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Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Tendonitis & Related Diseases
© Copyright Bee Wilder
Table of Contents
What IS Arthritis?
Dr. Ben
Lerner states, "During my first quarter of
graduate school, I had to take a course in medical
terminology. As I found out early on that
chiropractic school was not much different than medical
school. We had to learn to diagnose and,
interestingly enough, terminology was the key to
diagnosis.
One of the first words we learned in that class
was the term "-itis." "Itis"
is Latin for "inflammation of." Other
terminology included some words that probably sound
familiar to
you:
-
Arthro means joint.
-
Stoma means stomach.
-
Bursa is short for the fluid-filled sack in many
joints.
-
Fibro means muscle fiber.
-
Mya means muscle.
-
Cepha means head.
-
Tendons connect bones.
-
Ligaments connect muscles to bones.
Bee's Note:
Rheumatoid refers to any disorder of the extremities or
back, characterized by pain and stiffness.
Dr. Lerner says my classmates and I often laughed
as we learned these words, because we realized
the vast majority of medical diagnoses weren't
actually "diagnoses" at all, but merely
turning the name into Latin or something fancy to
impress our patients.
It's also done, not only to impress, but to make
an impact on the patient so they'll be satisfied
they have a diagnosis. So if you're told you have
"arthr-itis," "tendon-itis,"
"burs-itis" or "stomat-itis,"
it means your joint, tendon, bursa sack or
stomach hurts. Doctors can then follow medical protocol
and write a prescription to give you drugs that
will
hopefully ease the pain.
"Algia" is another interesting one that
means pain. Therefore, "Cephalgia" is a
headache. The often used diagnosis,
"Fibromyalgia," means muscle fiber pain.
There's one very serious problem with diagnosing:
People feel they have a "condition."
Everyone knows once you have a
"condition," you always have a "condition." It's
like old phones or luggage that used to last
forever. Well, the medical myth that
"conditions" last forever has gone the way of the
rotary phone too.
Arthritis, tendonitis and fibromyalgia are not
death sentences. They're merely Latin terms,
combined with fancy medical English phraseologies, for
pains doctors don't understand and conditions for
which they have no effective treatment. The key
problem for conventional medicine, when it
comes to aches, pains, and degenerative issues like
"arthr-itis", is that most doctors are only
diagnosing and treating side effects, and not the
true cause of the problem."
Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of inflammatory
arthritis that attacks the synovial membranes
surrounding the lubricating fluid in the joints. The
cartilage and tissues, the area around joints, and
the bone surfaces are also affected. Rheumatoid
arthritis creates stiffness, swelling, fatigue,
fever and pain.
Properly Functioning Joints Do Not Degenerate
Arthritis is an "inflamed joint." The
joints are created by the ends of bones meeting.
At this point they are cushioned by cartilage. The
knee, hip, shoulder, and other bigger joints have
a fluid-filled sac called a bursa
("burs-itis").
The inner lining of the joint has a grease-like
fluid called synovial fluid which reduces friction
and allows for freedom of movement. If the joint
begins to malfunction, this is often coupled by a
loss of synovial fluid that would aggravate the
bones meeting in the joint.
When joints become arthritic, swelling occurs
resulting in stiffness and rigidity. The body
creates swelling in order to immobilize the area. This is done, not
only to alleviate further damage, but also to
hold it still (immobile) so it can do a better job of healing
the area. Swelling also means there are extra
immune system fluids brought into the area to heal. Redness can occur because it means the body is
bringing more blood to the area which is needed
for healing.
The body will warn you with pain if the joint
moves beyond its present limits. It is a vicious
cycle because, as mobility decreases, the muscles
surrounding the joint also weaken and deteriorate,
allowing for further damage to the joint.
Eventually, you can have cartilage, ligament and tendon
damage, as well as further bone erosion. If these
joints are functioning normally and well cared
for, they just don't "itis," i.e. become
inflammed.
The good news about degenerative arthritis. Common medical wisdom is that if you have arthritis, essentially you're doomed. This could not be further from the truth. The body does heal itself.
What Causes Arthritis?
