Osteoarthritis & rheumatoid arthritis

Discovering the difference…

Arthritis is a broad term used for a number of disorders, diseases and issues related mainly to joints of the human body. However, the two most common forms of arthritis include osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Most people don’t even know that these two diseases are very  different from each other in a variety of ways such as:

	Osteoarthritis	Rheumatoid arthritis
1	It is also known as degenerative arthritis	It is also known as inflammatory arthritis or polyarthritis
2	It is a more common disease than rheumatoid arthritis	It is a less common disease than osteoarthritis
3	Osteoarthritis is a deterioration of cartilage and overgrowth of bone often due to “wear and tear”	Rheumatoid arthritis is the inflammation of a joint’s connective tissues, such as the synovial membranes, which leads to the destruction of the articular cartilage
4	It is a non-inflammatory disease of the joints which is characterized by degeneration of the cartilage of the joints and a hardening (sclerosis) of the underlying bone	It is a complex inflammatory disease that mainly affects joints and various other parts of the body
5	Its cause is known and it is often caused by the aging phenomenon that affects joints. Other possible causes include obesity, joint injury, overuse of joints and heredity	Its cause is known. It is believed to be an “autoimmune disease” in which your body’s immunity works against your own cells and tissues instead of germs
6	It usually begins later in life, usually after age 50	It usually begins between age 30 and age 60, but can begin anytime
7	It results from the breakdown of the tissue inside the joints	It results from swelling in the joints
8	Cartilages are involved	Synovial membranes (thin membranes between joints) are inflamed
9	It is a degenerative disease primarily of weight-bearing joints (commonly the spine, hip, knee and also the terminal interphalangeal joints of the hands, but any joint may be involved)	It commonly involves the wrists, fingers and other synovial joints (for example, knees and elbows)
10	It tends to affect hands and feet first, but can affect any joints	It mostly affects hips, knees, feet, and spine; rarely affects hands
11	Osteoarthritis affects only joints, not internal organs	Rheumatoid arthritis affects joints, tissues and a lot of internal systems of the body
12	Two most common symptoms are pain and swelling over affected joints	Common symptoms include pain, stiffness, heat, redness, tenderness over affected joints
13	Joints are tender but not warm	Joints are tender are warm
14	Pain often affects only one joint	Pain usually occurs in joints on both sides of the body (e.g., both wrists or both ankles)
15	Blood tests are often normal	Blood tests often show indications of inflammation, anemia (blood deficiency)

Did you know that while both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis differ from each other in a number of ways, there are some natural or herbal supplements that are equally effective for both conditions?

Exploring the herbal cure for arthritis

Top three herbs for arthritis

The term Arthritis is used a variety of disorders, issues and diseases related mainly to the joints in the body.  There are over 100 forms of Arthritis with the two main forms being Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.  Persons inflicted with Arthritis experience severe pain in the joints.  Relief of the pain experienced can be found in many sources such as drugs, yoga, massages, diet and exercise.   Although medical advancement is soaring, there is no replacement for natural foods and healthy eating habits which is the easiest and quickest way to prevent and cure the pain suffered with the illness. 

There are specific herbs, oils and spices that help to heal inflammation which is suffered with the condition and reduces the pain experienced in the joints.  The following is a little knowledge to help you know more about these foods. 

Capsaicin

When the body experiences pain, it is doing so because pain impulses are being transmitted to the brain.  Substance P is a chemical that is involved in this transmission.  Capsaicin helps to deplete or interfere with substance P, helping to relieve the pain that is associated with the condition.  Capsaicin is effective with diabetic neuropathy, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis and works by relieving the pain in the nerve, joint or muscle.  In a study conducted on 31 rheumatoid arthritis patients and 70 osteoarthritis patients, 80% experienced a decrease in pain after two weeks of capsaicin treatment.

Reishi Gano

Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) is a popular mushroom that is edible and is used in many Asian countries for the promotion of health and longevity.  Reishi Gano is used to treat many diseases such as cancer, inflammation, scleroderma, neurasthenia, nephritis, insomnia, liver disease, hypertension, hyperglycemia, ulcer, bronchitis, arthritis and allergy.  There are over 200 active elements in Reishi Gano which include Triterpenoids, Adenosine, and Polysaccharide which each having impressive medical benefits.

There are a number of ways in which Reishi Gano helps to resolve arthritis symptoms which include:

·         It is a natural source that kills pain (COX2 inhibitor)

·         It is a source which produces anti-inflammatory effect, controlling the pain and inflammation of the joints, tissues, and cartilages

·         It helps the body to fight against infections and inflammation because it is an immune-modulator and helps to control auto-immune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis

·         It is rated 7 times more potent than Ginseng making it a powerful antioxidant.  Antioxidants help to clean the body from free radicals which are responsible for causing many diseases

Tongkat Ali

Tongkat Ali is a root in Malaysia that has several properties including:

·         Boost sexual ability

·         Helps to fight fatigue (which is experienced with most types of arthritis)

·         Boosts energy level

·         The root is known to increase androgen hormones levels, which play a integral role in enhancing the immune system and controlling and boosting energy (effective with rheumatoid arthritis

In addition, it also:

·         Decreases stress and tension

·         Improves the blood flow to organs

·         Improves cognitive function

·         Improves sense of well being

·         Increases bone mineral density

·         Improves muscle mass and strength

It is essential to include these three plants or herbs when devising an effective and permanent plan to control and cure the many forms of arthritis and the symptoms experienced with the condition.

