Natural Health: What can I do about my painful osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint common in the knuckles, knees, hips, lower back, feet, and toes

Sun, 29 Dec, 2024 - 02:00

Megan Sheppard

I’ve developed osteoarthritis in a knuckle on my left hand. It’s the only part of my body affected. I recently got a steroid injection to help manage the pain. Is there a natural pain relief you could suggest?

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint common in the knuckles, knees, hips, lower back, feet, and toes. Along with general wear and tear to the cartilage, biochemical processes contribute to this condition.

The inflammatory agent Nitric oxide is considered a significant factor in osteoarthritis, as it is present in much higher levels in individuals with osteoarthritis. Turmeric is one of the best food sources to protect against nitric oxide, as its active constituent, curcumin, inhibits the production of nitric oxide.

Turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory spice often recommended for pain and inflammation. Boswellia serrata combined with curcumin or turmeric works particularly well to treat osteoarthritis, and a formulation that includes ginger is ideal for pain relief.

Boswellia, the resin of the Boswellia serrata tree, supports the vascular system by helping to relieve inflammation and reduce vessel constriction. It can also treat arthritic conditions, headaches, menstrual cramps, sports injuries, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Holland & Barrett has a high-strength turmeric complex. It combines turmeric with Boswellia and ginger, vitamin D for bone health and black pepper to boost turmeric absorption. Ninety capsules cost €31.99, and one should be taken daily.

Do not take supplements containing ginger if you are on any blood-thinning medication.

Another supplement worth considering is glucosamine sulphate as it stimulates cartilage production. Glucosamine is often recommended as part of a natural treatment protocol for osteoarthritis because it can relieve stiffness and pain by helping lubricate joints and assisting in the maintenance and repair of cartilage.

You will need to take 500mg three times daily until you no longer experience pain, then continue to take it one to two times daily. Make sure that any glucosamine supplement you choose includes Chondroitin sulphate. These two nutrients work synergistically, with chondroitin helping to attract fluid and nutrients into the cartilage.

Regarding diet, it is wise to eliminate foods from the Solanaceae (nightshade) family, including tomatoes, potatoes, capsicum, peppers, and eggplant. This makes a significant difference for around half of all sufferers. If you don’t notice any change six months after elimination, you can reintroduce these foods.

My dad gets his ears syringed yearly to remove the excess wax. Is there anything he can do to prevent the build-up in the first place?

Since ear wax is produced to protect the ear canals from dirt, dust, and infection, some working environments may trigger a greater build-up of cerumen.

It is also common for the physiology of the ear to contribute to wax build-up. Narrow, curved, or hairier ear canals will all contribute to increased wax production. Other typical reasons include hearing aids, earplugs, earphone devices that fit inside the ear, and prolonged exposure to a dusty environment. It is also worth noting that ear wax can become more impacted as we age due to reduced sebum production. This makes the cerumen drier and harder, which is often why regular syringing is necessary.

Your dad will need to ensure that he gets plenty of healthy fats in his diet — especially essential fatty acids (EFAs) to help reduce the likelihood of impaction. Udo’s Choice Ultimate Oil Blend is available from most pharmacies and health stores and is an excellent source of EFAs. Of course, he can also get healthy fats from foods such as fatty fish, avocado, nuts, and seeds.