The onset of arthritis is often associated with
physical or emotional stress which suppresses the
immune system; however, poor nutrition, bacterial
infection, abnormal bowel function, lack of
oxygen, etc. may also be the cause. One of the major
causes of arthritis, fibromyalgia, tendonitis and
other related diseases and disorders are high
toxic levels, created by candida overgrowth,
called candidiasis, or from toxic drugs and foods, toxins the environment, etc.
A common finding in arthritis is bacterial and
candida overgrowth in the digestive system, which
is called "gut dysbiosis." The advanced concept
suggests that many diverse diseases, such as
migraine headache, ulcerative colitis, asthma, multiple
sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosis, as well
as arthritis, fibromyalgia, tendonitis, rehumatoid arthritis and other
related diseases, are all interrelated.
These diseases appear to result from
environmental, nutritional, biochemical, and other negative
influences that affect the victims' immune
systems. By recognizing these related causes, and by
taking steps to alter them, wholistic practitioners
are able to help victims of candidiasis [candida
overgrowth] without resorting to surgery,
hospitalization, radiation, chemotherapy, or other forms
of unsuccessful and potentially toxic drug
treatment.
Inadequate nutrition greatly contributes towards producing illnesses like arthritis, fibromyalgia, tendonitis, rheumatism and other related disorders. Also nutrition is the key to altering and improving inherited DNA/genes.
Candida contributes to arthritis, fibromyalgia,
tendonitis and other related diseases in many
different ways:
- Impaired digestion.
- High levels of candida toxins (which are
mainly alcohol).
- Poor absorption of nutrients.
- Exhaustion of the endocrine system, including
adrenals, thyroid, pancreas, etc. which impairs
hormone production and digestion.*
- Impaired blood flow to the joints.
- Lower oxygen levels.
- Lower body production of glucosamine required
for joints, cartilage, and synovial membranes and
fluid.
- Candida exhaustion of the endocrine system is
not a simple disease, but rather the result of
differing predisposing problems in the victim's
immune system–ranging from subtle to
life-threatening.
For example: A board-certified rheumatologist
[Dr. Walmer] practicing in Lancaster, Pennsylvania,
made the diagnosis of systemic lupus
erythematosus (SLE) as the source of symptoms for Julian
Picola, a forty-one-year-old school teacher, living
in the nearby coal-region town of
Wiconisco,Pennsylvania.
Mrs. Picola was experiencing disabling pain in
her limbs, shoulders, and back. She worked every
day but felt exhausted by 6:00 P.M., having no
energy left for any other tasks. For two years, she
had suffered with these distressing symptoms.
SLE (also called just "lupus") is a
bizarre disease somewhat related to rheumatoid
arthritis that it occurs in various parts of the body
[which has a very strong candida connection]. SLE
belongs to a group of autoimmune diseases in
which it is claimed that the body's own
tissues are attacked by the very cells whose
normal function is to fight off foreign
invasion–elements of the immune system.
However such an attack by the immune system is
very misunderstood by the medical field because the
immune system is actually "designed to" kill
cells that contain bacteria, viruses, and even
cancer.
Also, candida toxins, as well as other kinds of toxins, causes all cell membranes to become rigid/stiff and brittle - see Candida Causes Cell Membrane Defects.
T-cells are produced by the immune system and
they actually bump up against cells and kill
them. T-cells are also known as Killer T-cells
because they detect cells in the body that contain
bacteria, viruses, cancer, etc., and when it detects
such cells it kills the cell itself.
How Candida and Other Toxins Cause Symptoms
Candida toxins not only build up in many areas of
the body, but they also cause cell damage and
defects. Damaged or defective cells interfere with
the body's production of fluids. Most of the
toxins produced by candida are alcohol which makes
all of the body's cells to go rigid.
In
arthritis the synovial membrane becomes rigid,
and the lubricating fluids in the joints become
thin and watery. This makes them less able to
protect the joints.
Candida toxins also makes red and white blood
cells go rigid, when they should be flexible and
able to fold over and squeeze into the tiniest
capillaries. This decreases blood flow which is needed
for nurturing the tissues surrounding the joints.
