Tag: pain

5 Sure-Fire Tips For Treating Your Arthritis

5 Sure-Fire Tips For Treating Your Arthritis
Susan Easton

The numbers can rattle you down to your bones if you let them. Millions upon millions of American adults suffer from arthritis, and that’s not including folks around the globe in other countries. In fact, arthritis tops the list as one of the most common chronic conditions in the United States and most other Western nations.
The numbers are much worse when you consider that arthritis pain and other arthritis symptoms are so hard to live with many times. Arthritis symptoms can include debilitating pain in your joints and in your bones. It can lead to the inability to move certain limbs, or extreme stiffness in others.
Arthritis pain could steal you ability to feed yourself with utensils, to be able to pick up your grandchildren, or to even get out bed in the morning. Other arthritis symptoms can include swelling, burning sensations in your joints, aches and pains in indiscriminate parts of your body, and redness.
Arthritis is actually a family of a whole host of different disorders. And to find the arthritis pain relief and treatment for you, you must know your particular type of arthritis. The two main kinds of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis (OA). There is also gout, and some even consider fibromyalgia a form of arthritis.
Each type has its own arthritis treatment. For osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, for instance, to get arthritis pain relief some experts recommend alternative herbal remedies, or even your standard supplement treatments such as vitamin C, vitamin D, and calcium.
The top sure-fire arthritis treatment tips involve a little of such remedies, as well as some physical things you can do to better protect your joints.
1. Be kind to your joints. OA starts as excessive wear and tear in your joints. So one of the best ways to reduce the risk of this is by avoiding repetitive motions, which can include swinging a tennis racket, golf club, picking up packages at work, and other things you do the same way over and over.
2. Lose weight. Another way to be the kindest to your joints is to drop the load they have to bear. In other words, lose weight. Talk to your doctor about what a healthy weight is for you if you’re overweight.
3. Eat right. Some experts believe that calcium-filled dairy foods, and vitamin packed fruits and vegetables, can go a long way as an arthritis treatment and prevention method.
4. Know your drugs. NSAIDs work well against some forms of arthritis pain, but they also come with risks. Remember Vioxx? Acetaminophen, the drug in Tylenol, works well, too, but it can also lead to kidney and liver problems in excessive doses. So don’t take these drugs without your doctor’s advice.
5. Know your herbal remedies. Glucosamine and chondroitin have finally been proven as effective remedies for arthritis pain. But talk with your doctor before you take them.
There is no guarantee that any of these arthritis treatments can help you not become part of that frightening arthritis statistic, but the beauty is, no matter how much they work for your arthritis pain, they will definitely benefit your overall health. So it’s a win-win situation no matter how you look at it.

About The Author

This article about arthritis is submitted by Susan Easton, writing for http://www.arthritisinfosite.com.

Your Diet, Nutrition, and Arthritis

Your Diet, Nutrition, and Arthritis
Lee Dobbins

Arthritis symptoms often come and go without warning so it is
hard to attribute the addition or elimination of certain foods
to the relief or onset of symptoms. But studies show that adding
foods rich in certain nutrients, while eliminating some other
foods, can help relieve some symptoms of arthritis. If you have
arthritis, you might want to discuss dietary changes with your
doctor and you may find that you can control your pain with less
drugs and better eating.

Research has shown that a diet that has too many calories can
aggravate RA (rheumatoid arthritis), and 5% of sufferers in a
different study showed a flare-up of symptoms after drinking
milk. In other studies, reducing the intake of fat, red meat and
dairy products is shown to help relieve pain. Some other foods
that are suspected of aggravating your levels of pain include
tomatoes, white potatoes, bell peppers, eggplant, corn, lemons,
grapefruit, wheat, rye, eggs, coffee and sugar.

While limiting some of the foods you eat, you may also be able
to help relieve arthritis symptoms by eating more of certain
foods, or taking supplements. In 1998, Finnish researchers
discovered that the lactobacillus helped improve symptoms of RA.
In this study, mice which were given lactobacillus were found to
be less apt to develop arthritis and their immune systems were
better equipped to handle it in those that did..

