Rheumatoid Arthritis(RA)

Discussion

RA is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the entire body, including the joint synovial membranes. It mainly affects the smaller joints: hands, wrists, knees and ankles.

Standard medical treatment includes exercise, heat and massage. The first drug used is usually aspirin, which is often quite effective in relieving the pain and inflammation; but in the doses required, side effects often occur, including gastro-intestinal upsets and tinnitus.

Other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) often used, such as ibuprofen, can cause headaches, gastro-intestinal upsets, ulcers and dizziness.

The drugs of last resort are corticosteroids. These as well as NSAIDs are known to prevent the repair of collagen, thus worsening the underlying problem.

Causes

There is much evidence that RA is an auto-immune disease, that is the production of antibodies to the body's own components.

It is not known with certainty what is the trigger for this reaction, but there is much, and increasing, evidence that the majority of victims of RA have impaired digestive performance, combined with increased gut permeability.

We have evolved in such a way that our digestive system is designed to break down our foods into their original components, i.e. carbohydrates into sugar, fats into fatty acids and glycerol, and in particular, proteins into amino acids. The body then uses them as required to fuel and build itself.

We are designed so that the individual components of food produced by digestion, as outlined above, are then absorbed across the intestinal mucosal barrier, and then enter the bloodstream. Anything larger than, for instance, individual amino acids, will be recognised by the body as an invader (called an antigen) and antibodies will be produced by the immune system to destroy them.

Particularly if the proteins are of animal origin, these antigens may have great similarities to some of the components of the joints. The antibodies will then cause the body's immune system to attack its own components.

To summarise, this theory states that the cause of RA is basically antibody production against incompletely digested proteins, which are allowed to enter the bloodstream through excessively permeable intestinal walls. These fool the body into attacking components of itself which are similar to the partially undigested protein.

Excessive absorption of other intestinal and bacterial toxins can also contribute to the problem.

In our suggestions for combating RA, we will assume that this theory is correct, and the suggested treatment is in two parts:

1)      Combating the fundamental causes

2)      Alleviating the symptoms

1) Combating the fundamental causes

Digestion

Digestion must be efficient in order to avoid partially digested proteins reaching the lower intestine. The main aids to this are:

Betaine Hydrochloride

This is necessary to produce the correct acidity for digestion. Briefly, the dosage can be arrived at by increasing the number of tablets, one at a time, with meals until a warm feeling appears in the stomach, and then reduce the dosage by one tablet.

Warning: This should not be used if you have or have had ulcers.

Pancreatin

4xUSP; 2 to 4 tablets with meals.

Bromelain 250-500mg with meals.

A really good digestive enzyme tablet may contain enough of the latter two.

Improved gut wall condition

Glucosamine Sulphate: This is a major component of tissues and will help to repair the intestinal walls and improve mucosal production. Dosage; 500mg, one or two capsules twice per day.

Avoid food allergies

Another cause of RA is food allergies. It is advisable to avoid the common allergy or intolerance forming foods. These are mainly wheat, dairy products, citrus fruits, red meats and foods of the nightshade family: potatoes, tomatoes, aubergines, peppers. Sugar, caffeine and additives should also be avoided. Avoidance of animal proteins will help.

2) Alleviating the symptoms

A number of nutritional and herbal agents can either strengthen the system to help combat the bad effects outlined above, or have an anti-inflammatory effect.

Nutritional Supplements

Antioxidants

Selenium, zinc, vitamin C, vitamin E, manganese and copper are all either anti-oxidants on their own, or are components of glutathione or SOD, two powerful anti-oxidants produced by the body. All help tissue integrity and are anti-inflammatory.

EPA, Saturated Fats and Polyunsaturates

It has been shown that a diet low in saturated fats and animal fats (containing arachidonic acid) and high in polyunsaturates helps the production of anti-inflammatory prostaglandins. In particular, one of the components of fish oil - eicosa-pentaenoic acid (EPA) has been shown to be beneficial.

Proteolytic Enzymes

These enzymes, particularly bromelain, work by actually digesting away the immune complexes which have been deposited within the joints. To perform this function, they must be taken 1½ hours away from food.

Herbal Aids

¨      Boswellia complex: has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and also promotes healing.

¨      Scutellariae (skullcap): can have powerful anti-inflammatory effects.

To buy any of these products, click this link: www.NationalNutrition.co.uk