There are more than 100 different forms of arthritis of which osteoarthritis is the most common. This article focuses on its causes, treatment options and preventive measures against further joint damage.
Osteoarthritis is an increasingly common disorder in both men and women.1 It is mainly a chronic disorder associated with age due to general wear and tear, result- ing in stiff, swollen and painful joints, and inflammation.2 There is a plethora of analgesics and anti-inflammatories available to deal with the symptoms, and many surgical devices and invasive techniques are available for its management.3 What is generally overlooked, however, is that there are numerous natural measures which are able to alleviate the pain and mobility problems of osteoarthritis and inhibit further progress of the disorder. These are well tolerated even over the long haul, and they often involve lifestyle changes that benefit the patient in other ways.4
WONDERS OF NATURE
Our joints are wonders of natural bio-engineering; they allow us to move around and remain flexible, and hold our bones together. They are self-lubricating and self-maintaining and work efficiently (usually) for many decades. As with all body structures, they do sometimes malfunction, and what we generally take for granted becomes instead a source of pain, discomfort, incapacity and frustration.5
WHAT IS ARTHRITIS?
Arthritis is one such failure. Our joints become inflamed, bringing signs and symptoms typical of inflammation: pain; heat; swelling; redness; and stiffness. As there are many types of arthritis, this article will focus solely on osteoarthritis, the form most likely to affect us, especially as we get older.6
OSTEOARTHRITIS
Osteoarthritis is largely due to general wear and tear of three of our most stressed joints – our knees, hips and backbone. The jelly-like cartilage pads cushioning the contact between bones wear away inexorably – ‘degenerate’ – during life’s journey. The bone ends become exposed, and the joint tissues become inflamed which is the body’s attempt to protect and heal itself. Pain tells us to slow down, fluid floods the joint to protect it, blood flow is boosted to take repair materials to the joint, and the joint stiffens to limit our movement.1
WHAT CAUSES IT?
Osteoarthritis begins when the smooth, highly polished contact surfaces of a joint roughen up. It may be due to mundane, everyday physical activity over time, or accelerated by excessive, irregular or high-impact physical exercise. Fragments of cartilage may break off, aggravating existing damage. Knee, hip or back injuries when young will encourage osteoarthritis later as will serious joint infections or regular gout attacks, and bone fractures around the joints.
Natural medicine healers regard osteoarthritis as the outcome of disharmony in the joint tissues, due to acidity, ageing, injury, microbial invasion or genetic predisposition. The Tibb modality’s view, for example, is that it is due to a gross imbalance between the body’s cold and dry qualities. Treatment therefore revolves around redressing the balance by altering the patient’s diet and lifestyle to favour hot and moist qualities.8
LIFESTYLE AND OSTEOARTHRITIS
For many, osteoarthritis is the inevitable outcome of a faulty or inadequate way of life. Someone who is overweight or obese places an extra load on many joints. Over time, osteoarthritis inevitably develops. Also, the muscles surrounding the joint in someone leading a sedentary ‘couch potato’ life will atrophy.
For more information on Tibb’s philosophy of health and disease and the role of lifestyle factors, visit the Tibb website.
- The basics of Osteoarthritis
- Osteoarthritis symptoms
- Osteoarthritis medications
- Non-drug treatment of osteoarthritis: Murray M and Pizzorno J. Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. Little Brown and Co. (UK). [p.695]
- Skeletal joint structure
- Arthritis. Nat Biotechnol 18 (Suppl 10), IT12–IT14 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/80045
- Causes of osteoarthritis
- Healing with Tibb
- Diet and osteoarthritis
