The Benefits of Aloe in Pain Relief for Arthritis

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Monday, March 15th, 2010 Subscribe To Our Feed

Although arthritis won't really kill you, it can literally cripple you. Arthritis causes so much restriction and curtails even simple activities such as bathing, walking or dressing. Arthritis can be rather debilitating because of extreme pain on the joints And worse, it's a chronic disease.

Arthritis affects many thousands of people every year and statistics show that one in every three adults over 40 suffer or will suffer from arthritis as they age. Arthritis has no specified age or gender parameter since arthritis can develop even in infants, but most sufferers begin to experience symptoms when they near their fifties, with more than 50% occurring before the age of 65. The sad thing about arthritis is that it can be debilitating both to the body and to one's finances. It is estimated that arthritis can cost a single person a whopping USD 150,000 in medical or support treatment and lost wages during his or her lifetime.

Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the two most common forms that afflict the greater majority. Osteoarthritis is a condition that results from normal wear and tear of the knees, hips, or ankles since they bear much of the weight in the body. It also affects the shoulders and the highly mobile joints of the cervical and lumbar spine. Like grease on joints and gears in a mechanical structure, synovial fluid maintains lubrication and ease of movement within our joints. It is also responsible for the overall health of the cartilage surrounding the bone interface. Synovial fluid inevitably shrinks with age and cartilage undergoes wear and tear with heavy use, eventually causing the bones to grind against each other. This grinding action is what causes arthritis pain and the difficulty in movements.

Rheumatoid Arthritis on the other hand is a condition brought about by the assault of anti-bodies on the synovial lining of the joints. These anti-bodies are produced by the body's immune system but genetics, certain infections or environmental factors can trigger a misdirected immune system and cause destruction of the synovial membrane and the cartilage. Inflammatory conditions such as swelling, stiffness and pain manifest as a result of this. Rheumatoid Arthritis may arise at any age, and this type of immunologically induced arthritis can be part of other systemic illnesses such as Lupus and Scleroderma.

Symptoms of arthritis are not permanent - the disease is said to be active when inflammation is present and that period is known as a “flare”. As the symptoms subside, it is said that the disease is “in remission”. Remission can be accomplished through treatment or may occur spontaneously and may last for months or even years.

Arthritis has long been successfully treated with the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and steroids. Typically, cortisone injections and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have been used to treat symptoms. These types of treatment bring pain relief, unfortunately they don't repair the damaged tissues - hence relief is said to be merely symptomatic.

Undesirable side effects may also arise with constant use of NSAIDs and steroids. Most prominent of these are osteoporosis and some thinning of the skin. NSAIDs are also observed to increase the incidence of stomach ulcers.

No cure for arthritis has been discovered yet, but there is growing evidence that tissue repair and replacement can delay disease progression. In fact, this has been the focus of controversial stem cell replacement studies over the years. Whether or not stem cell replacement will eventually emerge as the cure for arthritis, it is a welcome relief to know that natural substances can work at relieving the discomforts of arthritis pain and possibly slow the progression of the disease - without the side effects.

One of the best known natural substances for its anti-inflammatory properties is Aloe Vera. Aloe generally provides analgesic relief but it has also been observed to stimulate the immune system and speed up cell growth and replacement. Aloe Vera contains basic sugars which are also found in every cell of the body - it is rich in nutrients that include vitamins E, C, and the B series, as well as iron, manganese, calcium and zinc. Essential amino and fatty acids are also found in Aloe Vera.

Paramount to its nutritional benefits is the ability of Aloe Vera to assist the body in repairing damaged tissue by regenerating cells. A breakthrough formulation combines aloe with glucosamine and chondroitin, two joint supplements that are building blocks of cartilage found within joints. Glucosamine increases fluid maintenance in the cartilage, while chondroitin, an ingredient of cartilage tissue, takes charge of drawing in fluids and nutrients. As the body ages, its capacity to produce these natural elements of healthy cartilage is diminished, thus leading to painful joint conditions. Naturally occurring substances combined with Aloe Vera may work best for arthritis pain relief, tissue repair and cell regeneration without the nasty side effects!

Learn more about breakthrough aloe formulations that relieve arthritis symptoms and help to rebuild healthy cells in your joints at Forever Freedom.

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