Cell membrane damage and defects can prevent
nutrients from getting into the cells and prevent
waste products from getting out of the cells, which
will contribute to muscle weakness and soreness,
as well as many other defects and symptoms in the
body.
Cell membranes are intended by nature to be made
up of 50% saturated fat (lung cells must be 100%
saturated fat). But when unnatural
oils and fats are consumed, the body
incorporates them into the cell membrane creating cell membrane damage and defects.
Do You Need to Take Glucosamine & Chondroitin Sulfate Supplements?
Glucosamine plays an important role in
maintaining cartilage. It makes synovial fluid thick and
gelatinous, which allows it to hold more water.
This increases its cushioning ability. Thus
glucosamine has the ability to decrease friction and
pain in the joint. NSAIDs (Non Steroidal
Anti-inflammatory Drugs) such as aspirin, have been shown to
do the opposite, actually causing the disease to
progress at a faster rate.
When fluid levels in the joints are close to the
normal, there is a tendency for much less damage
to
the nerves due to a greater resilience in the
disk from the higher water content. Simply put, the
more water held by the joint, the greater the
shock
absorbing effect and the greater the health of
your joints.
However, glucosamine sulfate is a naturally
occurring amino sugar synthesized in the body from
L-glutamine (amino acid/protein) and glucose*.
*Note: Glucose does not need to come from sugar
nor carbohydrate-type foods. The body can obtain all of its needs for sugar from meats, eggs, and good natural fats. That is because 58% of protein and 10% of natural fat turns into glucose inside the body.
Chondroitin sulfate is another natural substance
found in the body. It prevents other body enzymes
from degrading the building blocks of joint
cartilage. The type sold in health-food stores
and pharmacies is derived from animal products.
Your body can make all the chondroitin you need from
the glucosamine your body produces, making
Chondroitin sulfate supplementation unnecessary.
Deficiencies of glucosamine and chondroitin
sulfate are rare, since they are manufactured by the
body, and the key to increasing their production
is consuming a healthy
diet that contains meats, eggs, good fats,
low carbs, no sugars, no processed foods, etc. as
well as improving
digestion. Also see the candida
diet and the main
candida article for details about the candida
diet.
Also see information about healthy diets in Foods
that Damage, Foods that Heal.
Fortunately, God designed our bodies with
wonderful self-repair mechanisms. If one makes optimal
food choices there is a high likelihood that much
of the damage can be reversed.
One can also use supplements like glucosamine and
chondroitin sulfate, however those supplements in
many ways are like a drug, in that they do not
address the underlying cause of the problem.
Additionally, one needs to be very careful
about selecting the brand.
You can be virtually guaranteed that if the cost
is
less than $1 per day, the ingredients in such
supplements will be virtually worthless and inactive
since high quality grades can not possibly sell
for that price. However, even some of the higher
priced supplements at $4 to $5 per day did not have
many active
ingredients according to recent studies.
Adrenal hormones are needed for synovial
fluids as well–see the section on the
endocrine system below.
Candida Exhausts the Endocrine System
Exhaustion of the endocrine system causes many
symptoms and disabilities, including rheumatoid
arthritis, arthritis, fibromyalgia, tendonitis and
other related diseases, as well as digestive
disorders.
The endocrine system is made up of the endocrine
glands that secrete hormones. Although there are
eight major endocrine glands scattered throughout
the body, they are still considered to be one
system because they have similar functions, similar
mechanisms of influence, and many important
interrelationships. The major endocrine glands are:
- pituitary and pineal glands located in the
brain
- thyroid gland located in the neck
- thymus gland located just behind the
breastbone in the chest
- two adrenal glands located just above the
kidneys
- pancreas located across the back of the
abdomen, behind the stomach
- female ovaries and the male testes
Some glands also have non-endocrine regions that
have functions other than hormone secretion. For
example, the pancreas has a major portion that
secretes digestive enzymes and an endocrine portion
that
secretes hormones. The ovaries and testes secrete
hormones and also produce the ova and sperm. Some
organs, such as the stomach, intestines, and
heart, produce hormones, but their primary function
is not hormone secretion.
