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Advanced Healing for Joints
by Terry Lemerond With an aging population, it is an understatement to say that there is an explosion of joint health issues. The problem is that most over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription drugs are highly dangerous when used long-term, which is the very nature of the conditions many people face. Whether they are dealing with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), past injuries, or work-related wear and tear, maintaining joints is an ongoing issue. And this is urgent business. Deaths from painkillers have tripled in the past decade. The reliance on synthetic COX-2 inhibitors has led to a dangerous cycle of dependence on medicines that only offer temporary relief at a high price to health. So it's critical to promote a viable, effective, and safe alternative. Two clinically-studied botanicals fit the bill perfectly, relieving pain and helping build the strength of joints: A high-absorption curcumin from turmeric (Curcuma longa) and a specialized boswellia extract from Boswellia serrata. The clinically-proven, high-absorption curcumin used in joint-preserving studies blends a high-quality curcumin extract with turmeric essential oils, making much more of a difference than the poorlyabsorbed curcumin extracts used in previous research. In fact, this unique process enhances absorption and blood retention up to 10 times that of standard extracts. Stopping Rheumatoid Arthritis In patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), immune cells attack and destroy the synovium. Conventional treatment approaches can cause stomach damage, susceptibility to infections, and cardiovascular risk. Fortunately, a published study showed that highabsorption curcumin was more effective than the prescription RA drug, diclofenac sodium, at reducing joint pain and swelling. This eight-week study followed 45 subjects, randomized to three groups. All study participants had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, functional class I or II. Group one received diclofenac sodium, 50 mg, twice daily; group two received 500 mg high-absorption curcumin twice daily; and group three received both diclofenac sodium and the curcumin. In both curcumin groups, there were no drop outs due to adverse effects; in the diclofenac sodium-only group, 14 percent withdrew. Ultimately, the results of the Disease Activity Score 28 assessment (DAS 28), showed that high-absorption curcumin reduced disease symptoms best, followed by the combination of curcumin and diclofenac sodium. Diclofenac sodium alone scored last. Curcumin and Boswellia: Better than Drugs for Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis is another common threat to mobility, with one out of five people diagnosed in the United States alone. Plus, two out of three of those who are obese will likely develop knee osteoarthritis, as well. This creates a potential epidemic of overprescribed, high-risk, anti-inflammatory drugs. Seeking a better alternative, a published study compared the potency of high-absorption curcumin and a specialized boswellia extract to a generic celecoxib (known under the brand name Celebrex®). Why boswellia? Because it is a specific inhibitor of 5-LOX, an enzyme that activates inflammation-inducing leukotrienes, and makes a perfect companion to naturallyenhanced, highly-absorbable curcumin. Like the curcumin, the boswellia used in this study was a specialized extract. That's because some boswellic acids, specifically acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid (AKBA), are extremely beneficial, and other boswellic acids—namely, beta-boswellic acid—actually promotes, rather than blocks, inflammation. This special extract was screened to reduce beta-boswellic acids to less than 5 percent, and provide at least 70 percent boswellic acids, emphasizing only those that increase its effectiveness, including at least 10 percent AKBA. In this study, one group received celecoxib, 100 mg, twice daily while the second group received a 500 mg blend of the curcumin and a specialized boswellia extract twice daily. For pain relief, 64 percent of those taking the herbal ingredients versus 29 percent in the drug group improved to such a high degree that they were able to move from having "moderate to severe arthritis" to "mild to moderate arthritis." For effective pain relief, I'd recommend two additional ingredients: DLPA (d,lphenylalanine) and nattokinase. DLPA is an amino acid combination that promotes the body's natural "feel good" chemistry, which is vitally important to dealing with pain. Nattokinase is an enzyme that modulates fibrinogen levels to stop muscle damage, and helps move these other natural ingredients through the bloodstream, making them even more effective for pain relief. For joint health, vitamin D and fructoborate are essential. Vitamin D helps strengthen the structure of knee cartilage, reduce joint swelling, and promote mobility. Fructoborate, a form of boron that helps the body absorb and use vitamin D, has also been shown to reduce joint pain in volunteers with severe arthritis in just eight weeks. Botanicals and Natural Ingredients: The Real Advanced Medicines These advanced natural ingredients don't simply mask the symptoms – they help rebuild healthy joints. That's something no synthetic drug can do effectively. The day is not far off when practitioners and health care professionals will prescribe these natural options first, for a truly holistic approach to stopping pain, rebuilding joints, and returning mobility to their patients. References 1. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2008;52(9):1010-30. 2. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2007;595:1-75. 3. Spice India. September, 2006:11-15. 4. Biochem Pharmacol. 2008 Feb 15;75(4):787-809. 5. Ind J Pharm Sci. 2008:445-449. 6. Phytother Res. March 9, 2012 doi: 10.1002/ ptr.4639. 7. Planta Med. 2006 Oct;72(12):1100-16. 8. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2011;19(S1):S145-S146. 9. Prog Clin Biol Res. 1985;192:363-70. 10. cAupunct Electrother Res. 1982;7(2-3):157-72. 11. PDR for Nutritional Supplements. 2nd ed. Montvale, NJ: Physician's Desk Reference; 2008:189. 12. Nutr Res. 2009 ;29(3):190-6. 13. Biol Pharm Bull. 1995;18(10):1387-91. 14. Int Orthop. 2011 Nov;35(11):1627-31. 15. Clin Rheumatol. 2011 Jun;30(6):789-94. doi: 10.1007/s10067-010-1659-0. Epub 2010 Dec 24. 16. Maturitas. 2011 Jan;68(1):73-8. |
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