Your health: How to alleviate arthritis naturally

Pain relief such as Ibuprofen has shown scientifically to damage the digestive system if used to excess. Photo / iStock

Hi Sandra, I have recently been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and am investigating all health options that may help relieve my aching joints. What do you recommend?

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory type of arthritis. It belongs to the class of autoimmune disease where the immune cells attack the body's own healthy tissues. The lining of the joint (synovium) is primarily affected, but organs body-wide can be involved as well. It is likely that a combination of factors come together to cause the disease. Risk factors include genetic predisposition, past viral or bacterial infections that have deregulated the immune system, gut issues, ongoing excessive stress, smoking and environmental toxicity.

Acute flare-ups usually call for pharmaceutical intervention to protect joints and organs. However, anti-inflammatory plants that relieve pain and ease swelling can reduce the need for pharmaceutical emergency pain relief such as Ibuprofen that has shown scientifically to damage the digestive system if used to excess.

Medicinal plants used traditionally to ease arthritic discomfort include willow bark, birch leaves, dandelion, nettle and meadowsweet. The well-known analgesic and anti-inflammatory chemicals salicin present in several of these plants convert to natural, side-effect free salicylic acid upon digestion and act to reduce pain, swelling and inflammation in affected tissues, whilst also gently supporting diuresis to help clear excess uric acid and inflammatory by-products that can further load the immune system. The stinging hair of fresh nettle contains formic acid and histamine that have been used for their anti-rheumatic effect, shown in clinical trials to help relieve the pain and disability of arthritis. Willow bark too, has been subject to modern scientific study and was shown to be superior to placebo for the treatment of rheumatic conditions.

A professionally compounded oral liquid of the above plants taken three times daily may contribute to the safe management of the condition. A higher dose should be taken in acute flare-ups, with a lower dose as ongoing maintenance. You may also benefit from regular topical application of these plants to the affected joints. Comfrey and Arnica, clinically proven to reduce pain and promote connective tissue regeneration, would be a useful addition. Apply three to four times daily or more frequently to support joint mobility and soothe discomfort.

Whilst the above plants may help to manage the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis, ultimately the autoimmune aspect of the disease needs to be addressed as well.

Natural treatment of autoimmune conditions involves a thorough analysis of diet, lifestyle, stress management and investigations into digestive, liver and immune system function. Should you decide to seriously pursue complementary treatment a registered medical herbalist with experience in autoimmune conditions will be able to guide you further.

Hi Sandra, I have terrible PMS, fluid retention, mood swings and cramps each and every month. How can I deal with this?

Symptoms of fluid retention, irritability, hormonal headaches, sugar cravings, digestive upsets and painful periods should not be part of a normal menstrual cycle. Photo / iStock

For a woman to become PMS free would be a good goal for the New Year. A healthy monthly cycle is a reflection of overall female health, and like a barometer is linked to overall robustness and vitality.

But for many women today the menstrual cycle has become more of a burden than it should be. A combination of factors, including environmental exposure to xenoestrogens and other toxins, slow liver clearance of hormones and metabolic wastes, poor diet choices and a stressful lifestyle has resulted in many women experiencing pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) as a matter of course.

It's important to understand that the common PMS symptoms of fluid retention, irritability, hormonal headaches, sugar cravings, digestive upsets and painful periods are messages from the body, usually indicating a hormonal imbalance. Clinically speaking, they're not part of a normal healthy menstrual cycle. Sadly, most young girls and women are not aware of this information, so many years of painful debilitating periods can occur when there are actions that can be taken to improve these distressing symptoms.

In traditional European plant medicine, a medical tradition that spans back over 2,500 years, lady's mantle, chaste tree berries, calendula, yarrow, lemon balm and cinnamon are used for easing pre-menstrual tension, fluid retention and irritability. Historically, these plants were seen to have special affinity with the female reproductive system and taken as a medicinal tea. They are suitable for women of all ages including teenagers and peri-menopausal women.

The plants have shown empirically to help regulate menstrual flow, enhance progesterone production, promote liver function to support hormone clearance and reduce pain and spasm with their anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic actions. Some of them, such as chaste tree, are now also confirmed with modern scientific methodology. They are best used in combination.

For severe PMS, I would recommend taking certified organic preparations of these plants as a medicinal tea at a dose of three cups daily for a minimum of 12 weeks. This is usually the time it takes for the cycle to normalize. It is important that you take these herbs regularly every day so that they can have the desired therapeutic impact. Once your symptoms have disappeared, you can use between one to three cups daily in the second half of the cycle to maintain a healthy period. Should your symptoms not improve then I recommend that you get a gynecological checkup and work with a registered medical herbalist to help you to gain a healthy cycle.

Whilst medicinal herbs assist the body to regain its balance, it is equally important to improve your diet and modify your lifestyle if necessary. Some women find their PMS improves with reduced caffeine consumption, so experiment by removing coffee, black tea and chocolate for at least two menstrual cycles to see if this makes a difference. Reducing processed foods that are high in refined sugar, salt and trans fats in favour of fresh whole foods free of additives and preservatives can also go a long way to reducing inflammation and supporting hormonal balance. I further recommend that you refrain from storing and heating food in plastic containers that contain the hormone disruptive substance BPA.