Arthritis is a classical example of a chronic disease were convention medicine does little to improve the condition and many times the medication creates additional problems.

A lot of doctors take the view there is nothing that can be done for arthritis suffers other than give them pain relief medication. It is considered one of the most commonly suffered diseases in the West.

Before the most common drug used for arthritis was aspirin, and was rapidly replace by a NSAID non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. These drugs do not stop or reverse the disease, they are pain killers.Though there are several of these types of medication on the market, ibuprofen is very popular.

The arthritis business is worth well over $10 billion. Increasingly evidence is pointing to patients who take NSAIDs on a regular basis have a high risk of developing ulcers and some life threatening gastrointestinal problems. Now there are medications that will treat your side effects – but not the disease itself.

In a nut shell

Arthritis describes general inflammation of the joints.

Osteoarthritis describes the wear and tear of the joints -

a) the inner lining of the joint becomes severely inflammed

b) it becomes scarred

c) scar tissue fill the spaces in the joints

d) the underlying bony surfaces become deformed

e) muscle waste

Rheumatoid arthritis – doctors use not just NSAIDs but other medications -

Steroidal anti-inflammatoires

Anti-malarial drugs

Cytotoxic drugs (chemotherapy)

Immune suppressants

Unfortunately, these medications used to slow down the destruction of the various arthritis conditions have certainly not been a roaring success.

So how do these NSAIDs work? These types of pharmaceuticals work by inhibiting the the synthesis of prostaglandins that are involved in the inflammatory response. Unfortunately they also interfere with other processes in the body, various important enzymes.

The Food and Drug Administration FDA in the US estimates that there are 200,000 cases of gastric bleeding each year with 10,000 to 20,000 deaths linked to these medications? The FDA now issues warning with NSAIDs use – gastrointestinal bleeding, ulceration and perforation can occur at any time. It is hard to know if you have a problem as the medication reduces pain (symptoms).

Other warnings are blurred vision, Parkinson’s disease, hair and fingernail loss, damage of liver or kidneys are all possible.

Other medications used are  – SAARDs slow-acting anti-rheumatic drugs, a well known one is gold. Gold is  surprisingly toxic and can lead to fatal bone-marrow suppression. This treatment has been used since the 1920s, it was used as it was thought arthritic types conditions were due to infections. It was discovered that heavy metals could treat the tuberculosis and other infectious disease.

There have been so many people who have successfully treated their arthritis and are pain free, as long as they stick with the changed life style.

As many as 70% of people get relief by avoiding the deadly nightshade family of fruit and vegetables – tomatoes, green, red, yellow or orange peppers, eggplants (aubergine), potatoes (the orange fleshed sweet potato is fine), and tobacco. It is also very important to avoid artificial sweeteners, colourings, additives, and flavourings.

At the clinic we have had 20 years experience with educating arthritis sufferers to lead a painfree life.

The team at the Haven Clinic – looks at all aspects of the patients life – foods, drinks, supplements, medication, sleep patterns, posture, mind set and so much more.