Osteoarthritis

What is osteoarthritis?
Cartilage is made up of 75-80% proteoglycans. In osteoarthritis this is reduced to 35-40%. The loss of proteoglycan is initiated by degradative enzymes that are associated with inflammation. An acid environment will also activate these enzymes.

Chondrocytes are cells within the joint that produce these proteoglycans. It is possible to stimulate these cells with certain nutrients and this can forestall some of the degenerative changes of osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis and Inflamation
Inflammation is when things get swollen, red and painful. Inflammation is your body’s response to anything that irritates it. Essentially inflammation is like a small biological fire designed to “burn away” the irritation. We often think of inflammation as a result of injury due to sprains, strains, cuts and grazes, insect bites and stings, which produce the localised pain, swelling, redness and heat. Although this is true, inflammation can also be a result of poor diet, lifestyle, and stress.

Where you find pain, you find inflammation.
Many of those aches and pains that you feel regularly may be a sign of inflammation within your body. Almost all pain is the result of inflammation – arthritis, and other joint, back and muscle problems, digestive disorders like irritable bowel disease or ulcerative colitis, and many types of headaches. If there is pain, there is inflammation.

It’s not old age, it’s inflammation.
You may not even be aware that you are inflamed. You may think that those aches and pains that you feel when you wake up in the morning are a sign of old age. The good news is they may not be a sign of old age; the bad news is that this is a sign that your body may be inflamed and this inflammation can lead to many chronic illnesses. Pain and inflammation are your body’s way of trying to tell you that something is wrong.
Your body is on fire and you need to put the fire out. There are many pharmaceutical anti-inflammatories that are immensely effective in alleviating pain and inflammation. However, some may cause adverse side effects.

What can I do about Osteoarthritis?

Effective natural anti-inflammatory options.
Natural medicine can provide some excellent anti-inflammatory options. These herbal formulas are very safe and gentle on stomachs, so are ideal for people who cannot take conventional pain medications or are concerned about their side effects.

Please ask us today about these combinations which are available now from our naturopath.

Food has the power to produce or reduce inflammation
One of the most inflammatory things many people are exposed to is food in their diet. Fruit and vegetables, and good fats from fish and nuts all help to reduce inflammation, whilst other foods can increase nflammation. These foods include high sugar foods, heavily processed foods that are high in colours, flavours and other artificial ingredients, and foods that are high in certain fats, such as many processed and fast-foods.

Physical therapies can help.
Osteopathy
Acupuncture
Orthobionomy