Archive for the ‘arthritis’ Category
Wednesday, January 6th, 2010
Research published in Nature on October 28 and carried out by Queen Mary, University of London, and Harvard Medical School researchers showed precisely why fish oil helps conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. The research described how the body converts an ingredient found in fish oil (DHA*) into another chemical called Resolvin D2 and how this chemical reduces inflammation, a common condition in arthritis. Resolvin D2 seems to have additional value because in addition to its anti-inflammatory properties it does not suppress the immune system. This research is important because it explains how fish oil can help in different kinds of arthritis. The researchers plan to work further to see if this chemical can be used to prevent arthritis and be used for other diseases that are associated with inflammation.
*DHA (docosahexsenoic acid) is an omega 3 fatty acid. fish oil is a rich source of this.
Tags: antiinflammatory, arthritis, DHA, fish oils, omega-3 fatty acids, Resolvin D2, rheumatoid arthritis
Posted in arthritis, research, rheumatoid arthritis | No Comments »
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009
A study published in the February, 2009 issue of Arthritis Care & Research looked at the incidence of depression among patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The study involved 200 arthritis patients from 4 rheumatology clinics with 8 doctors participating. The patient visits were audio-taped and there was a second interview after the visit to assess symptoms of depression.
The researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that about 11% of the patients had moderately severe to severe depression symptoms. Only 20% of these patients discussed their depression with their rheumatologist and when they did it was most often initiated by the patient and not the doctor and the discussion was short. Based upon these preliminary findings the researchers recommended that rheumatologist screen arthritis patients for symptoms of depression.
Tags: depression, research, rheumatoid arthritis
Posted in arthritis, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009
A study reported in Advances in Therapy in September, 2009 concluded that the addition of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids to over the counter Glucosamine Sulfate was more effective in alleviating arthritis symptoms than Glucosamine alone.
One hundred seventy seven men and women between the ages of 40 and 75 with moderate to severe hip or knee osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to receive 3 capsules daily of 500 milligrams of Glucosamine Sulfate with or without 200 milligrams of the Omega-3 Fatty Acids Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) for 26 weeks. Participants answered questions related to pain, stiffness, and physical functioning limitations before and after the study and at 13 weeks into the study.
Pain was evaluated and 165 subjects showed at least a 20% reduction in pain scores with no significant differences between the groups. At the 80% or greater reduction in pain level, 44% of the combined group compared to 32% of those in the Glucosamine group responded. Morning stiffness and pain in the hips and knees were reduced by 48.5-55.6% in the combined group compared to 41.7-55.3% in the Glucosamine group. In addition, twice as many of those in the combined group reported a reduction in pain compared to those who received only Glucosamine.
The authors concluded that Glucosamine improves the mnetabolism of the cartilage, EPA and DHA further reduce degradation by suppressing inflammation that lowers swelling and pain and could contribute to the independence and well-being of those with arthritis.
Tags: arthritis, glucosamine, omega-3 fatty acids, research
Posted in arthritis | 1 Comment »
Sunday, December 13th, 2009
Mark Lubin and Ellice Longo were interviewed by Dr Carl O Helvie, host of the Holistic Health Show, on BBS Radio (www.bbsradio.com) last night. Mark is Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Scientist at RZN Neutraceuticals and his biography was posted earlier on this site. More information at: www.RZNnutra.com
Ellice is a certified holistic health counselor and licensed massage therapist and Founder and Owner of Enlightened Healthcare. Her biography also appeared on this site earlier. More information at: www.ellicelongo.com
Their interview follows:
Tags: arthritis, Dr Carl O Helvie, Ellice Longo, Mark Lubin, massage, natural products, research
Posted in arthritis, massage, Podcast, research, rheumatoid arthritis | No Comments »
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
Findings of a study published in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism found that a new experimental medication known as oral dnaJP1 effectively gave relief to patients with rheumatoid arthritis and was well tolerated by them. The drug is a form of immunotherapy consisting of a peptide that previously was shown to contribute to inflammation. The scientist hypothesised that introducing the peptide might restore specific regulatory functions that prevent tissue damage and that are impaired in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
A total of 160 patients participated in the 6 month clinical trial in which half were given the medication and the other half unknowingly received a placebo. People who took the drug were more likely to benefit from a significant reduction in the percentage of immune cells that produced pro-inflammatory protein and showed improvement in symptoms. The researchers also found that the experimental drug could be used along with with the current rheumatoid arthritis drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). Further research is needed to validate this trial study.
Posted in arthritis, drugs, research | 15 Comments »
Monday, December 7th, 2009
Mark Lubin and Ellice Longo will be interviewed by Dr Carl O Helvie on the Holistic Health Show on Saturday at 3 p.m. EST on Station 1 on BBS Radio (www.bbsradio.com)
Mark is the Founder, CEO and Chief Scientist -of RZN Nutraceuticals, a company with natural products for the relief of arthritis. He is a 25 year veteran of biomedical engineering and research in the fields of orthopedics, joint diseases, implantable cardiac devices, materials science, and material chemistry. He holds over a dozen United States Patents either issued or pending in these fields. His involvement in arthritis and joint problem products resulted from his own joint problems and desire to use natural products. Over those years he had 12 arthritis-related joint surgeries on his shoulders, wrists, thumbs, knees, hip, and feet and was in pain every day. His wife had also developed blunt trauma arthritis and this was another motivating force in finding an arthritis pain reliever because he did not want her to suffer as he had. This resulted in the ARTHRI-ZEN RELIEF productline that includes variants with Glucosamine, Chondroitin, and MSM in various combinations to provide enhanced tissue function and to repair molecules. More information is available at: www.rznnutra.com
My second guest, Ellice Longo, is a certified holistic health counselor and licensed massage therapist who works with arthritis patients. She has been in the health and wellness field for over 14 years and graduated from the Swedish Institute College of Health Science and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She has worked in nursing homes, adult day care centers, and non-profit programs. She is the owner and founder of Enlightened Healthchoice, a wellness company.