How to deal with pain in arthritis

How to get no pain yet all gain…

Persons living with arthritis or a related condition often live with pain which is one of the hardest factors experienced with the disease.  In order to know how to combat the pain you must learn to manage the disease.  The first consideration to determine is which type of arthritis the patient has.  Knowing the particular arthritis will help to determine the patient’s treatment.  Before you begin to develop a treatment plan, you must understand some concepts regarding pain.

Not all pain is alike

Pain experienced by arthritis patients is not always the same.  There are many different types of pain just as there are many different types of arthritis and not all patients will respond the same to treatment.  It may be necessary to try several different treatments before finding one that works for the patient.

Why pain occurs…

Pain occurs because it is telling us that something is wrong.  When an injury is experienced, nerves in the area where the injury originated release chemical signals and other nerves transmit the signals to the brain.  Pain is a sign that something is wrong and you need to act.  For example, if you touch a hot plate, your brain immediately receives the signals and forces you to let go of the plate.  This form of pain is a protection that helps keep you safe.

Long-lasting pain, such as that experienced with conditions such as fibromyalgia or arthritis is a different type of pain.  While the pain is alerting the body that something is wrong, it is not as easy to relieve the pain.  This type of pain can be debilitating to the patient and must be managed to enhance the patient’s sense of well-being and quality of life.

What controls pain?

The brain and spinal cord includes a system of nerves in which pain signals travel through.  The body often tries to intercept these signals to stop them.  This is done by creating chemicals that interfere or block the signals.  These chemicals are termed endorphins, and are morphine-like substances, killing the pain and decreasing the pain sensation.

What causes pain in arthritis?

There are many factors that cause pain with arthritis which include:

Inflammation: Is the process that is responsible for causing swelling and redness in the joints of the patient.

Injury to joint tissues: This is a result of pressure, injury, stress or the disease process on the joints of the patient.

Body fatigue: Is a result of the disease process, which can make the pain intensified and more difficult to handle.  

Mental depression or stress: Arthritis patients often have limited movement and are no longer able to enjoy various activities making depression a serious factor in the disease.  The patient can become wrapped up in a vicious circle of pain, stress, depression and a limited or loss of abilities making the management of pain more difficult. 

What increases the pain associated with arthritis?

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Fatigue
• Focusing on pain
• Overdoing physical activity
• Stress
• Increased disease activity

What reduces the pain associated with arthritis?

• Cold and heat treatments
• Humor
• Topical pain relievers
• Distraction
• Massage
• Medications
• Relaxation
• Appropriate exercise
• Positive attitude and pleasant thoughts

How to control arthritis pain at home

Thermotherapy (Temperature therapy)

Stiffness and pain of arthritis can be reduced by using heat and cold treatments.  Placing cold pack on the affected area will help to numb the area and to reduce the swelling and inflammation. Cold packs are particularly useful for joint pain due to a flare up.  With heat, muscles relax and stimulate the blood circulation.  Heating lamps and heating pads are forms of dry heat; where as, baths and heated wash cloths are forms of moist heat.  Both of which are useful.

Sleep therapy

When our bodies sleep, they are restoring energy.  With arthritis patients this helps to manage the pain.  Sleep therapy also helps to reduce the pressure on the joints and helps to decrease swelling and pain.  The average person needs seven to nine hours of sleep each night.  If you feel sleepy at various times throughout the day, take a brief nap.  If you have trouble sleeping through the night, then avoid the nap and relax quietly during the day.

Massage therapy

Massaging your muscles brings relief to the painful area.  Massage therapy can be done by yourself or a profession.  If you are massaging yourself then:

• Stop if you begin to experience pain
• Don’t massage joints that are extremely painful or swollen
• Use oil or lotion to help the massaging technique

Relaxation therapy

Relaxation therapy does help to reverse the pain associated with arthritis and allows the patient to have a sense of well-being and control their life.  It is vital that the patient learn ways to control and calm the mind and body.  There are various methods that are used to help patients relax such as:

Hypnosis:  Hypnosis is a deep relaxation technique which is intended to help the patient release themselves from their anxieties and thoughts.  The technique is pleasant and soothing and effective in relieving pain.  

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Guided imagery:  This technique utilizes pleasant images which the mind focuses on to help guide away from the pain. Prayer is very relaxing and comforting for some people.

Herbal therapy:

The herbal supplements works by removing the primary cause of the pain, which with arthritis inflammation and stiffness, and helps to ease the arthritis symptoms.