Natural Arthritis Therapies

Arthritis can make everyday tasks difficult. But there is relief. Instead of pounding painkillers, try one of these three natural alternatives

- Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa

For millions of osteoarthritis sufferers, the future looks like facing the rest of life with permanently increasing pain, ultimately with a slow slide into incapacity.

Arthritis literally means “joint inflammation,” but medically it also refers to a diverse assortment of more than 100 rheumatic diseases that cause pain, stiffness, and swelling in joints. Worse, it may also affect other parts of the body, primarily other sites of connective tissue. One form or another of the disease afflicts 50 million Americans, and it is the most prevalent cause of disability in people 65 and older.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of joint disease and it increases in prevalence with age. In OA, joint cartilage erodes. As we age, the water portion of cartilage increases while the protein composition degenerates, causing the cartilage to form tiny crevasses and cartilage surfaces fray and wear. Ultimately, disability comes from disease in the spine, knees and hips.

One of the main complaints of persons with arthritis is lost sleep, and sleep disruption overshadows makes pain worse, increasing discomfort. There is some good news, though. We now know arthritis can be arrested or reversed.

INFLAMMATION FIGHTERS