Arthritis is a common rheumatologic disorder. It is estimated that 40 million Americans and 80 percent of persons older than 75 years are affected by arthritis. Although symptoms of arthritis occur earlier in women, the prevalence of osteoarthritis among men and women is equal. The diagnosis of arthritis is largely clinical because radiographic findings do not always correlate with symptoms.
       
Natural therapy for arthritis
The most commonly used alternative or complementary nutrients for arthritis are glucosamine and chondroitin. Several other nutrients and herbs may potentially help reduce symptoms of arthritis.

Many Nutrients have been found to be helpful in arthritis. These Include the following found in Joint Power Rx:
Because joint pain is so debilitating, Glucosamine and Chondroitin alone are often not enough. This powerful joint formula includes several additional herbal extracts and nutrients that play a role in joint health.  

Boswellia serrata herb, you can purchase Boswellia supplements at this online herbal store.
Chondroitin sulfate works well in combination with glucosamine
Glucosamine supplement
Lipoic acid supplement
MSM supplement
SAM-e is mostly used to improve depression
Stinging nettle supplement
Curcumin is an extract from the herb turmeric
Vitamin D supplement
Vitamin E supplement

Another nutrient that you often find in a natural arthritis formula is CMO.

What causes arthritis?
The exact cause of arthritis is not fully understood. Multiple factors (e.g., heredity, trauma, and obesity) interact to cause this disorder. Any event that changes the environment of the chondrocyte has the potential to cause osteoarthritis. Although usually occurring as a primary disorder, osteoarthritis can occur secondary to other processes. The pathophysiology of osteoarthritis involves a combination of mechanical, cellular, and biochemical processes. The interaction of these processes leads to changes in the composition and mechanical properties of the articular cartilage. Cartilage is composed of water, collagen, and proteoglycans. In healthy cartilage, continual internal remodeling occurs as the chondrocytes replace macromolecules lost through degradation. This process becomes disrupted in osteoarthritis, leading to increased degenerative changes and an abnormal repair response.

Common risk factors for arthritis and what makes it worse
Age older than 50

Obesity (weight-bearing joints)

History of immobilization

Injury to the joint

Joint hypermobility or instability

Prolonged occupational or sports stress
Diet (see study below) -- the types of fat we consume may have an influence.

What is the standard medical treatment?
Acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications remain first-line traditional drugs for the treatment of osteoarthritis. Salsalate (Disalcid) or choline magnesium trisalicylate (Trilisate) are good alternatives. Agents such as cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors (COX-2) and sodium hyaluronate joint injections offer new treatment alternatives. Complementary medication for osteoarthritis use has also increased.

Arthritis study
An increase in blood pressure may be more likely when the painkiller Vioxx rather than other similar drugs are used to treat arthritis.

Just because aspirin, ibuprofen and similar pain relief medications can be purchased at a local supermarket or gas station without a prescription does not mean people should not take basic precautions when using them, according to the National Consumers League and the US Food and Drug Administration. The two groups joined together to launch on Thursday their "Take With Care" campaign to educate consumers about the safe use of nonprescription pain relievers. "Although these medicines are safe when taken as directed, many consumers don't realize the potency of OTC pain relievers," Peter J. Pitts, associate commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration said during the campaign launch. Some of the potentially serious side effects associated with the misuse of over-the-counter pain relievers include an increased risk of liver problems and kidney damage.

High levels of fat and (n-6) fatty acids in cancellous bone in osteoarthritis.
Plumb MS, Aspden RM. Lipids Health Dis. 2004 Jun 18;3(1):12.
Arthritis is strongly linked with obesity and patients with osteoporosis (OP) have a low body mass index. Anecdotal evidence, clinical and laboratory, suggests that Arthritis bone contains more fat. However, conversion of osteoblasts to adipocytes is reported in OP and this would suggest that the more porous OP cancellous bone would have a high fat content. Objectives: To test the hypothesis that Arthritis bone contains more fat than OP bone. Methods: Cores of cancellous bone were obtained from femoral heads of patients undergoing surgery for either Arthritis or OP. Lipids were extracted using chloroform-methanol, weighed and expressed as a fraction of core mass and volume. A fatty acid analysis was performed using gas chromatography. Results: Arthritis bone contained twice as much fat per unit volume of tissue as OP. Levels of n-6 fatty acids were elevated in Arthritis, especially arachidonic acid (C20:4 n-6) which was almost double that found in OP. Conclusions: These data support the hypothesis that lipids may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of Arthritis and may provide part of the key to understanding why Osteoarthritis and OP lie at opposite ends of the spectrum of bone masses.

