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Multiple approaches to fighting rheumatoid arthritis
By Dr. Jonathan Wright on 08/22/2010
Q: I've been trying to research treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, but am just getting overwhelmed. Can you help steer me in the right direction?
Dr. Wright: I've observed improvement in every case of rheumatoid arthritis with elimination and desensitization of food allergy. Milk and dairy are almost always major allergens in people with this form of arthritis and have even been the subject of mainstream medical research into RA (which showed that eliminating milk and dairy worked to alleviate symptoms). But even though dairy is usually a primary culprit, there are always multiple allergens aggravating rheumatoid arthritis.
Find and work with a doctor skilled and knowledgeable in food allergy as well as nutritional medicine; a good place to start is with a member of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM). To find one near you visit www.aaemonline.org.
But while food allergy elimination and desensitization improve rheumatoid arthritis, sometimes dramatically and always noticeably, it doesn't cure the problem.
Over the years, multiple studies have also reported a high incidence of stomach malfunction (specifically, low levels of hydrochloric acid and pepsin) in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis. These reports also revealed that just replacing the "missing" hydrochloric acid and pepsin -- without making any other changes -- can significantly improve many cases of rheumatoid arthritis.
So with this in mind, I always ask individuals suffering from rheumatoid arthritis to have a gastric analysis done. In the majority of instances, the test discloses low stomach function (low acid).
If this is the case for you, consider supplementing with either betaine hydrochloride-pepsin or glutamic-acid hydrochloride-pepsin before meals.
I usually recommend starting out by taking one capsule (5, 7 1/2, or 10 grains). After two or three days, if there are no problems, use two capsules in the early part of the meal; then, several days later, increase the amount to three capsules. The dose is gradually increased in this steplike fashion until it equals 40 to 70 grains per meal.
You'll probably need to work with a doctor on this aspect of rheumatoid arthritis, too. On rare occasion treatment with hydrochloric acid can be dangerous, so it should only be used when testing indicates a need. Though problems occur rarely, they can be bad ones.
Hydrochloric acid should never be used at the same time as aspirin, Butazolidin, Inodicin, Motrin, or any other anti-inflammatory medication. These medications themselves can cause stomach bleeding and ulcers, so using hydrochloric acid with them increases the risk.
And last but not least, many research studies have shown that the anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids contained in fish oil significantly reduce the inflammation and pain of rheumatoid arthritis. Generally, I recommend taking 1 tablespoonful of cod liver oil with 400 I.U. of vitamin E (as mixed tocopherols) twice daily.
Printer-friendly versionAbout the author
Jonathan V. Wright, M.D. has degrees from both Harvard University (cum laude) and the University of Michigan. More than any other doctor, he practically invented the modern science of applied nutritional biochemistry and he has advanced nutritional medicine for nearly three decades.
As of today, Dr. Wright has received over 35,000 patient visits at his now-famous Tahoma Clinic in Washington State.
To learn more about Dr. Wright, and to sign up for his free Health e-Tips eLetter, please visit www.wrightnewsletter.com.
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w. mccauley
Would like to hear Dr's feelings about hydrogen peroxide treatments-esp. osteoarthritis
Steve
My martial arts instructor started getting cancer, and rheumatoid arthritis back in the '70's. His whole family were big meat and potato eaters, and never ate salads and greens. MOST OF HIS FAMILY DIED OF CANCER!!!!!!! It is this less nutritious diet that causes deficiencies, and the deficiencies and impurities that are causing the diseases in this country. Impurities are inorganic or INERT particles that the body does not process. So they stay in the body, and accumulate in ORGANS AND JOINTS AND EVEN CELLS!!!! CHOKING THEM OFF. LIKE PLAQUE IN YOUR ARTERIES CHOKES YOUR BLOOD VESSELS, LIKE A CRIMPED HOSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, My instructor was going to the doctors and getting very painful treatments, and therapy. And he asked when he was going to be cured. They said there was no cure. So he quit going, as he did not see any point in continuing.
HERE IS HIS CURE.....
My instructor went TOTALLY VEGETARIAN! He used to make the Universes BEST TACOS! With TOFU! AWESOME! JUST AWESOME!
He learned about herbs, and make a healing salve for his legs.
He was a roofer, and was out of work and on crutches for two years. He had to do other things to make a living, but he never told me what.
