Myintegrativehealth Blog – Adrenal Fatigue – Natural Hormone Therapy – Thyroid Dysfunction – Pain Relief – Digestive Health

It’s a complaint I hear in the office nearly everyday: my joints ache. From the lower back, to the hips and knees to the neck, nearly all of us at some point will deal with joint pain. Also known as arthritis, joint pain for a large number of people can be nearly constant and as a result can impact daily routines and prevent folks from accomplishing their greater fitness goals as well.

Recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) put the number of Americans suffering with all types of arthritis at over 43 million. In general, there are many different types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus and ankylosing spondylitis, to name a few. The most common form is osteoarthritis that we associate with the aging process; rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is an autoimmune condition where the body mysteriously turns its own immune system against the joints. Both conditions can cause significant joint pain and in some cases, deformities to the joints.

Joint pain is not a “modern day” problem, however, as skeletons excavated from as far back as the Paleolithic times have shown physical changes to bones consistent with arthritis (1).  It is thought that the high incidence of arthritis within this primitive population was a result of an extremely high level of physical activities such as hunting and gathering.  Yet as time went on and especially through medieval times, evidence suggests that as we became more sedentary (agriculture vs. hunter gatherer), incidence of arthritis dropped, probably a result of the vast difference of physical stress placed on the body during primitive times compared to more “civilized” periods.  There does seem to be a balance, however because around the 18^th and 19^th centuries, when we became more sedentary compared to our medieval counterparts, cases of arthritis started to rise again (2). These studies do not suggest that a sedentary lifestyle can prevent or, on the other hand, cause arthritis, but recent data indicate that moderate exercise, three times a week, can actually reduce arthritis-related disabilities by 47%.

This leads us to ask, besides regular mild to moderate exercise, are there other treatment options for arthritis? At the top of the list lies the food that you put into your body. It appears that foods that cause gastrointestinal inflammation like sugar, members of the nightshade family, trans fats, and to some degree red meat can worsen joint pain. In addition, the lack of good omega-3 fatty acids in the diet along with absent fruits and vegetables, particularly berries, green, orange and yellow veggies (not corn!) prevent your body from creating its own anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Another simple addition to your diet is fresh, clean drinking water. Arizonans are chronically dehydrated and you should try to aim for about half of your body weight in ounces for water intake each day.

Secondly, nature has also provided us with a number of botanical herbs that for centuries have been highly effective in treating arthritis. These botanicals include quercetin, boswelia, curcumin, nettles and cramp bark to name a few. More recently, studies have demonstrated that botanicals target a number of inflammatory signaling molecules and shut down the inflammatory process. One well-designed study in 2009 showed that curcumin and resveratrol were superior to traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines in reducing inflammatory markers, but more importantly reducing pain felt by test subjects.

Finally, a treatment option becoming more and more popular (although founded in the 1940s) is prolotherapy. It is a type of injection medicine where regions of tendons or ligaments around joints are injected with a non-pharmacological natural solution (glucose, lidocaine, vitamin B12 and folic acid) to stimulate the body to strengthen weakened connective tissue and therefore reduce or eliminate pain. Unlike steroid injections (“cortisone”), which only provide temporary relief and carry numerous side effects, prolotherapy is designed to stimulate tissue growth and promote true healing that ultimately alleviates pain without any side effects.

Although arthritis is quite common, it is not something that derails you from your daily routine or causes significant discomfort. From the foods you eat, to naturally occurring herbs to modern interventions like prolotherapy, your arthritic pain can be controlled and help you return to normal range of motion in your joints and feeling pain free!

1. Rogers J et al. Arthritis in Saxon and mediaeval skeletons. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1981 December 19; 283(6307): 1668-1670.
2. MacLennan WJ: History of arthritis and bone rarefaction evidence from paleopathology onwards. Scott Med J. 1999 Feb;44(1):18-20.