Chondroitin Useful in Arthritis
Back in the mid 1990s the America public became aware of effective nutritional alternatives to standard medical drugs for the treatment of osteoarthritis. Glucosamine was the first nutrient that became popular. Since then, many other nutrients and herbs have been promoted, including chondroitin. Chondroitin sulfate is a major constituent of cartilage providing structure, holding water, and allowing other molecules to move through cartilage—an important property, as there is no blood supply to cartilage. In degenerative joint disease, such as osteoarthritis, there is a loss of chondroitin sulfate as the cartilage erodes. But, few studies have looked at the long-term benefit of oral chondroitin supplements. In a study performed at University of Genova Medical School, in Italy, 12 individuals with arthritis of the hands were treated with 800 mg/day of chondroitin sulfate plus naproxen, and compared to 12 others who were given naproxen only. Naproxen is an anti-inflammatory medicine similar to Motrin and sold over the counter as Aleve. X-rays of the hands were done at the start of the study and again after 24 months. In both groups, degeneration of joints showed a general tendency to increase over time, however, the damage was much lower in those treated with chondroitin sulfate plus naproxen than in patients taking naproxen alone.
     Comments: Although chondroitin by itself did not stop the continuing damage to joints, it did slow the progression of the arthritis. Glucsosamine supplements are known to enhance joint health in those with arthritis, and it seems reasonable to take both supplements for the treatment of arthritis. The most common dose of glucosamine is 1500 mg a day while that of chondroitin is 500 to 1000 mg per day.

Research in mice suggests that a newer class of painkilling drugs called COX-2 inhibitors could trigger a chain of events potentially harmful to the cardiovascular system.
   These findings might explain the outcome of a recent major trial in which patients taking a COX-2 inhibitor--the arthritis drug Vioxx (rofecoxib)--had higher rates of heart attack and other cardiovascular complications compared with patients on naproxen. Naproxen, used in painkillers such as Aleve, belongs to a group of drugs known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which includes many familiar painkillers such as aspirin and ibuprofen. COX-2 inhibitors--which besides Vioxx include the arthritis drugs Celebrex among others--are a newer type of NSAID shown to be easier on the stomach.

Tai Chi benefit
Tai Chi, an exercise form that originated in China, involves gentle, gliding motions that can be performed regardless of physical ability. After reviewing studies of Tai Chi involving a total of about 300 subjects with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, Amanda Hall, at the University of Sydney in Australia, found that the practice reduced pain levels. Tai Chi likewise reduced pain-related disability associated with daily activities such as walking, climbing stairs, getting in and out of chairs, and completing household, shopping, and leisure activities. Arthritis and Rheumatism, June 2009

Arthritis cure with natural supplements questions
Q. Does Lyprinol work or is it a cure for arthritis?
   A. There has been very little research with arthritis and Lyprinol in humans.

Q. Would Wobenzym help arthritis?
   A. We have not seen any such Wobenzym studies for the treatment of arthritis.

Does the herb tribulus terrestris provide natural arthritis relief?
    We doubt it, we have seen no such arthritis study with this herb.

I have been referred to serrapeptase products by someone who has a relative who that has been using the same material for a chronic inflamed arthritic knee. She is in her 80's. I am a man in my 50's who has been experiencing knee pain and inflammation, diagnosed with beginning arthritis there and been seeing knee geometry changes now 40 years after meniscus removal surgery. Which of you products would you recommend please?
    We can't make specific suggestions but perhaps you can discuss the natural options on this page with your health care provider.