Adrenal glands produce adrenalin and
noradrenalin, the two hormones that produce effects on
the sympathetic nervous system. When the
sympathetic nervous system is active there a quickening
of the pulse, increase blood pressure,
constriction of blood vessels, decreased activity in
bladder and bowel muscle, dilation of the pupil and a
rise in blood sugar – preparing the body to
react to a threat through "flight or
fight" behavior.
However, when the parasympathetic nervous system
is active it produces the opposite responses to
the sympathetic nervous system, i.e. pulse and
blood pressure are normal, blood vessels relax,
saliva and mucus production is increased, gastric
juice is secreted and motility of the digestive
tract is increased, digestion is increased, pupils
relax, etc.
To relax the whole body switch it over from
the sympathetic nervous system to the
parasympathetic nervous system by doing deep
breathing exercises, particularly when you
notice your tension is increasing. This will help
your body relax and change it over from the
sympathetic to the parasympathetic nervous system,
which will aid digestion and many other functions of
the body.
The adrenal cortex of the adrenal glands also
forms a number of hormones which are essential to
life. Two corticosteroids hormones produced are
aldersterone and hydrocostisone. They are most
important because they regulate the quantity of salt
and water in the
body, and control carbohydrate, protein and fat
metabolism and help fight stressful situations.
Several other corticosteroids are produced by the
adrenal glands, including cortisone and cortisol
[one of several steroid hormones produced by the
adrenal cortex and resembling cortisone in its
action] from the hormone
de-oxy-cortisol(DOC). This hormone itself has a remarkable action.
It helps the body fight infection and damage by
setting up inflammation around bacteria or toxins
and walling them off, as in boils for example.
Swelling, pain and fever may result, but the body
will have been protected. Normally, sufficient
DOC will be converted to cortisol to remove the
pain and swelling once the intruder has been dealt
with.
When the diet does not supply the nutrients
needed by enzymes that make and balance these
hormones, DOC may fail to be converted and the areas of
pain and swelling may collect calcium. Cortisone
treatment, however, is not the easy solution. It
inhibits our own hormone products, thus lowering
resistance.
Our bones become further demineralised, and other
mineral reactions and imbalances cause water
retention.
The actions of aldersterone and hydrocostisone
are clearly seen in states of adrenal under- or
over- activity. Under activity is evidenced by
weakness,
tiredness, fatigue, low blood pressure (because
of lack of salt, water and decreased blood
volume), loss of body hair, etc. most often seen in
candida sufferers.
See Adrenal
Malfunction & How to Improve it.
Thymus –The thymus produces the
hormone thymosin, which plays an important role in
the development
of the body's immune system. It is very
important in the body's defenses against
infection as
well as fighting candida.
The endocrine system affects digestion by
secreting a number of gastrointestinal hormones
including:
- Gastin stimulates gastric acid secretion.
Gastrin is stimulated by the presence of protein
in the stomach.
- Cholecystokinin stimulates secretion of
pancreatic enzymes, as well as contraction and
emptying of the gall bladder. This hormone is
stimulated by the presence of fatty acids (fats) and
amino acids (protein) in the small
intestines.
- Secretin stimulates secretion of water,
bicarbonate of soda by the pancreas, and bile.
Secretin is stimulated by the stomach acid content in
the mixture of foods, hydrochloric acid, and water (called chyme)
as it empties into the first part of the small
intestines (called the duodenum). The higher the
stomach acid content, along with enough water, the better
secretin is stimulated.
- Ghrelin appears to be a strong stimulant for
appetite and it is also a potent stimulator of
growth hormone secretion. Ghrelin secretion peaks
prior to eating and diminishes after eating.
- Gastric inhibitory polypeptide
–inhibits gastric secretion (also it inhibits the
digestion of proteins and fat) and motility (movement
by the digestive tract), and it stimulates
the release of insulin by the pancreas. This is
in response to elevated blood glucose
concentration and to the presence of glucose
contained in foods in the small intestine.
As you can see, the important hormones needed for
digestion are stimulated by the presence of
protein and fatty acids (fats) in the diet.
On the other hand sugars and high
carbohydrates that are present in foods going into the
small intestines, and which contribute to elevated
blood glucose, actually inhibits gastric
secretions, which interferes with the digestion of
proteins and fats.
