Natural Remedies for RA

Natural Remedies for RA

By Leslie Vandever, a guest blogger

Rheumatoid arthritis is not your grandma’s arthritis.

Hers was probably osteoarthritis (OA), the type that breaks down the joint cartilage and the joint itself over time. It’s best known as the “wear-and-tear” arthritis. OA’s onset is usually during middle-age, but it’s associated more generally with the gray-haired set. It causes pain, swelling, and sometimes, loss of function in the affected joint.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), on the other hand, is a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system mistakes its own tissues for foreign invaders, like viruses or bacteria. It responds the way it’s supposed to: it attacks and tries to destroy them. RA mainly attacks the synovial capsule that protects the joints, but it can also affect the cartilage,   ligaments, and other soft tissues, like the heart, the lungs, the eyes and even the veins. Anyone, of any age—even small children—can get RA. It causes joint pain, swelling, stiffness, and disability. There is no cure.

If you are seeking medical remedies for RA there are the powerful medications prescribed by rheumatologists. These include non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDS), and the new biologic DMARDs. None of these drugs can cure RA. Instead, they treat inflammation and pain, and slow the progress of the disease.

All that said, there are a number of natural, or complementary, treatments for RA. They include mind and body practices, such as:

·        Acupuncture: This ancient Chinese healing practice involves the insertion of hair-thin needles into the skin to correct and redirect the flow of “chi,” or life force, in the body. Some people have reported pain relief, along with an overall sense of well-being from acupuncture.

·        Tai Chi: This is a practice in Chinese traditional medicine that uses slow, gentle movements along with controlled breathing and meditation to improve physical function, balance and concentration, and reduce and relieve stress.

·        Mindfulness Meditation: This is a simple form of meditation that keeps the mind focused in the “present moment,” gently pushing away busy thoughts and distractions and, with practice, reducing and relieving stress. Mindfulness meditation can also gently distract the mind from pain and the distress it causes, allowing the practitioner to relax and rest.
·        Detox Foot Pads: The detox foot pads can help pull the toxins out of your body, allowing your body to focus its attention on healing.

Although no dietary supplements have shown clear benefits for RA,  preliminary studies have shown that a few of them may be helpful. They include:

·        Fish oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, substances that the body needs to perform a number of vital functions. Clinical trials have shown that fish oil may have an anti-inflammatory affect, helping to relieve tender joints and morning stiffness. However, fish oil may also make blood clot more slowly, so people who take anticoagulant medications should talk with their doctor before taking fish oil supplements.

·        Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) is an omega-6 fatty acid that studies have shown may reduce inflammation, relieving joint pain and stiffness. It’s found in some plant seeds, including evening primrose, borage and black currant.

·         Ginger and turmeric have been shown in animal studies to have some properties which may help with the inflammation and pain RA causes.

·        Green tea also has substances in it that may help with RA, but studies haven’t been done on people haven’t been done.

Other natural treatments for RA include the use of warm and cold packs on the joints, compression gloves on the hands, and splints to protect and support flared, painful joints. Eating a healthy diet of fresh vegetables and fruit, lean protein and dairy, and whole grain breads and cereals can also be helpful in maintaining a healthy weight. Some foods have been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect, as well. Information on other health issues is available here.

Note: Always check with your doctor before taking any natural supplement. They can interact or interfere with other medications you may be taking.

Leslie Vandever is a professional journalist and freelance writer. Under the pen-name “Wren,” she also writes a blog about living well with rheumatoid arthritis called RheumaBlog (www.rheumablog.wordpress.com). In her spare time, Vandever enjoys cooking, reading and working on the Great American Novel.

References:

·        Rheumatoid Arthritis and Complimentary Health Approaches. (2013, Aug. 22) National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved on February 12, 2014 from http://nccam.nih.gov/health/RA/getthefacts.htm

·        Herbal Remedies, Supplements and Acupuncture for Rheumatoid Arthritis. (2012, May) American College of Rheumatology. Retrieved on February 14, 2014 from http://www.rheumatology.org/Practice/Clinical/Patients/Diseases_And_Conditions/Herbal_Remedies,_Supplements_and_Acupuncture_for_Arthritis/

Using Coconut Oil for Weight Loss? Does It Really Work?

I have thyroid and adrenal issues. As a result, I also a little more weight around my midsection than I would like. While I am not overweight, I do believe that my thyroid issues (which are getting better, thankfully!) have had something to do with this. Undetected for so many years, it was very frustrating when I was doing everything right and not losing a pound. And with my adrenal issues, they were shooting out excess cortisol -- AT NIGHT! -- so my body was constantly in "alert" mode instead of resting like it should be. (I took the 4x diurnal saliva cortisol test to get diagnosed).

 

So, everyone talks about coconut oil being a miraculous weight aid. The medium chain fatty acids in the coconut oil boost your metabolism. The healthy saturated fat provides satiety so you feel full quicker and for longer. And you don't overeat.

