Although most people think of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis when they think of arthritis, there are actually over 100 different types of this painful, debilitating disease. Fortunately, there are more arthritis treatment and remedy options than ever before.
Drug therapy most often consists of NSAID class drugs. These drugs have anti-inflammatory properties, and they’re non-steroidal so they are generally considered safer than other drug therapies. However, in cases where the patient is suffering from severe localized pain, cortisone shots may be prescribed. Treatment therapy also usually consists of lifestyle management issues. This includes getting some form of regular exercise. Weight bearing exercises are recommended, such as strength training. Low impact exercises like walking are also beneficial. Maintaining a healthy diet and weight are also important to keeping arthritis under control.
Often used to complement drug therapy (and sometimes on their own), arthritis remedies that utilize natural medicine are becoming more and more popular. Gamma-linolenic Acid (GLA) is a type of omega-6 fatty acid derived from the seeds of plants. Recently, GLAs have been highly touted for their health benefits. Now there’s speculation that these wonder acids can also have beneficial effects for some arthritis sufferers.
Some of the best known GLAs are derived from the seeds of black currant, borage, and evening primrose. These plants have long been used to treat a variety of ailments, and now the GLAs derived from these plants are being used as an arthritis remedy to alleviate the inflammation often associated with the disease.
One 2000 report put out by the Cochrane Collaboration examined the result of seven studies of GLA plants. The plants examined in these studies included borage, evening primrose, and black currant. Their oils were studied and used to treat symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Unfortunately, none of these studies was conclusive, and none was able to prove the true efficacy of GLA plants and oils. However, some medical researchers do believe that there is some kind of link between GLAs and the potential for pain relief, morning joint stiffness, and overall discomfort and tenderness.
Even though most GLAs and their respective plants have a long-standing record as safe and effective herbs, there still exists certain risks to consuming these herbs in any form. Many health experts and herbalists warn that many GLAs and their plants may not interact well with prescription medications. Furthermore, some GLAs may actually exacerbate an individual’s already existing medical conditions. Other researchers have noted that some borage seed oil preparations contain ingredients called pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) that can cause serious harm to the liver, or at least exacerbate the symptoms of liver disease. Evening primrose oil has been linked to problems related to the use of phenothiazine drugs. Moreover, many herbal drugs are potent, and can have strong side effects including diarrhea, nausea, intestinal gas, and bloating.
So while the verdict is still out on arthritis remedies such as GLAs, the research continues with many health experts hopeful that herbs, plants, and their derivatives will eventually be able to provide some much needed help for arthritis sufferers everywhere.
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