Mention the phrase “food allergies” and most of us imagine those poor kiddos who get near a peanut butter sandwich only to have massive swelling around the eyes and throat, followed by difficulty breathing and hives.  The constellation of these symptoms make up what’s known as an anaphylactic reaction which, unfortunately, has become more and more frequent in the general population over recent years.  In fact, some newer studies suggest that approximately 3-8% of Americans run the risk of anaphylaxis when exposed to any number of foods, although tree nuts, milk and shellfish are at the top of the anaphylactic list.

Even more, we are seeing a less severe variation of these dangerous food allergies, called “allergy sensitivities” that don’t typically cause life-threatening symptoms, but can still be quite uncomfortable nonetheless.  If you have symptoms like indigestion, gastritis, eczema, asthma, celiac disease, arthritis, and even depression, anxiety, and chronic fatigue, it could be a result of a “food sensitivity.”  Additional reports suggest that at least 60% of Americans suffer from symptoms due to adverse food reactions as a result of food sensitivities.

Food allergies/sensitivities may be a reaction to a protein, a starch, a contaminant found in the food (e.g., pesticide residues) or a food additive (e.g., colorings, preservatives, flavor enhancers, etc).  Once the body decides it’s uneasy with a food, a complex cascade of events takes place that can result in either a life-threatening situation (anaphylaxis) or simply the aforementioned unpleasant symptoms.

Driving this reaction is the immune system’s production of multiple types of antibodies.  For example, during an anaphylaxis response, IgE antibodies are produced within two hours of exposure.  These antibodies then bind to specific cells called mast cells and basophils which release their inner contents–histamine.  This is why an anti-histamine, like Benadryl or Quercetin, is often prescribed for allergies.

Yet, it’s the more delayed allergic response found in food sensitivities, one that can take up to 72-hours after exposure, that causes the aforementioned “uncomfortable” symptoms.  This response is usually driven by IgG antibodies and although it can stimulate the release of some histamine, it usually recruits many more players of the immune system, further complicating the reaction in the body.

Studies suggest that dairy, wheat and eggs are the three biggest sources of food sensitivities in people.  How is this determined?  In the past, the skin prick test was used where small amounts of foods were injected into the skin either on the back or forearm.  Now a simple blood test does away with this antiquated test.  These blood tests can measure for both IgG and IgE antibodies and help guide you and your provider in a direction for food avoidance, which is the mainstay of treatment.

So if you suffer from indigestion, asthma, eczema, etc., simply avoiding problematic foods could be your ticket to feeling well.  In addition to elimination, I recommend rotation of food families (e.g., veggies, fruits, meats, etc.) along with assisting the body with its normal digestive processes through the use of pancreatic and stomach enzymes.  Probiotics can be quite helpful as well.

Living in fear of foods because of their potential to make us sick is unnecessary when you recognize there are easy ways to identify possible sources of food allergies/sensitivities.  Combined with practical and realistic interventions you can take to calm the reaction and subsequent symptoms, you can alleviate a multitude of health conditions.

When I turned 7, I thought it might be fun to take up ice hockey.  In the cold Colorado mornings, getting up at 5 a.m. for a 5:30 practice wasn’t too tough (my dad might not agree), and I quickly learned the importance of perseverance and teamwork.  Over the years, I’ve kept up with my hockey playing and have suffered with the typical bruises and sore muscles and joints.  A few years ago, however, while playing in a playoff tournament, I skated towards the opponent’s net, as I typically would, but collided with a defenseman and tweaked my knee in a way I had never experienced.  For months I suffered with daily aching and decreased range of motion and more importantly, had to stop playing hockey!  Then I decided to try prolotherapy (more in a minute) as a natural solution to my knee pain and am quite pleased to say that not only am I back on skates, but I am absolutely pain free!  In addition to prolotherapy, I have discovered a number of natural options to treating arthritis.

