How To Live Pain-Free From Arthritis - Amazing Arthritis Pain Relief

Ingredient and Nutrient Description Of Amazing Arthritis Relief

Bromelain is the name of a group of powerful protein-digesting, or proteolytic, enzymes that are found in the pineapple plant (Ananas comosus). Discovered in 1957, and widely studied since then, bromelain is particularly useful for reducing muscle and tissue inflammation and as a digestive aid. Supplements are made from enzymes found in the pineapple stem.

Bromelain is a natural blood thinner and anti-inflammatory. It works by breaking down fibrin, a blood-clotting protein that can impede good circulation and prevent tissues from draining properly. Bromelain also blocks the production of compounds that can cause swelling and pain. When inflammation is reduced, blood can move more easily to a traumatized area, easing pain and speeding healing.

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is popularly referred to as the body's natural tranquilizer. It is an amino acid produced in the brain. It acts as a neurotransmitter--a chemical that fosters communication between nerve cells--and helps to keep stress-related nerve impulses at bay. This relieves the intensity of pain stemmed from arthritis.

GABA appears to promote relaxation. It may also have a role to play in preventing seizures and allaying chronic pain.

Glucosamine is a sugar produced in the body and found in small amounts of foods. It plays an important role in maintaining cartilage, the gel-like material that cushions joints. When taken as a dietary supplement, glucosamine may help to relieve the pain, stiffness, and swelling of osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disorder that affects 12% of the population, in which cartilage has worn down. Rheumatoid arthritis sufferers report improvements with glucosamine supplements as well, as do individuals with other types of joint injuries. Some 70 countries around the world sanction glucosamine as a treatment for individuals with mild to moderately severe osteoarthritis.

Studies indicate that some arthritis sufferers experience improved range of motion after taking glucosamine. Others report increased overall mobility. And several studies suggest that glucosamine may be as effective in easing arthritic pain and inflammation--and not nearly as irritating to the stomach--as the NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) typically recommended for osteoarthritis.

Glucosamine appears to protect and strengthen the cartilage around joints, particularly in the knees, hips, spine, and hands. In so doing, it may help to prevent further joint damage. And while it can do little to actually restore cartilage that has completely worn away--or reverse joint damage that has already occurred--glucosamine appears to slow the development of mild to moderately severe osteoarthritis. Traditional NSAIDs prescribed for arthritis, in contrast, actually impair the body's cartilage-building capacity.

Boswellia, also known as boswellin or "Indian frankincense," comes from the Boswellia serrata tree that grows in the dry hills of India. For centuries, traditional Indian healers have taken advantage of the anti-inflammatory properties of the tree bark's gummy resin, called salai guggal. Modern preparations made from a purified extract of this resin and packaged in pill or cream form are used to reduce inflammation associated with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Unlike conventional NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen--the accepted treatments for joint inflammation--boswellia doesn't seem to cause stomach irritation.It also may be effective for back pain and certain chronic intestinal disorders.

Boswellia can be taken internally as well as applied topically to affected joints to relieve inflammation associated with these joint disorders. This may lessen morning stiffness and increase joint mobility. In a study of 175 patients with rheumatic disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, a crippling joint disease, 122 participants experienced reduced stiffness and inflammation two to four weeks after starting on a boswellia regimen.

Devil's Claw is a plant found in the deserts of southern Africa. It is named Devil's Claw because of the distinctively shaped tips of its fruits. For years, people indigenous to the African continent dug up the plant's large tuberous roots, chopped them up, and let them dry in the sun. From the dried roots, they then prepared healing formulations to treat arthritis, fever, indigestion, and a number of other conditions. It remains unclear just how devil's claw works to reduce inflammation and pain. The latest findings indicate that the plant does not exert anti-inflammatory effects in the same way that many standard anti-inflammatory medications do. Yet test-tube studies still point to slight painkilling and anti-inflammatory actions. A handful of studies support the use of devil's claw for easing the inflammation and pain that often afflict people with arthritis. Mild pain relief and a lessening of inflammation was noted in a 1976 study that compared the devil's claw with the effects of a common arthritis drug (phenylbutazone).

