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Open Magazine - magazine - Index

Tame the Flames
of Arthritis
by Dr. Tom Stokes
The burning pain when you bend your
knees, or the flaming ache in your hip
when you walk more than a block, are
all too familiar symptoms for those who
live with arthritis day in and day out. It
is important to gain control to manage
your pain if you suffer from arthritis.
Exercise? Is it more fuel for the fire?
Believe it or not, the Arthritis Society (www.arthritis.ca)
recommends exercise as a means to help keep joints healthy,
so it should be considered as one component of a treatment
program. Joint cartilage does not have its own blood supply to
bring it nutrients and remove waste. This two-fold job is done
by musculoskeletal movement that causes compression and
expansion in the joint. Joint cartilage can be compared to a
sponge sitting on the beach. When you use a joint in a full range
of motion, it’s as though tidal currents wash nutrients over the
cartilage. As you move the joint, it experiences mechanical
pressure that squeezes out waste. If joint cartilage is not
regularly fed with nutrients, it starves and crumbles. The area
around the joint is loaded with muscles, tendons, ligaments and
other assorted soft tissue. If these don’t get enough exercise,
they will shrink, stiffen, weaken and, unfortunately, cause pain.
That’s why exercise is critical to managing pain. Marathon
running and rock climbing are not recommended, but walking
and gardening are possible choices. Working with a personal
trainer can be beneficial in providing a personal exercise
program that meets your medical needs. Speak to your doctor
about a suitable exercise program as part of your treatment.
Supplements, What Can They Do for You?
There are some natural substances that are gaining ground
as serious second generation ingredients that may ease arthritis
28 Open Magazine Summer 2008
symptoms. Look for these active ingredients when purchasing
health supplements.
GlycoMarine is comprised of an anti-inflammatory
component called glycogen complex. This has been shown by
standard pharmacological techniques, used in the assessment
of medicinal products, to have a significant effect in suppressing
inflammation. This compound defends joints against cartilage
degeneration and improves joint function and mobility through
its unique chondro-protective properties. Another valuable
feature of GlycoMarine is that it does not damage the delicate
stomach lining and actually provides a protective function
for it. GlycoMarine helps to relieve inflammatory symptoms
associated with arthritic diseases. At the same time, it protects
the stomach from the damaging effects of some painkillers,
should a person be taking these at the same time.
Kolla2 is unhydrolyzed Type II collagen. This supplies vital
amino acids that maintain the water in the intercellular matrix
of connective tissue. It contributes to the elasticity of skin,
eyes, joints and cardiovascular system. Research has shown
that Type II collagen is lost progressively in rheumatoid and
osteoarthritis patients. Kolla2 offers the complete building
blocks for cartilage and joint health.
Myristin (Cetyl Myristoleate, also called CM or CMO) was
discovered in 1964 by researcher Harry W. Diehl who worked
for the US National Institutes of Health. The CM molecule is
a fatty acid ester of cetyl alcohol and myristoleic acid, not to
be confused with myristic acid. It appears to have the same
characteristics as the essential fatty acids, linoleic and alpha
linolenic, except that it is stronger and longer lasting. These
fatty acids are referred to as essential fatty acids (EFAs) because
the human body cannot make them and we must ingest them
from our diets. The use of EFAs over an extended period of time
has been shown to decrease arthritic pain and inflammation,
and improve mobility.
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) plays an integral role in maintaining
and regulating moisture within the tissues and facilitates
the transport of nutrients into the cells and the removal of
metabolic waste. HA is found in all of the body’s tissues. The
highest concentrations are located in the extra-cellular matrix
of the skin and the synovial fluid that bathes the joints and
cartilage. HA has one of the highest lubricating properties of
any substance; one molecule of HA has the ability to attract
1000 molecules of water. Optimum levels of HA are essential
for joint and cartilage health. HA restores lubrication and
cushioning to the joints.
Regardless of what causes arthritis, it is a nagging,
stiffening, and flaming type of pain that sufferers strive to
tame. The Arthritis Society suggests that complementary
therapies, such as acupuncture and light exercise, may be
beneficial. Patients are encouraged to consult their doctor
and thoroughly research complementary therapies that may
provide additional relief.
Dr. T. Stokes, PhD (Biochemistry), BSc, is a natural products
researcher.