Well. It has been a little over a week now where I have eaten at least 2 Tablespoons of coconut oil in the morning. I want to report back to you after a month and see how things work out. I am hoping it will provide me some more energy, better sleep, and overall better health.

Here in Panama where my kitchen rarely gets to below 85 degrees F, the coconut oil is a liquid oil. It is MUCH easier to take as a liquid than a solid, so I do have that going for me. I will report on how that works in about a month.

I also will be starting a parasite cleanse that I will write about shortly. My detox foot pads unfortunately are not the best at taking out yeasts, fungi and parasites. They do pull out heavy metals, plastic by products, chemicals and toxins which are an overabundance in our bodies. And, they work amazing on children, too!

For a free sample of my detox foot pads, go to: http://www.purifyyourbody.com and visit the Contact Us page -- and send me your mailing address. (For U.S. addresses only).

Or visit me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/detoxfootpads and message me your mailing address. We have monthly giveaways of free detox foot pads, so be sure to like our page!

Free Giveaway -- Win 40 FREE Foot pads -- Enter To Win

It is time to offer a FREE giveaway.

And hopefully you will be one of the two winners.

I have not been doing much promotion of my +Detox Foot Pads  in the past 6 weeks.  I have been worried about my stock and when my next shipment of foot pads will arrive. I have been notified that they will be arriving shortly, so I can promote and host giveaways and have you guys buy as many foot pads as you want now! Yippee!!

So, enter the giveaway below. And much luck to you!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

What Is All This Hype About Essential Oils?

Everywhere I turn on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ and blogs, I hear about essential oils.

"They cure this. They cure that" are heard everywhere. When people ask a question -- from "how can I cure my colicky baby" to "my husband has sinus issues, how can I help him" to "I am overweight how can I lose weight" everyone seems to say "Use essential oils! They work!"

So, let me first explain that I LOVE essential oils. And they DO have their uses. And they DO work. At least to a certain extent. I am not opposed to using them.

But I *HATE* that people think they are the end all, be all of alternative medicine.

There are so many amazing alternative medicine modalities. And I love most of them (except yoga, no matter how hard I try, I am not cut out for yoga but that is another story!)

Some of my favorite go to remedies for healing many common ailments include:

NutraSilver -- this potent form of colloidal silver has been proven to combat MRSA, Morgellons, Lyme disease, Influenza, and more.

Ozone / Oxygen Therapies -- these will always be my favorite types of therapies because they are what got me started on my natural healing / natural medicine journey back when I was a teenager and devoured Ed McCabe's Book "Oxygen Therapies".

Acupuncture -- This stuff is amazing if you see a REAL acupuncturist (and not a chiropractor who took one weekend class and now can perform acupuncture on you).

Herbology -- again, another very good and very reliable way to heal yourself, whether it be herbal capsules, herbal tinctures, herbal teas, etc. Again, you need to know what you are doing when you are using these, so working with a naturopath or herbologist is something I recommend.

 Nutritionist - you CAN change your health and your life by what you eat. It is extremely important to use this approach especially when you are dealing with IBS / leaky gut / autoimmune diseases.

Energy Healing -- many folks have energy blocks in their body. Acupuncture and Yoga may be able to help with some of these. Many go a lot deeper, and you may need some other form of energy work. EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) or The Emotion Code are two ways to get those emotions released, but one session won't cut it. You may need dozens of sessions.

Homeopathy -- this is another one of my favorite healing modalities. It is based on Hahnemann's principle of "like cures like" and many people think it is a hoax. (I don't). I have seen miraculous results with it.

Detoxing -- of course this is one of my favorites because I own Purify Your Body Detox Foot Pads and I know how awesome they are. But other methods of detoxing include far infrared sauna, ionic foot baths, internal cleanses and fasts, clay baths, etc.

Flower Essences / Bach Remedies  -- infusions of flowers in water, that are potentized and then stabilized in a solution of brandy and water. Extremely useful on animals and young children especially.

Essential Oils -- these oils have become extremely popular in the past decade, mostly thanks to multi level marketing companies and "get rich quick" schemes of hosting in home parties with your gullible friends.



Oils DO work. I am not dissing them at all. But I do have a few gripes with everything that is going on in this "essential oil world" out there. Here they are:

1. Improper use. HOLY COW. Unless you are a certified aromatherapist or have some other credential (like a Naturopathic Doctor who went to MEDICAL SCHOOL). DON'T tell people how to use essential oils. This is UNSAFE.  Do you know how many times I see or hear people telling others to use essential oils directly on their baby's skin, or take internally? This scares me because while you may not see immediate contraindications, over time you may really screw your body up.

This is one of my favorite articles about essential oils, and I think it is a must read for anyone who is interested in getting involved with essential oils, or just using them personally. Note that ONE DROP of pure peppermint essential oil is equivalent to 75 cups of peppermint tea! Would you recommend for someone to drink 75 cups of tea because they had an upset stomach? I would hope not.

Essential oils can cause a LOT of bad reactions, and it is better to not use them improperly to begin with.