Another food that seems to have a beneficial effect on arthritis
pain is fish oil according to a study done in the 1950’s. Fish
oil supplements can be taken but sometimes cause a fishy
aftertaste so why not simply add fish high in Omega 3’s to your
diet? You want to eat cold water fish that are wild and not farm
raised. These fish include mackerel, tuna, salmon, bluefish,
mullet, herring and anchovies.

In a study by the University of Manchester, it was found that
individuals with high levels of beta-cryptoxanthin were 40% less
likely to develop arthritis. Beta-cryptoxanthin can be found in
yellow and orange colored fruits and vegetables and is a key
nutrient in helping your immune system as well as bone and skin
health. Some foods high in this nutrient include winter squash,
peppers and pumpkin as well as papayas, tangerines and
persimmons.

Another vitamin you might want to make sure you get enough of is
vitamin B. Studies have shown that people who have arthritis are
deficient in vitamin B. Although, this could be due to the fact
that taking aspirin depletes the bodies stores of the vitamin..

The antioxidant vitamin C is an important addition to any diet
as they help neutralize free radicals which contribute to tissue
damage as well as disease. In fact, findings show that damaged
knee cartilage cells can release large amounts of free radicals.
According to the study, people who take a lot of vitamin C have
much less risk of damage to their knees. The famous scientist
Dr. Linus Pauling recommends that you take 18 grams of V-C every
day as a preventative measure for arthritis.

Another antioxidant, Vitamin E works in a similar way and
German studies have proven that it also helps to reduce pain.
Vitamin E can be found in whole grains, corn oil, wheat germ,
sunflower seed, and legumes.

A deficiency in Selenium has been shown to cause a particular
type of arthritis – Kashin-Bek disease, but this happens mostly
where the soil is deficient in selenium. Interestingly enough,
sufferers of RA have less selenium in their blood than others.
You can add more selenium to your diet with nuts, Fish, whole
grains, organ meats, and beans.

Some trials have shown that zinc can help reduce swelling and
stiffness. To get more zinc, try eating more cheese, tofu or
oysters or ask your doctor about a supplement. There have been
conflicting results in studies on zinc.

In addition to what you eat, other non pharmaceutical ways to
relive pain from arthritis include exercise, losing weight,
hot-packs, and humor.

About the author:
Lee Dobbins writes for A2z Vitamins
where you can learn more about the role that vitamins play in
your health and well being.

Massage Oils Provide a Therapeutic Effect

Massage therapists know best. They make use of special massage oils to bring forth the feeling of rejuvenation that each and everyone asks for.

The Benefit of the Oils as Employed in Massage Therapy

As used in the science of massage therapy, the oils are the best additions to a relaxing and healing experience. They don’t only bring you into such a relaxing state in the course of the massage session but they trigger healing, so to speak. There is nothing new in the use of oil because it has been practiced since time immemorial. In fact, the great men Plato, Homer, and Socrates had mentioned in their writings the benefits of the oils in assisting in the relief of body pain. The latter is also one of the main reasons why oils are utilized during the execution of massage. Other benefits of which include the enhancement of the skin condition and of course, the improvement of the overall health.

Selecting the Type of Oil to Use

Is there a particular guideline in selecting the oil to be used during the therapy itself? Well, it is best to remember that people’s skin type varies. One kind of oil may be safe for one but it may irritate another person’s sensitive skin. There are also individuals who may not find the scent too pleasing to their sense of smell.

More so, when choosing the oil it is important to get those that are expeller-pressed or cold-pressed. They have gone through an extensive processing so they are known to last longer. Likewise, you may combine the essential oils of your choice but just ensure that they will produce a good scent. Your massage therapist is likely to ask you of your preferred combination.
Different Types of Oil to Use

For massage therapy, you have a wide range of options. Stated below are the various oils that are commonly used.

