Print Article for : Trinity College Of Natural Health

Your Online Guide » Guide to Medical » Arthritis Signs

[T1339]Trinity College Of Natural Health

by Gregory Wadel, Gre

Joints with arthritis may have: swelling, warmth, redness or pain. Joint pain, stiffness, tenderness, and swelling are the most prominent signs of the disease. In addition, many patients experience fatigue, weight loss, and a condition called crepitus -- a cracking sound that is also called popping joints.

Joints affected by arthritis are already under strain. If you are overweight or obese, the extra load on your joints may be exacerbating your symptoms, especially if your affected joints include those of the hip, knee or spine.

Pain can be continuous or intermittent; after an activity or exercise or just if you've been resting, you may have pain in one spot or feel it all over your body. Daily chores can become a challenge. Painkillers such as aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and corticosteroids are routinely prescribed to suffering patients.

However, because of concerns regarding the side effects of chemical medication, many people are exploring the use of less conventional and more natural treatments.

Knees and hands are the most commonly affected sites. Rheumatoid arthritis affects connective tissue.Herbal preparations are usually very safe and even if you take larger doses than recommended, there are hardly any side effects.

Both sufferers and non-sufferers can take them in the same way. Herbal medicines can contain dangerous contaminants, including pesticides, lead or mercury. More disturbing is the inclusion of prescription or OTC drugs in some natural herbal preparations.

Glucosamine is thought to promote the formation and repair of cartilage. Chondroitin is believed to promote water retention and elasticity in cartilage and inhibit enzymes that break down cartilage. Glucosamine and chondroitin give the cartilage-forming cells what they need to build new cartilage and to repair the existing damaged cartilage.

These products can help ease pain, but primarily work by actually healing the damage that has been done. Glucosamine and chondroitin have finally been proven as effective remedies for arthritis pain. But talk with your doctor before you take them.

Glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate both decrease the pain and stiffness associated with a variety of arthritic conditions. In some cases, the effect is found to be similar to that provided by anti-inflammatory drugs.

Glucosamine, together with a related ingredient called Chondroitin, are substances which exist naturally in your body. It is believed that glucosamine helps to build and repair cartilage (the soft, spongy material between your joints), while chondroitin lends to the elasticity and flexibility of joints. Glucosamine no better than placebo for hip . Seriously gets rid of dark circles and puffiness.

Naturally everyone knows that pain killers help, but the human body builds up resistance to painkillers over time. So, besides painkillers, what helps with hip arthritis pain? Natural health care at its best for the whole family.

Naturally, this becomes more difficult as you age and as your arthritis progresses. But keeping your body active in early years will actually help prevent you from getting arthritis in later life, or at least greatly reduce the risk.

In the U.S., sinus problems are the #1 reason people see a doctor. With increasing pollution and chemicals in our environment, there is an enormous rise in the number of people who suffer various forms of nasal congestion and respiratory illnesses. If you suffer from sinus symptoms, then you know how the ongoing pain, swelling, congestion and postnasal drip can keep you from fully enjoying life.

Alternative health practitioners throughout the world recommend the regular practice of nasal cleansing using a saline solution as part of a regular regimen of health and wellness, a basic health-maintenance activity equal to flossing your teeth. Neti is a gentle, safe, efficient way to deliver a good cleansing dose of saline to the nose. This method of cleansing or clearing debris and bacteria from the nose, nasal passages, and sinuses can trace its roots back to ancient India.

As a self-care strategy, it is relatively new in the United States, but is gaining in popularity. It is both a prevention and treatment measure.

Basically, nasal irrigation is just that: cleaning your sinuses out with mild saltwater, or saline, solution. Although it may sound complicated, this easy-to-use and all-natural sinus cleansing method has many healing benefits. Nasal irrigation depends on saline solution to restore moisture to your sinuses and to lessen the inflammation of nasal membranes. A host of scientific studies show that if the saline irrigation is used regularly, it can help to thin mucus, decrease post nasal drip, and cleanse your passages of bacteria.

A nasal irrigation device called a Neti Pot is easy to use and available in natural food markets and natural home-care catalogs and websites. It looks like Aladdin's lamp or a small flat teapot. It is available in a variety of materials, such as ceramic, stainless steel and plastic.

You can purchase saline solutions specially designed for nasal irrigation. These are called "isotonic" if they are formulated to mimic the same concentrations of salt as in the body. Most over-the-counter saline solutions are isotonic. If your nose is stuffy, you might want to try a "hypertonic" saline solution, which has a higher salt concentration than that of bodily tissue.

Some researchers suggest that using a hypertonic solution may pull more liquid out of the swollen tissue of the nose, thus improving breathing. While many sinus sufferers have tried hypertonic solutions, most prefer using isotonic. Whichever solution you use, keeping the nose moist is beneficial for almost every nasal or sinus problem.

Bear in mind, always, that your sinus condition may change from season to season. You may have to keep trying different variations of the saline solution each season until you get the perfect mixture that allows your sinuses to stay clear without infection.

The Neti pot has a small spout that fits into the nostril. Simply rotate and tip you head over the sink and pour the solution into your nostril. The fluid rinses through your nasal cavity. After it drains through the other nostril, you spit out the fluid and repeat the process on the other side.

Your doctor may recommend using nasal irrigation once daily for prevention and two to four times a day at the first sign of a cold or sinus infection.

Beyond these benefits, nasal irrigation just feels good. If you have ever had a stuffy, congested nose for days on end, you know how wonderful it feels when you get relief and can breathe freely again. Nasal irrigation will let you do exactly that.

Article Source : Pg. 10

About Author

Both Gregory Wadel & Joyce Boulan are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Gregory Wadel has sinced written about articles on various topics from Affiliate Programs, Depression and Marriage. Gregory WadelFind the resources needed to help your Arthritis.. Gregory Wadel's top article generates over 33100 views. to your Favourites.

Joyce Boulan has sinced written about articles on various topics from Herb Gardening, Tankless Water Heater Reviews and Cars. Joyce Boulan is the owner of a website where you can find more information about Neti Pots, articles of interest and find the right Neti Pot for your use. Please visit: http://www.neti-pot-store.com. Joyce Boulan's top article generates over 5400 views. to your Favourites.