Natural Means Of Dealing With Arthritis
Over time, many people will experience stiffness and pain in the joints. Joints that are affected include those that are frequently used. These include the knees, hips, hands, elbows and shoulders. The ability to move and function physically is greatly diminished when one or multiple joints are attacked by such symptoms.
Such is the case for people suffering from arthritis. Literally, the word arthritis means swelling of the joints. And such causes swelling, redness, pain, stiffness and limited range of motion. It affects hundreds of people and is one of the leading degenerative diseases known to man. While it usually strikes older people, just about anyone can suffer from it regardless of age.
There are more than a hundred known forms of arthritis. But the list keeps on going as newer ones are brought to medical attention. Classifications are based on causative factors and the signs and symptoms involved. But the most common type is osteoarthritis. This is due to the wear and tear of cartilage over time. Cartilage serves important roles in the joints. It acts like a cushion and lubricant to facilitate joint movement.
When afflicted with arthritis, joint pain and inflammation need to be eased to achieve normal physical functioning. People suffering from it scramble for arthritis remedies. Usually, the first defense is by taking analgesics – paracetamol, ibuprofen, NASIDs and others – to get rid of the pain and swelling. But of course they do come with side effects. For severe ones, cortisone injections or even surgery is done.
However, there are many natural means of dealing with arthritis. For repairing the wear and tear incurred by the joints, glucosamine is taken. Glucosamine is naturally produced by the body, but in minimal amounts. Supplements containing the substance are mainly derived from animal sources. These include crabs, oysters and other shellfish.
But what about those who have shellfish allergies and taking on a vegetarian diet? Well, there’s the so-called vegetarian glucosamine. It does the same thing as glucosamine from animal sources. Only this time, a fermenting process is done on vegetable sources to extract the substance.
The alkaline diet also helps in alleviating the signs and symptoms of arthritis. The diet involves consumption of only fruits and vegetables. Alkaline rich, they are able to offset excessive acidity in the body. You see, too much acid is linked to a variety of diseases. And it includes arthritis. The alkaline diet also helps in boosting your immune system, as the recommended foods are loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.