Turmeric (Circuma longa) is best known as a spice that gives a distinctive flavor and yellow color to curry powder and mustard. It is a member of the ginger family and has long been used for healing. Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and other traditional medicine systems practiced in India have relied on this pungent spice for centuries. The plant's healing properties reside in its fingerlike stalk, which is scalded and then dried for medicinal preparations. This is the same part of the plant used to flavor, color, and preserve foods. The anti-inflammatory compounds in turmeric appear to ease inflammation. This makes it potentially useful for relieving the inflammation in wrist and hand joints associated with arthritis, for example. In India, curcumin-a component of turmeric- is considered a standard anti-inflammatory medication. It appears to be most effective for acute (as opposed to chronic) inflammation.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is revered around the world for its pungent taste. It is a natural spice that is also widely prized for its medicinal properties. Since ancient times, traditional healers in a diverse array of cultures have used this plant primarily to help settle upset stomachs. Chinese herbalists have relied on ginger as a medicine and flavoring for more than 2,500 years. The early Greeks mixed it into breads (hence the first gingerbread), and North American colonists sipped nausea-quelling ginger beer, the precursor of modern ginger ale. Today, many cultures continue to rely on ginger for controlling nausea and also for reducing inflammation. Ginger helps indirectly to relieve chronic pain by reducing inflammation and, particularly when taken in standardized extract form, by lowering the body's level of natural pain-causing compounds called prostaglandins. Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms may also respond to treatment with ginger, either in massage oil or standardized extract form. In a study of seven women with rheumatoid arthritis, reduced joint swelling and pain were reported following a daily regimen of up to 1 gram of powdered ginger or 5 to 50 grams of fresh ginger.

Yucca is also known by the names Spanish Bayonet, Guardian Of The Desert, Needle Palm, and Soapweed. Yucca, a member of the lily family, grows in abundance throughout the Southwestern United States and Mexico. The part of this plant used medicinally is the root. The name "Yucca" comes from the Caribbean name for "cassava", which was once considered part of this genus. Traditionally, this herb has been used for soap because of its foaming agents. Native Americans used the soapy leaves from yucca for numerous health conditions. Yucca is used today to treat inflammations caused by degenerative diseases like arthritis and rheumatism. The authors of a study looking at patients with osteoarthritis & rheumatoid arthritis speculate that Yucca saponins block the release of toxins from the intestines, which tends to inhibit normal formation of cartilage.

Boron is a mineral that aids in the production of natural steroid compounds within the body, which is necessary for healthy bones and muscle growth. It is also vital for the metabolism of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. This mineral is found naturally in apples, carrots, grapes, dark green leafy vegetables, raw nuts, pears, and whole grains. Boron increases brain function, promotes alertness, and helps the body utilize energy from fats and sugars. Boron supplementation can help prevent postmenopausal osteoporosis and build muscle, and is a benefit for elderly people to aid in calcium absorption.

Vitamin D is called the sunlight vitamin because the body produces it when the sun's ultraviolet B (UVB) rays strike the skin. It is the only vitamin the body manufactures naturally and is technically considered a hormone. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium from food and supplements. If the body does not have an adequate amount of vitamin D, it will extract calcium from bones and cartilage which over time leads to osteoporosis.

Vitamin E is a powerful anti-oxidant that is summoned from the body's fatty tissue where it's stored. It protects cells by deactivating or destroying the potentially damaging oxygen molecules called free radicals. As a key antioxidant, vitamin E appears to play a modest but notable role in protecting the body from many chronic disorders. It may even slow the aging process and guard against damage from secondhand smoke and other pollutants. Circulatory disorders, skin and joint problems, diabetes-related nerve complications, high cholesterol, endometriosis, immune-system function, and memory are also believed to benefit from vitamin E.