, joint pain is caused by osteoarthritis, which is
estimated to affect 50 million Americans mostly age 40 and up.
Understanding joint pain affords us the ability to properly treat
it.
Studies show that osteoarthritis is the result of our body lacking
the ability to manufacture a molecule known as glucosamine (perhaps
due to age or poor diet). Additionally, intense exercise and joint
stress can also lead to damaged cartilage and ultimately the early
stages of osteoarthritis.
Both the inability to manufacture glucosamine and joint stress leads
to a lack of collagen. Collagen is the protein portion of the
fibrous substance that holds joints together. Collagen is also the
main component of the shock-absorbing cushion called articular
cartilage-the white smooth surface which covers the ends of body
joints-such as those in the wrist, fingers, toes, ankles, knees,
hips and between the discs of the spine.
Clearly, without articular cartilage our joints experience pain and
despite how healthy we may be, this pain greatly inhibits physical
activity. This contributes to a decline in health.
The obvious first step towards effectively treating this pain and to
prevent a decline in health is to provide the body with an orally
active form (one that can make it past the stomach and into the
blood stream) of glucosamine. After decades of research, scientists
have found this to be glucosamine sulfate.
Glucosamine sulfate is derived from chitin, which is a processed
form of shrimp, lobster, and crab shells. Glucosamine sulfate is a
derivative of the naturally occurring aminomonosaccharide
glucosamine, a major consituent of cartilage and synovial fluid.
When supplemented properly (1500-2500mg daily for 6-8 weeks)
glucosamine sulfate rebuilds lost cartilage.
In an unprecedented, 3-year, randomized, placebo-controlled, double
blind-study, involving 200 patients, supplementation with
glucosamine sulfate retarded the progression of osteoarthritis in
the knee.(1) Other studies have confirmed these findings by showing
that supplementation with glucosamine sulfate slows down and
reverses degeneration of cartilage within joints.(2)
These studies are paramount in that no NSAID's, including COX-2
inhibitors have ever been able to retard the progression of
osteoarthritis, rather they masl pain. Trials which compared
glucosamine sulfate to NSAIDS such a Ibuprofen showed that long term
reductions in pain were greater in patients taking glucosamine
sulfate.(3)
Moreover, long-term glucosamine administration does not elicit the
potentially dangerous side-effects associated with the use of
NSAIDS. It is believed that glucosamine sulfate supplementation is
dangerous for diabetics. Although studies show that due to the low
glycemic index, there are no adverse effects when used at proper
doses of 1500-3000mg daily.(4)
One down-side to glucosamine sulfate is that it takes on average 6-8
weeks to "feel" the benefits. This is why many people resort to over-
the-counter NSAIDS such as COX-2 inhibitors. These drugs mask pain
quickly!
Unfortunately, these drugs are notorious for causing negative side
effects, to say the least. Real-life observations show that
approximately 107,000 patients are hospitalized every year for non
steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-related gastrointestinal
complications.
Moreover, at least 16,500 NSAID-related deaths occur each year among
arthritis patients. (5) This figure, as reported by Dr. Gurkirpal
Singh, is comparable to the number of deaths from the acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome [AIDS] and shows that NSAIDS contribute to
as many deaths as multiple myeloma, asthma, and cervical cancer
combined!
Needless to say, combining these prescription drugs with the use of
glucosamine sulfate is not an option. Thus, most individuals either
wait 6-8 weeks for glucosamine sulfate to sooth pain or abandoned it
all together and reach for the aforementioned, fast acting
prescription drugs.
The current understanding of natural medicine is enormous. This
understanding allows scientists to abandon the prescription drug
model and replace it with safe and effective natural medicine. A
perfect example of this is the use of naturally occurring inhibitors
of prostaglandins! While not well know among the public, the
benefits derived from natural prostaglandin inhibitors have been
well studied.
Thus, to prevent the inevitable side-effects associated with the use
of NSAIDS and COX-2 inhibitors and to provide users of glucosamine
sulfate fast acting relief to painful joints (and osteoarthritis),
scientists have searched for natural inhibitors of "pain causing"
prostaglandins.
Prostaglandins are ubiquitous substances that initiate and control
cell and tissue responses involved in a myriad of physiological
processes. These include platelet aggregation, renin release and
inflammation. Their biosynthesis has been implicated in the
pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases, cancer and inflammatory
diseases.
With relation to joint pain, production of prostaglandins is due to
oxygenation of arachidonic acid (AA). Arachidonic acid is
metabolized by two enzymatic pathways, the cyclooxygenase (COX) and
the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO). This leads to the manufacture of
prostaglandins (PGE2) and leukotrienes (LTB4) respectively. (6)
Thus, both of these compounds serve as highly sought targets for
managing joint pain.
More than 200 potential drugs have been tested in an attempt to find
one that inhibits both prostaglandins (PGE2) and leukotrienes
(LTB4). None have been found to be safe.
Not to fear, Mother Nature came to the rescue. Zingiber officinale
(ginger root) has shown to be a potent inhibitor of both
prostaglandins (PGE2) and leukotrienes (LTB4).(7) One study
conducted by the Department of Environmental Medicine in Denmark
showed that of 56 patients (2 with rheumatoid arthritis, 18 with
osteoarthritis, and 10 with muscular discomfort) taking Zingiber
officinale, 75% experienced relief in pain and swelling.(8) This
rivals ANY pharmaceutical drug in soothing joint and muscle pain!
Numerous studies bring validation to these findings by showing
specific inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) and the 5-lipoxygenase
(5-LO) by Zingiber officinale in-vitro.
These finding are extremely exciting and represent a new era of
treating arthritis naturally. More importantly, if put to use,
these findings could save thousands
of lives by rendering the use of NSAIDS obsolete.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Shane holds a Master's degree in organic chemistry and has first-
hand industry experience with drug research, design and synthesis.
He knows that American's want and deserve education, not
prescriptions! His natural formulas can be found at www.health-
fx.net. His book at http://www.healthmyths.net
References
1. Pavelka, Karel. et al. Glucosamine Sulfate Use and Delay of
Progression of Knee Osteoarthritis. Arch Intern Med. Vol 162, Oct
14, 2002.
2. Alternative Medicine Review. Volume 4, Number 3. 1999.
3. Müller-Fasbender H, et al. Glucosamine sulfate compared to
ibuprofen in osteoarthritis. Osteo Cartilage 1994; 2: 61-69.
4. Scroggie DA, et al. The effect of glucosamine-chondroitin
supplementation on glycosylated hemoglobin levels in patients with
type 2 diabetes mellitus. Arch Intern Med 2003; 163:1587-1590.
5. Singh Gurkirpal, MD, "Recent Considerations in Nonsteroidal Anti-
Inflammatory Drug Gastropathy", The American Journal of Medicine,
July 27, 1998, p. 31S
6. Srivastava, KC. et al. Ginger (Zingiber officianale) in
rheumatism and musculoskeletal disorders. Med Hypotheses. 1992 Dec;39
(4):342-8
7. Kiuchi, F. et al. Inhibition of prostaglandin and leukotriene
biosynthesis by gingerols and diarylheptanoids. Chem Pharm Bull
(Tokyo). 1992 Feb;40(2):387-91.
8. Srivastava, KC. et al. Ginger (Zingiber officianale) in
rheumatism and musculoskeletal disorders. Med Hypotheses. 1992 Dec;39
(4):342-8
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