The sweet almond oil bears the anti-inflammatory components. It is light and applicable generally for many skin types. It works best for people who have dry skin.

The apricot kernel oil is known to employ balance in the skin. It heals the prematurely aging skin too.

The avocado oil is defined as heavy so it is important to dilute it in lighter oil.

The Castor oil is sticky and thick yet is best in drawing out the toxins. It is best used to treat the scar tissue.

Coconut oil has to be warmed first. It treats cracked skin.

Emu oil is good for sore muscles, arthritis, eczema, and bruising.

Grapeseed oil is safe to use because of its non-allergenic components.

Jojoba oil and kukui nut oil contain anti-bacterial elements.

Olive oil provides relief to stiffness due to its warming effect.

The wheat germ oil is high in vitamin E component as well as in the essential fatty acids. It aids in the healing of scar tissue, stretch marks, sun damaged skin, in improving the circulation of the blood, and in treating the symptoms of dermatitis.

Holy oil is best recognized for its molecular structure. It goes deep into the skin.

Hazelnut oil is a best moisturizer which tightens and tones the skin while assisting in the regeneration of the cells and enhancing the capillaries.

Massage oils are simply therapeutic. They don’t only soothe your tired and tight muscles but they are also able to make you feel better emotionally and mentally.

Aromatherapy MassageIts Impact on the Health

The term aromatherapy massage is nowadays one common item among all and sundry. The term itself connotes a popular method of relaxation and healing following a set of effective techniques. Several practitioners are engaged in its promulgation all over the world. Tracing back time, the ancient inhabitants made use of different types of natural oils as extracted from the plants and herbs since they believed in their power to assist in healing. They have experienced their therapeutic effect on the various types of health conditions. As it is well known today, this method promotes both the mental, physical, and emotional relief to several individuals.

Looking into its relevance to the contemporary times, aromatherapy never fails to impose the same healing effect. The secret to it is due to the aroma of the different essential oils which are able to activate the nerve endings in the nose and which in turn deliver the impulses towards the brain area that stimulates memory and emotions. Undoubtedly, the aroma has a soothing and calming effect which leads to relaxation.

A Look into its Top Benefits

Of course, such method will not be recognized if there are no benefits that come around. Everyone is perfectly conscious about the benefits that aromatherapy brings about. It is known to improve the general health of a person. In England and the United States, it is regarded as the alternative to modern medicine. There may be some detractors but there is no doubt that its effects are wonderfully healing.

For further discussion, the following are its top benefits.

It aids in the medical arena. This method is warmly accepted in France. The doctors prescribe the use of the essential oils to eliminate the harmful organisms that thrive in the body. The prevention of infections is done by means of these oils. In the United States, the aroma of the essential oils is used to improve the body condition to fight off the symptoms of the illnesses.

It relieves stress. It is definitely given to people who experience loads of stress due to their hectic lifestyle. It likewise tones down the attack of depression.

It improves the person’s behavior. The massage clears the mind of all negative things so the behavior likewise improves.

It promotes sound sleeping. After the massage, the person feels like he is lulled into sleep. People who have sleeping disorders are advised to undergo the massage sessions.

It helps pregnant women. There is what is called the pregnancy massage which lessens the discomfort among the expecting women.

It fights off colds. The aroma of the essential oil as used during the massage session cures the colds.
It heightens the male’s sexual response. With the use of the appropriate oil, the erotic senses of the males are awaken. The massage is even credited to improve the blood circulation within the maleness area which can possibly cure impotence.

It contributes to a person’s alertness. The massage can boost the energy that enables a person to stay active.

It alleviates pain. Body pains are best cured using the massage technique with the aid of essential oils.

It treats wounds. Wounds heal safer and faster when applied with a right amount of pressure from the massage.

The aromatherapy massage is best performed by an aromatherapist. It is best to consult a certified practitioner and honestly tell him of your problems so that you will be given the due solution.