Joint Pain Relief

There’s an article in the Mayo Clinic Health Letter discussing the role of inflammation in specific diseases. The article states that

‘Acute inflammation – the kind that protects and heals the body after an injury or infection – is essential and normal. ……..

In the wake of a nasty cut or broken bone, the battle is on! Immediately, a biochemical cascade improves blood flow to the area. Nerve endings and other cells at the site of the injury or infection send out signaling molecules and other chemical components to recruit the body’s equivalent of the Superhero – white blood cells that fight off foreign bodies. …….

That’s acute inflammation. It’s necessary and normal for good health.¹

However, the other kind of inflammation – named chronic inflammation, plays a more obvious role in diseases such as asthma and the inflammatory bowel diseases ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

Consider the vast array of autoimmune disorders such as “rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and polymyalgia rheumatica” where the body’s immune system mistakenly initiates an inflammatory response even though there’s no apparent inflammation to fight off.¹

There are also “not so obvious roles” of chronic inflammation. Research indicates that clogged arteries, heart disease, stroke and bacterial endocarditis may be linked to oral health. Researchers are discovering what role inflammation plays in the development of cancer.

The article goes on to discuss the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) which can be helpful. However, there are risks of gastrointestinal bleeding with regular NSAID use.

The editors of the article mention some dietary supplements that may be of interest, including

“Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) ” It’s credited with anti-allergy, antibacterial, antifungal, antihistamine and anti-inflammatory qualities, and even as a possible cancer treatment. But high-quality human trials are still lacking that support its effectiveness or safety.¹

Dr Bauer recommends to stay tuned to this research. He says there are bound to be discoveries down the road that can improve quality of health and well-being.

1. Buzzed on inflammation, Brent Bauer, M.D.
General Internal Medicine, Editorial Board member of Mayo Clinic Health Letter Online Edition May Clinic Health Letter

Technorati Tags: inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis

Swimming is a excellent way to get natural pain relief from joint pain, provided you’re in a heated pool of course. There are a number of different strokes you can do for swimming, some may be good for you to do, and some might actually do no good. So, we recommend you speak to your physio therapist before learning any new strokes.

Do you have the style of a breast stroker or is the doggy paddle more your style? A variety of swim strokes can be as simple as the doggy paddle or as difficult as the butterfly swim style.

A swim style is just a way that one moves about a body of water. These activities are performed using your arms and legs against the current of the water, which will cause you to propel through the water. The wise way to perform these special swim strokes is smoothly and without a great deal of splashing in the water. Read more…

Technorati Tags: natural pain relief