Hope for a Debilitating Condition

Recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) put the number of Americans suffering with all types of arthritis at over 43 million.  In general, there are many different types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus and ankylosing spondylitis, to name a few.  The most common form is osteoarthritis that we associate with the aging process; rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is an autoimmune condition where the body mysteriously turns its own immune system against the joints.  Both conditions can cause significant joint pain and in some cases, deformities to the joints as well.

Arthritis is simply the pain associated with any joint in the body, although the knee and lower back are the most common sites.  These joints tend to take the brunt of abuse we put on our bodies as a result of poor posture and increased demand on these joints, which leads to inflammation.  This is where standard therapy targets:  the inflammatory process.  Specific messengers within the body known as prostaglandins initiate the inflammatory process, while at the same time protecting stomach lining and regulating blood pressure.

With the advent of anti-inflammatory medications, millions of people have found relief from their joint pain.  Unfortunately, more and more studies are suggesting that anti-inflammatory use comes with a price, particularly irritation to the gastrointestinal tract, kidney and liver disease, elevated blood pressure and prolonged bleeding after injury (easy bruising).  If you use anti-inflammatory medications, be sure to use the smallest dose for the shortest amount of time possible.  As an interesting side note, I have heard plenty of patients admit to using anti-inflammatory medicines (e.g., Advil, Motrin, etc.) before exercise to hopefully prevent joint and muscle pain.  In theory this makes sense, however, research has shown that not only does this not prevent joint and muscle pain, but it can affect the kidneys such that electrolyte balance can become wildly disrupted and in some cases cause kidney failure.  Yikes!

Three Natural Solutions for Arthritis

Addressing inflammation in the joints does not have to come with the many side effects seen with traditional approaches and the following strategies can be quite effective.  First, aside from avoiding the obvious sources of trauma to joints that can cause inflammation, like playing hockey when you have knee pain, there can be other external factors that can lead to joint inflammation.  At the top of the list lies the food that you put into your body.  It appears that foods, which cause gastrointestinal inflammation like sugar, members of the nightshade family, trans fats, and to some degree red meat can worsen joint pain.  In addition, the lack of good omega-3 fatty acids in the diet along with absent fruits and vegetables, particularly berries, green, orange and yellow veggies (not corn!) prevent your body from creating its own anti-inflammatory mechanisms.  Another simple addition to your diet is fresh, clean drinking water.  Arizonans are chronically dehydrated and you should try to aim for about half of your body weight in ounces for water intake each day.

As mentioned above, prolotherapy was highly effective in treating my knee pain and provides millions of Americans pain relief each year as well.  Prolotherapy was formally introduced into the medical fray in the 1940s and its usage grows each year, with notable athletes like Tiger Woods and many members of the U.S. Olympic team employing the technique.  A few well-designed studies have demonstrated improvement in the structures that support the joint following prolotherapy.  So, how does it work?  It is a type of injection medicine where regions of tendons or ligaments around joints are injected with a non-pharmacological natural solution (glucose, lidocaine, vitamin B12 and folic acid) to stimulate the body to strengthen weakened connective tissue and therefore reduce or eliminate pain. Unlike steroid injections (“cortisone”), which only provide temporary relief and carry numerous side effects, prolotherapy is designed to stimulate tissue growth and promote true healing that ultimately alleviates pain without any side effects.

Nature has also provided us with a number of botanical herbs that for centuries have been highly effective in treating arthritis. These botanicals include quercetin, boswelia, curcumin, nettles and cramp bark to name a few.  More recently, studies have demonstrated that botanicals target a number of inflammatory signaling molecules and shut down the inflammatory process.  One well-designed study in 2009 showed that curcumin and resveratrol were superior to traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines in reducing inflammatory markers, but more importantly reducing pain felt by test subjects.

When you start to feel the aches and pains that typically settle in your joints, you might consider examining your foods and discussing prolotherapy or botanical interventions with your doctor to help you feel better.  But if you’re ever out on the hockey rink, you might want to watch out for me!