Ellice is married and has three grown children who all practice holistic health and organic eating and she loves to cook, read, walk, do yoga, and help others. More information can be found at: www.ellicelongo.com
Tags: Dr Carl O Helvie, Ellice Longo, holistic health councelor, Mark Lubin, massage, natural products, RZN Nutraceuticals
Posted in arthritis, holistic health, supplements, wellness | 4 Comments »
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009
A study was carried out and reported in the Journal of Hand Therapy in 2007 on the effects of strength training among people with hand osteoarthritis. In this 2 year study whole body strength training and gripper exercise were evaluated in terms of hand strength, pain and functioning in adults with radiographic evidence of hand osteoarthritis. Fifty five adults age 65 to 78 and 80% women participated in two years of strength training three times a week. Bilateral gripper exercises (isotonic grip strength) isometric grip strength, pain, and self reported hand and finger functioning were reported at the beginning and the end of the 2 year period. Isotonic grip strength increased by 1.94 kg over the two year period which was significant at the p<0.0003 level; the right and left isometric grip increased 3.62 kg that was significant at the p<0.002 level and p<0.0005 level respectively, and hand pain decreased from 4.77 to 2.62 significant at the p<0.006 level. Hand and finger function scores showed minimal dysfunction at the beginning and at the end.
Results suggest that strength train may safely increase grip strength and reduce the pain in older people with hand osteoarthritis.
Tags: gripper exercises, hand and finger fuctioning, hand osteoarthritis, osteoarthritis, pain
Posted in arthritis, exercise | No Comments »
Sunday, November 29th, 2009
Dr Carl O Helvie, Host of the Holistic Health Show, interviewed Dr Garrett Smith and Karon White-Gibson on arthritis last night. Dr Smith, a naturopathic physician in Tucson, Arizona, talked about the effect of nightshades on arthritis. His biography was published earlier on this site.
Mrs Karon White-Gibson is a registered nurse, author and television host who has arthritis. She talked about the natural treatments she has used. Her biography was published on the site earlier.
You can listen to the interview below. I hope you will enjoy it.
Tags: arthritis, aspirin, auto immune conditions, carpal tunnel syndrome, cold laser therapy, detoxing, Dr Carl O Helvie, Dr Garrett smith, endomology, essiac tea, flexicon, foot baths, glycoalkaloids, hair analysis, Karon Smith-Gibson, leaky gut, massage, natural treatments, nicotine, night shades, no-nightshades diet, rheumatoid arthritis, solamine, swimming, tomatine, tomato lectin, toxins
Posted in arthritis, Podcast, rheumatoid arthritis | No Comments »
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009
My second guest on Saturday is Karon White-Gibson who is a registered nurse and Certified Care Manager, CEO of the American Nurse Health Care Company, Producer and Host of Outspoken with Karon television show on Americantvproductions.com , Coauthor of Nurses On Our Own available at Amazon.com .ER Nurse, Psychiatric Charge Nurse, Innovator of Independent Nursing Practice, Executive of Home Care, and First Aid and movie Set Consultant to movies such as Dr Detroit, Risky Business, and various commercials. Karon is an arthritis sufferer who will talk about the natural treatments she has used for her joint pain. More information is available at Americantvproductions.com
Tags: arthritis, Dr Carl O Helvie, hair analysis, Karon White-Gibson, natural treatments, toxins
Posted in arthritis | No Comments »
Monday, November 23rd, 2009
Dr Carl O Helvie, host of the Holistic Health Show, will interview Dr Garrett Smith on Saturday, November 28 on BBS Radio (www.bbsradio.com) on Station 1 at 12 noon PST and 3 p.m. EST. Dr Smith is a native and near-lifetime residence of Tucson, Arizona and received his doctorate from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, Arizona and has a baccalaureate in Physiological Science from the U of Arizona in Tucson. He uses a holistic approach in his practice and includes teaching about nutrition, supplements, exercise and meditation as well as a form of energy medicine known as Body Talk, Low Intensity Laser Therapy, laser acupuncture, laboratory analysis, nutrition, injection therapies and supplementation. In his spare time he enjoys exercising in his home gym, reading, cooking, road cycling, and spending time with his family.
In his work with arthritis patients he often uses Low Intensity (“cold”) therapy, and a no-nightshade diet. He will talk about nightshades and their affect on arthritis during the interview.
Tags: arthritis, Dr Carl O Helvie, Dr Garrett smith, no-nightshades diet
Posted in arthritis, naturopathic medicine, nutrition | No Comments »