2. Name calling. So much name calling has been going back and forth between some of the popular essential oil companies. It sickens me. I don't like buying from multi-level-marketing companies to begin with, as I hate high pressure sales and overpriced items. But to hear the "sales consultants" from each company bashing each other's brand really gets me.

If you have a good product you shouldn't resort to bashing the competition in order to make your product look better. You should let it sell itself.

3. They are NOT the "end all - be all."  Yes, I just said that. There are many other methods of treating illnesses that may work better than essential oils. You need to find out what YOU need. And you need to see a SPECIALIST or NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR or someone who is TRAINED to help guide you. So many people will listen to their "sales consultant" when they may have some underlying issues that need specialized treatment. (i.e. thyroid and adrenal issues, or other hormonal issues caused by excess cortisol, stress, etc. or food sensitivities that cannot be identified except via blood tests requisitioned by a doctor, for example).

Sure, eucalyptus essential oil can "help" ease lung congestion, and peppermint oil can definitely help with nausea. Thieves / On Guard may help prevent getting sick (I don't know first hand because each time I go on trips and have to fly, I get sick, whether I use Thieves / On Guard or not).

When people think that essential oils are ALL they need, they need to re-evaluate. When I am sick I want chicken broth (homemade, as that is the most beneficial), I want to take my NutraSilver, dose up on extra probiotics, and I want to ozonate my water. I also want to up my minerals and vitamins. I will use my detox foot pads, and then use some oil of oregano and depending on what my symptoms are, I will use other oils appropriately. My Naturopathic doctor has explained some ways to use the oils correctly so I am confident in my use.



Essential Oils are NOT bad

I am not saying that essential oils are bad. They are not. Although they have not cured my hypothyroidism, and have not cured my migraines (thankfully a diet change and my detox foot pads have!) they have helped me to relax and help decrease some symptoms that I have when I am sick.

 But before you use them undiluted, or take them internally, PLEASE do your own research. And don't think of them as the only way to cure your ailments... and of course, don't use them on your babies especially, without the consultation of a certified aromatherapist!

All that being said... here are my favorite essential oils that see a LOT of use in my house:

1. Peppermint.
2. Frankincense.
3. Lemon. (I use this especially for cleaning EVERYTHING).
4. Lemongrass (my favorite scent of all times)
5. Lavender (in many of my homemade products mixed with Lemongrass).




What are YOUR favorite essential oils?

This post was to share my opinion about the over-use of essential oils and to encourage you to do your own research. You don't NEED to spend a lot of money to get good quality.

What Are the Main Causes of Toxins in Your Body?

Toxins affect us all.  They are in our environment and within us.  From the air we breathe to the food we eat, we are exposed to toxins.  Yet we can better protect our health by reducing exposure to these toxins and taking care to cleanse our body of them before they have a chance to do harm.  Of course, it's necessary to understand what types of toxins we are at risk for and how we can avoid them.

Lack of Water

The healthiest diets won't do much good without plenty of water.  Water is essential for life and all the functions of our body.  Water is also important for flushing out our systems of all unwanted materials including toxins.  When there isn't enough water in our systems to generate a healthy flow, the toxins in our system can back up.  Over time, these toxins can affect organs and other parts of our body.  Drinking plenty of water each day can eliminate this toxic back-up and improve the way a person feels.   

The Wrong Food

A poor diet is a source of toxins for our systems.  Low fiber foods and food that has few nutritional qualities can lead to toxin pile-ups.  A diet rich in fruits and vegetables, on the other hand, reduces our toxic intake and enhances health.  Try to include as much organic and non-processed food in your diet as you can to avoid excessive exposure to toxins in food.  Also, wash all fruits and vegetables well in case they were exposed to chemical pesticides which our toxic to our bodies.

Air Quality

For allergy sufferers pollen and mold can be toxic to the body.  Pollution, of course, affects everyone--while cities.  While it's not convenient to wear a face mask (available from drug stores) every day, you can wear them on particularly hazy days when the air quality is especially bad.  Use a HEPA filter in your home and leave the air conditioning on to minimize these elements from overly affecting the air quality of your home.

Behavior

The things we do can lead to the presence of increased toxins in our bodies.  Smoking, of course, is a major pollutant for our bodies, but even using paraffin candles instead of soy can negatively impact the air quality of the home.  Allowing stress and conditions like constipation can allow toxins to wreak havoc on the body.  Eating late at night before bed as a habit can induce a toxin pile-up.  Failing to exercise is also associated with increased toxins; exercise stimulates circulation and helps keep our systems going and flowing so that toxins are moved out.

While we can't avoid toxins altogether, we can certainly decrease our exposure to them.  Moreover, by periodically cleansing the body through some form of natural detox, we can remove harmful build-ups before they can trigger health problems.  If you're feeling sluggish for no particular reason, try a detox along.  You can also be more mindful about eliminating toxin exposure.  Chances are your body will feel much better as a result of your efforts!

For more information, check out this infographic on why you should cleanse and detox your body.