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46 million US citizens every year are informed by doctors that they have some form of illness affecting their joints. Whether you know it by the name joint pain or Arthralgia, an aching joint can be extremely bothersome. Britain's soccer star David Beckham is not the only one vulnerable to joint problems, The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) says an estimated 3.7 million adults in the US alone have fibromyalgia, not to speak of the millions affected by various types of illnesses that cause joint pain like osteoporosis and rheumatism. Injuries and infections can also cause joint pain. 1
Rheumatism refers to the Greek word for swelling, rheuma. Acute pain, fever, stiffness, and swelling in the muscles and bones or joints may be the symptoms shown. This disease may not kill you, but if neglected, they can definitely make you an invalid, often affecting the heart, inflaming the heart valves and the heart lining. There are two varieties of rheumatism, one affects the muscles and the other the joint, the latter is more common. In acute form, rheumatism is also found in young people. The chronic form attacks more or less aged people. 4
Fibromyalgia seems the most prevalent among non-arthritis related joint pain incidents. Adults are more affected by this more than children; and women of child bearing age more than men. The connective fibrous tissues of the body are inflamed and there is pain all over the body as well as fatigue. It is not confined to any particular joint or muscle area, rather, it takes over the whole body in its attack. 2
Osteoporosis is commonly known as brittle bones, and means porous bones. In this condition, a diminution of bone mass takes place and makes the bones very fragile and the cracking of bones takes place at the slightest injury. Aging and Osteoporosis are synonymous. In women, the bone mass declines with estrogen deficiency at menopause. In men, after 45, bone mass steadily declines. The wrist bones, ankle bones, spine and hip bones are those commonly affected. 4
Muscle Cramps are technically not medically classified as joint pain. But the Naturopath has a system under which he diagnoses the illnesses of the musculo-skeletal systems in a well drawn plan of treatment. Muscular pains are therefore included in this context. The painful spasmodic contraction of limb muscles is termed cramps. The calf and feet muscle are most prone to this strain although any muscle of the body can be affected. Those who have experienced frequent muscle cramps know what a discomfort they can be. Muscle cramps result when the body cannot assimilate vitamins and minerals from food thereby creating deficiencies. Oxygen deficiency in the tissues can cause cramps, so also psychological factors like mental stress. In women, due to the control of sex hormones on calcium metabolism, menstrual cycles and muscle cramps are often connected. 4
Pain in the joints can be accompanied by swelling, stiffness, and warmth in the joints among other symptoms. If you have an injury, like a sprain or fracture, this is a natural effect, but otherwise, joint pain signifies infection or inflammation within. If joint pain persists, it requires immediate medical advice.
A study held at the Columbia University College of Physicians by Dr. Dillard and Dr. Knapp affirms the popularity of alternative therapies for painful conditions. Patients are known to adopt these in the hope for a better quality of life and management of their illness. These doctors say that it's the comfort level and openness of the patients with these therapies that is most important in their success. Alternative therapies have not been found to be harmful. 3
The Naturopath looks for a holistic approach in the treatment of any disease. This includes treatment of pain in the joints. Unless the doctor has reason to doubt arthritis, when the treatment is slightly more elaborate, the Naturopath follows the following mode generally to take control of a joint pain situation.
In rheumatism, the patient is put on a fast for a specific number of days. It's an 8 to 8 day routine of two hourly administrations of orange juice to which warm water is added, and absolutely nothing else. A warm water enema cleanses the bowels. Because the chief cause of rheumatism is naturopathy is considered to be acid waste pollution of the blood that results from incomplete waste elimination and low vitality, the bowel cleansing is a very necessary part. The restricted diet that is followed for the next 14 days is comprised entirely of fruits and vegetables with the exception of starch in all forms. At this point, seeds, nuts, and grains are added. Lemons, butter and milk are recommended whereas meat, fish, alcohol, pickles, condiments, and rich and refined food are to be avoided at all costs. Potato juice therapy is the best remedy recommended. 4
Fibromyalgia is one of those illnesses that have no standard treatment. In fact some medical books don't even list it as a disease. The pain is the predominant factor and can be confused with chronic fatigue syndrome. Hope Fay N.D. comments that fibromyalgia is one of those treatments that one tries to treat very broadly. Fibromyalgia itself has no test, but your doctor may be able to rule out all those which do have tests, so see the doctor if you feel you have this condition. 4 Natural healers usually begin to strengthen the body and the immune system and not treat the symptom as such. People with this condition tend to be prone to illnesses and have almost no resistance says Elizabeth Wotton, N.D., a naturopathic doctor at Compass Family Health Center in Plymouth, Massachusetts. She recommends the herb astragalus, which seems to work within the bone marrow boosting protective cell activity and upping the antibody level. The liquid extract is to be drunk thrice daily for 4-6 months for total effect. To counter the erratic functioning of the adrenal glands, patients are told to take ginseng, an adaptogenic herb; one to two teaspoonfuls of the liquid extract daily keeps weariness at bay. But beware of taking it along with other stimulants or after noon as it can cause insomnia. The low level of magnesium found in fibromyalgia patients is also corrected by taking 200 mgs of it 3 times a day for 4-6 months. Cut out the meat and supplement with whole grain, fresh fruits, and vegetables. Leave out sugars and refined food altogether. 4
Osteoporosis may result from nutritional deficiencies and the inability of the body to assimilate vitamins and minerals found in food. A broken bone from a fall often draws attention to the condition but in all probability the bone was broken first, causing the fall. Women are more prone to osteoporosis than men since the menstruation, lactation, and pregnancy periods rob them of the calcium content of the bone. Diet restructuring is a major part of the treatment of this condition. The warm water enema that is given daily takes care of daily elimination of waste matter accumulated. Beginning with a raw juice diet for five days when a two hourly administration of a 1:1 portion of fruit juice and water is done, the patient is gradually taken to a seed-nut-grain diet along with vegetables and fruits. Mineral rich food, foods rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium, and silicon are given. Berries, sesame seeds and sunflower seeds are very beneficial components of the diet. Lactic acid foods, barley, millet, and rice are also recommended. Large meals are a no-no and overeating should be avoided along with cigarettes, alcohol, refined foods, and white sugar. The trace mineral boron, which is found in fruits and nuts, are found to be very good. Pineapple is another strongly recommended component says Dr Jeanne Freeland-Graves, Professor of nutrition at Texas University. The manganese like boron is involved in bone metabolism. Finally nothing can keep osteoporosis away like a good bout of exercise along with these foods. 4
Muscle cramps are also considered to be a product of nutritional deficiency. Seeds, nuts, whole grains (except wheat which is calcium deficient), cereals, lots of vegetables and fruits, (don't go overboard on citrus fruits) sesame seeds, and almonds are recommended along with vitamin C, vitamin E, calcium, and magnesium rich foods. 4 Dr Jeanne Freeland-Graves, Professor of nutrition at Texas University discovered that women with osteoporosis had only about one third the manganese that ordinary healthy women had in their blood. She tried in a study to supplement it and found that the diseased women's bodies absorbed twice as much manganese, showing how much the condition required it. 4
References
1.http://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/data_statistics/arthritis_related_statistics.htm
2. http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/23/90.cfm
3. Dillard JN, Knapp S.: Complementary and alternative pain therapy in the emergency department. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2005 May; 23(2):529-49.
4. Dr. H.K. Bakhru, Naturopathy for Longevity (Mumbai: Jaico Publishing House, 2006
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