Help your digestion by consuming a
moderate protein and high "good" fat diet, no starches, no sugars or fruits (except small amounts of lemons and limes), and low carbohydrate foods. See articles
on digestion
for more information and details on how to
improve digestion.
Arthritis & Inflammation
Certain fats are very important so the body can
respond to arthritis, fibromyalgia, tendonitis and
other related diseases. One group is involved in
intense actions, often in response to an
emergency such as injury or stress which results in
swelling and inflammation.
The body creates swelling
to immobilize areas so they can heal and it
creates inflammation in order to bring more healing
blood to the site. The group of fats that help the
body respond and heal includes coconut oil,
butter, animal fats, organ meats, eggs and fish fats
and oils.
Lack of many other nutrients can inhibit the
breakdown and utilization of these fats, including
deficiencies in protein, vitamin E and B vitamins.
Consumption of sugar, trans-fatty acids and over
consumption of commercial vegetable oils, high in
omega-6 fatty acids, also inhibits these fat
enzymes. There is some evidence that an excess of
oleic acid (found chiefly in olive oil and nuts) may
inhibit fat
production as well.
On the other hand, saturated fats, especially
lauric acid found in coconut oil, improve the body's
production of DHA and EPA essential fatty acids.
The best form of omega-3 fatty acids are found in
cod liver oil and fish oils. See fats
and oils, cod
liver oil, and candida
supplements list.
Diabetes, poor pituitary function and low thyroid
function are synonymous with altered and
inhibited fat production by the body, as well as other
conditions such as alcoholism, pre-menstrual
syndrome (PMS), irritable bowel syndrome and many other
malfunctions and diseases. Therefore it is
absolutely necessary to take cod liver oil to provide
pre-formed EPA and DHA (omega-3).
Some popular writers claim that saturated fats in
the diet inhibit the production of fats by the
body. Actually the reverse is true. Saturated fats
in the diet improve the body's utilization of
essential fatty acids and protect them from becoming
rancid.
Remember that the kind of fat the body
itself makes is saturated fat, which it needs for
energy, for the functioning of every cell in the
body, for protection and repair, for making bile
for digestion, and a variety of other important
purposes.
Pain Management
Calcium and Magnesium–To help
alleviate arthritis pain calcium and magnesium are very
helpful. They are also very important for muscle,
joint, and bone formation, and their integrity.
See Candida
Supplements List for a detailed description
and recommended doses.
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Ginger also eases the pain and swelling of
arthritis. Take 1/2 teaspoon of "certified
organic" ground ginger in food or drink
three times a day. You can also make raw
ginger tea. Always buy "certified
organic" ground ginger. Not only it is healthier
but most regular spices are irradiated (treated
with radiation) to prolong shelf life.
-
Ginger tea can be mixed with other beneficial
herbs such as clove, peppermint and chamomile.
Ginger's antioxidant compounds help break down
inflammatory acids contained in joint fluid and it helps
the body detoxify more effectively.
-
Fish Oils: The omega-3 fats EPA and DHA
found
in fish oil and cod liver oil have been found, by
many animal and clinical studies, to have
anti-inflammatory properties that reduce joint
inflammation and promote joint lubrication.
-
Animal and fish based omega-3 fats are absolutely
essential for any comprehensive program. It is
also vital to understand that omega-6 must be
reduced, i.e. vegetable oils, margarine, seeds, nuts,
etc. since it is actually the ratio of omega-6 to
omega-3 fats that determines how much
inflammation is present. You could theoretically consume
enough omega-3 to help but then ruin the effect by
consuming too much omega-6.
-
Fish oils plus vitamin A are taken in the summer
months when you get enough sun exposure to
produce vitamin D on the skin. During the winter
months take cod liver oil for omega-3 plus vitamins A
and D. See fats
and oils, cod
liver oil, and candida
supplements list.
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Cetyl Myristoleate (CMO): This oil, which is found in fish and dairy butter, acts as a
"joint lubricant" and an
anti-inflammatory. Delicious raw butter oil is sold by
a number of natural health sites on line, which
contains "Wulzen anti-stiffness factor."