With his vegan diet, and applying his herbal salve, liberally, everyday, he threw away his crutches after 6 months!! And went back to work as a roofer!!
He had to continue to be a vegetarian from then on. And as I said above he made some awesome vegan meals. After years of this he was able to have soda pop and junk food. But as long as he was vegan, he could STAVE off any bad effects. His rheumatoid arthritis never returned or progressed.
MY ARTHRITIS......
When I got my candida under control, the arthritic symptoms in my hands, went away. I am pain free, and I can quickly touch my fingers to my thumbs rapidly and in random order.
It is the toxins and impurities and deficiencies IN YOUR DIET!!!!!!!!!!! causing the auto-immune system to attack and inflame the joints! You get rid of the impurities, you get rid of the deficiencies, (vitamin, mineral, etc...), and your body STOPS having that reaction!!!!!!! YOU HEAL!!!!!!
My lymph glands under my chin were very swollen. Now they are almost normal. You flush your body clean, you get rid of the cause, and your body WILL HEAL AS BEST IT CAN!!!!!
I still have Grave's Disease. I have no thyroid. I am gluten intolerant. But at least I don't feel like crap everyday anymore! I am not totally vegan. I eat turkey or fish. I have lots of yogurt. And I am going to have more salads too. I have gluten free foods. The FLAX4LIFE MUFFINS ARE AWESOME!!!!! QUINOA MACAROON COOKIES ARE TO DIE FOR!!!!!!!! THEY EVEN HAVE GF DONUTS!!!!!! But the glaze was too sugary. My point is, you can still "Live"!!!!!! Within limits!!!
EAT LIVE, LIVING FOOD!!! FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN THEIR RAW, NATURAL, WHOLE STATE!!!!!!!! MAKE A MEAL OF IT!!!!!!! IF YOU NEED TO SUPPLEMENT, THEN FINE, I DO TOO!!!!!!!!!!
Lighter meats, and organic, or free range meats. NO REFINED WHITE FLOUR PRODUCTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAY LESS SUGAR!!!!
NO BAD FATS, NO BAD OILS, NO BAD CARBS, NO BAD SUGARS, ETC......
Want to loooooooooose weight???? NO COOKIES, PIES, CAKES, DONUTS, CANDY, SODA POP, JUNK FOOD, ETC.... IN ANY FORM!!!!!!!!!! INCLUDING GLUTEN FREE AND VEGAN!!!!!!...THEY STILL HAVE CALORIES!!!!!!!!! They can still be DEFICIENT. NOT COMPLETE IN NUTRITION!!!!!! YES, EVEN HEALTH FOOD CAN BE DEFICIENT!!!!!!! YOU NEED A WHOLE NUTRITION PLAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And exercise, that helps the body flush toxins. So plenty of water, to clean your CELLS!!! LIFE IS CELLS!!!! YOU ARE MADE OF CELLS!!!! FEED AND CLEAN YOUR CELLS!!!!!!!!
Your body needs LIVE food with all the biological nutrients INTACT!!!!!! DEAD CHEMICALS DO NOT GIVE YOU LIFE!!!!!! WE ARE BIOLOGICAL, ORGANIC, LIVING CREATURES!!!!!!! WE ARE VAMPIRES!!!! WE NEED LIVING FOOD!!!!!
HHHYYYYYYAAAAAAAAEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!! (trying to sound like a vampire!!)
THERE ARE RECIPE BOOKS THAT CAN HELP YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Be well and happy....:)
Steve
Mr. Sirajul Islam
Yes, I've got some result after taking off some foodstuff from my diet. That is, taking off sugar, wheat and milk, and products made of those sources. Also I find taking liver curry is useful, and some yogurt and zinc. These are all challenging and tough to implement, but yielded result. Cod liver oil is not all that available here (in Bagladesh) but I take some olive oil, and vitamin E (wheat germ oil). Mixed tocopherols Vitamin E also not available. I think, fixing the gut is the answer. Thanks for the article, Dr. Wright.
Yana
Natural remedies are known to help for arthritis : Boswellia, Devil’s Claw, Ginger, Green-Lipped Mussel Omega 3 Oil,
Turmeric plant, Ashwagandha plant and Aloe Vera. Would you agree with at least some of them, Dr.Wright?
Fatma
i did the ALCAT test , and i am allergic to chicken, potato, lobester, lemon. but i did not find any changes . once i tried low carb diet i found a good result. much much less pain
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