So much has been written on arthritis in its many forms, and it is so common, that we have unfortunately come to consider it an inevitable part of ageing.
What causes this joint degeneration, and are there any ways to prevent or combat it?
Arthritis has been referred to as ‘not one disease but rather a broad term that covers more than 100 different disorders. All involve the joints and are characterised by chronic pain, limited mobility and decreased range of motion.’
The most common form of arthritis is called osteoarthritis, and this is most often associated with ageing as it is caused by wear and tear of the joints over time. Another more complex and less common form is rheumatoid arthritis, an auto-immune disorder that ‘can affect many joints, other organs and the whole body’. It is important to consult a professional to gain a more specific diagnosis if you suffer from joint pain. Regardless of the type of arthritis, the common symptoms include varied levels of pain, swelling, joint stiffness and sometimes a constant ache around the affected joint or joints.
CAUSES OF JOINT DEGENERATION
Let’s look at some of the reasons for joint degeneration, and some of the lifestyle and natural options at our disposal to prevent and combat it. Risk factors for osteoarthritis include prior trauma, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. Dr Hulda Clark in her book The Cure for All Diseases, however, maintains that one primary issue in the causation of arthritis is consumption of a diet too high in acid-producing foods. This leads to the development of crystal deposits in both the kidneys and the joints. These deposits initially restrict mobility of the joint, and in time if they become infected they can produce an immune response that includes swelling and pain. The crystals also contribute to destruction of the cartilage between the joints, which eventually leads to the two opposing bones eroding into each other.
According to this approach, when the body is in an acid state the acids are neutralised by the production of crystals. If too many crystals are made, they begin to congest the kidneys and become deposited in the joints. This can lead to kidney congestion, back pain and kidney stones, as well as arthritis. According to Dr Clark, ‘Arthritic deposits contain a large amount of phosphates combined with calcium. This calcium came from some other bone, such as the base of your spine or your wrist. Here the bones are getting weaker due to this calcium loss. Calcium was taken out of your bones for the simple purpose of neutralising the excess phosphate in your diet.’
CORRECTING THE ACID STATE
How would one go about remedying an acid state to stop the production of arthritic deposits, and how would one dissolve crystals that have already been deposited?
Stopping the creation of deposits
- A quick and easy way to test your body’s acidity is to get some nitrazine paper (pH paper) and urinate on it first thing in the morning. If the pH is less than 6 you will know that your system is acid and that you may need to reassess your diet. Taking alkalising supplements can also be helpful.
- When trying to reduce acids in your diet, there are two main ones to consider: phosphoric acid and oxalic acid. Phosphoric acid is found in meats, grains and fizzy drinks. Grains include rice, pasta, bread, mealimeal, sorghum, wheat, rye, oats, and so on. Millet is one of the few ‘non-acid’ grains, and most fruits and vegetables are ‘non-acid’. I’m not saying that we can’t eat any acid foods, but we need to balance things out so that we ultimately consume more non-acid than acid foods. This essentially means a LOT more fruit and vegetables for most of us! Oxalic acid comes mostly from tea, coffee and cocoa (this includes chocolate, so chocoholics beware!). Switch to simple herb teas like rooibos or chamomile. Dr Clark maintains that even one cup of Ceylon tea a day is enough to create crystal deposits. Is it any wonder that arthritis is so common? Most of us live on a diet largely consisting of meat and grains washed down with a glass of coke or a cup of tea or coffee.
- Increase the amount of calcium in your diet to help protect against loss of bone density and neutralise the acid.
- Increase your water consumption, making sure that you drink two litres of clear liquids a day – tea, coffee and coke do not count!
- Hippuric acid is produced when the liver breaks down benzoic acid. Sodium benzoate (benzoic acid) is one of the most widely used preservatives in the food industry, especially in drinks and snacks, so regular consumption of these foods can create acidity issues.
Dissolving the deposits
There are many herbal options to dissolve arthritic deposits. These include the root of the hydrangea and Dr Clark’s ‘kidney cleanse’ is one of the most famous. Provided new deposits are no longer being made, the existing ones can be dissolved. However, Dr Clark warns that in doing so any infection that has populated the deposits may be released, and that some antibacterial measures should be in place to combat this. She advises the use of her famous ‘zapper’ as well as herbs such as the ‘bowel cleanse’, which includes turmeric and fennel, widely regarded as natural anti-inflammatories.
SOME ALLERGIC TRIGGERS
Much has been written about foods that trigger pain for arthritis sufferers. Three of them are:
- Piperine, found in white and black pepper (not cayenne)
- The Solanaceae family of plants, including tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants and tobacco
- Phenylisothiocynate, found in chicken, eggs, the cabbage family and peas. Dr Clark advises liver cleanses to help the liver to regain its ability to detoxify these cyanide-containing foods.
So we come back, as is so often the case, to ‘we are what we eat’! While this simple approach is of course not the full answer to the problem of arthritis, and even the issue of calcium deposits may be more complex if there is disturbance of the thyroid and/ or parathyroid glands, it has helped many people – and it is a good, common-sense approach to healthy living for many other reasons! I encourage you to get informed and to make some lifestyle changes. You may be surprised at how much you can help yourself, protect your bones from long-term damage and free yourself from pain.
Editor's note: This article looks at Signs and Symptoms of Osteoarthritis and here is an article on how to Managing Osteoarthritis Naturally
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