This factor has been found to be highly effective
in reversing arthritis and protects against
calcification of joints.
In one study of 106 people with various types of
arthritis who did not respond to NSAIDs, 63.5
percent of those who took CMO orally and applied the
cream topically (it's available both in oral
supplement and cream forms) improved, compared to
only 14.5 percent of those taking a placebo.
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Vitamin C travels through the body
neutralizing any free radicals with which it comes
into contact in the aqueous environments in the
body both inside and outside cells. Free radicals
can interact with healthy body cells, damaging
them and their membranes, and also cause a lot of
inflammation and painful swelling. This is one of
the reasons that vitamin C is helpful for
reducing some of the symptoms of arthritis,
fibromyalgia, tendonitis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid
arthritis and other related diseases.
Detoxification IS Important
Since the major cause of arthritis, tendonitis, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and other related diseases is toxins, particularly if there is candida overgrowth, so it is very important to help the body detoxify effectively.
How To Increase Blood Flow
- Take vitamin B complex with niacin in
it, and not niacinamide (synthetic version). If
you can only buy it with niacinamide that is fine,
but also buy niacin separately, and take it in
addition to vitamin B complex.
Take 50 mg of vitamin B complex twice a day, as
well as 50 mg of niacin if separate. Niacin can
be gradually increased up to 500 mgs or more per
day, depending upon how your body responds to it.
Higher doses of niacin can be taken for a few
months, but it should be lowered after that time.
Niacin will cause an uncomfortable red flush and
a prickly feeling as well as itching but that
will pass within 20 - 30 minutes–it indicates
the blood vessels and capillaries are opening up,
increasing blood flow.
-
Balance sodium and potassium: It is important
for blood vessels to have a good balance of sodium
and potassium. Lemons and a good grey ocean sea
salt both contain potassium–see the Electrolyte
Drink–and potassium is also contained
in avocado, spinach, asparagus, broccoli, celery,
vegetables greens, and brussel sprouts.
-
Garlic also improves blood flow and protects
against clotting. Take 3 raw crushed garlic
cloves per day.
How to Improve Fat Utilization & Absorption
-
Avoid all vegetable fats, including those made
from soybeam, corn, cottonseed, safflower,
sunflower, canola, etc. which are not only very damaging
to the body but they also contain high amounts of
omega-6 fatty acids.
-
Use small amounts of extra virgin olive oil in
salad dressings, but do not cook with it.
-
Use high quality butter.
-
Take unrefined coconut oil as a supplement, and use it for
cooking.
-
Supplement with cod liver oil during the winter
months, and fish oil plus vitamin A in the summer.
-
Eat organ meats, and occasionally eat fish eggs.
-
Eat good quality "certified organic" free-range
eggs frequently.
-
Eat plenty of good quality meats and fish.
-
Avoid high phytate foods that block mineral
absorption and interfere with protein digestion, which
include all grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes that are not properly prepared, as well as any soybeans or soy-related foods and
products or oils. Modern soy
foods are very damaging to the body and they
shouldn't be consumed by anyone. If you do not
have candida overgrowth you may eat grains, nuts,
seeds, and legumes in moderation, but only after
they have been properly
prepared to remove phytates that block mineral absorption, and enzymes that block protein digestion.
-
Avoid all sources of sugars, including fruits
(except lemons and limes–see articles about
how Sugar
Ruins Health, and also see Fruit
Is Not As Healthy As You Think.
-
Eat and drink in moderation–and do not
deprive yourself of delicious traditional foods direct
from Mother Nature.
*Prostaglandins are a subset of a larger family
of substances called eicosanoids. Eicosanoids are
localized tissue hormones that seem to be the
fundamental regulating molecules in most forms of
life.
They do not travel in the blood like
hormones, but are created in the cells [involved in] a
large number of processes including the movement of
calcium and other substances into and out of
cells, dilation and contraction, inhibition and
promotion of clotting, regulation of secretions
including digestive juices and hormones, and control of
fertility, cell division and growth.
Prostaglandins
are produced in the cells by the action of
enzymes on essential fatty acids.
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