kebaldwin
Mon, Aug-27-07, 12:32
Take a Load Off Your Joints
The New Straits Times
08-27-07
OUR joints are more than just meeting points for our bones. They are important mechanisms that carry us through the daily rigours of pounding, thrusting, twisting and turning.
They are also one of the most neglected parts of our body for the very reason that they are visible. The four main causes of joint pain are arthritis, sprains and strains, injury and inflammatory conditions such as tendonitis and bursitis.
As we age, joints undergo wear and tear. Years of repetitive use will take its toll. You may feel a sour pain in the joints every now and then, and hear funny "creaking" noises coming from them as you go about tasks.
If joint pains are frequent and affect your mobility, seek professional advice. Your physician will diagnose the problem, before prescribing treatments in the usual order - from lifestyle changes to medications to surgery.
Remember, it takes two to tango. On your part, start making those changes to ease the pain. Here are some suggestions, lumped together with natural herbal remedies you can easily apply in the home.
* Take a warm bath. Luxuriate in your little steaming pool of calm and let the water soothe your tired joints.
* Shed those kilos. Excess weight is a definite no-no for they increase the pressure on your joints.
* Capsicums help. These bellshaped peppers have been studied for their favourable effect on sprains. In the form of ointment or plasters, capsicums are applied externally to relieve joint pains and have anti-inflammatory effects.
* Oil rubdown. To ease the pain, mix Oil rubdown. To ease the pain, mix camphor, methyl salicylate, eucalyptus oil and menthol as a rubbing mixture and massage the affected areas. You can also try making a camphor rub (1 tsp camphor oil and 1 tsp sunflower oil). Another cheap and effective oil rub is warm olive oil. Gently massage the oil in for effective relief.
Oil of eucalyptus is traditionally known to be a natural relaxant and analgesic. In a Brazilian study, the essential oils exhibited anti-inflammatory effects and helped reduce joint swelling. In another study conducted in Germany, a blend of eucalyptus and mint oil produced muscle relaxing and analgesic effects.
* Swim away the pain. Don't try to be a hero and do 10 laps of butterfly kicks though. The buoyancy of water prevents jerky movements as well as supports the weight of your body. By taking the stress off stiff, painful joints, you can exercise freely without worrying about putting pressure on them.
* Low-impact exercise. Again, start simple. Biking, walking and other low-impact exercises don't pound on your joints too much, and are recommended for those with mild arthritic pains. Don't let pain stop you from working out as lack of physical activity can cause the joints and muscles to weaken. It's a vicious cycle that will only end in more joint deterioration.
* See a physical therapist who will can advise what exercises best suits you, and how frequently you should do them. A physical therapist will recommend specific joint exercises that involve strength, endurance and motion exercises to help relieve the pain.
* Increase your intake of cod liver oil. Scientists have confirmed what generations have believed about cod liver oil for alleviating joint and arthritic pains. According to one clinical study, by exposing human osteoarthritic cartilage to cod liver oil for only 24 hours, the action of the degradative enzymes and swelling affecting the joint tissue would be reversed.
Cod liver oil also contains vitamin D which aids bone resorption and formation, helps prevent rickets (aches, pains and bones enlargements at joints) as well as prevent osteomalacia (widespread joint pains and muscle weakness).
The potent combination of vitamin A, D, E and omega-3 fatty acids, makes cod liver oil a truly unique 4-in-1 supplementation to keep your joints healthy naturally and effectively.
It has been consumed for generations to alleviate joint stiffness and pain even before scientific discoveries were made. If you want healthy, limber joints, it certainly wouldn't hurt to give the time- tested oil a try. - Advertorial courtesy of MERCK
http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=5773&Section=DISEASE
The New Straits Times
08-27-07
OUR joints are more than just meeting points for our bones. They are important mechanisms that carry us through the daily rigours of pounding, thrusting, twisting and turning.
They are also one of the most neglected parts of our body for the very reason that they are visible. The four main causes of joint pain are arthritis, sprains and strains, injury and inflammatory conditions such as tendonitis and bursitis.
As we age, joints undergo wear and tear. Years of repetitive use will take its toll. You may feel a sour pain in the joints every now and then, and hear funny "creaking" noises coming from them as you go about tasks.
If joint pains are frequent and affect your mobility, seek professional advice. Your physician will diagnose the problem, before prescribing treatments in the usual order - from lifestyle changes to medications to surgery.
Remember, it takes two to tango. On your part, start making those changes to ease the pain. Here are some suggestions, lumped together with natural herbal remedies you can easily apply in the home.
* Take a warm bath. Luxuriate in your little steaming pool of calm and let the water soothe your tired joints.
* Shed those kilos. Excess weight is a definite no-no for they increase the pressure on your joints.
* Capsicums help. These bellshaped peppers have been studied for their favourable effect on sprains. In the form of ointment or plasters, capsicums are applied externally to relieve joint pains and have anti-inflammatory effects.
* Oil rubdown. To ease the pain, mix Oil rubdown. To ease the pain, mix camphor, methyl salicylate, eucalyptus oil and menthol as a rubbing mixture and massage the affected areas. You can also try making a camphor rub (1 tsp camphor oil and 1 tsp sunflower oil). Another cheap and effective oil rub is warm olive oil. Gently massage the oil in for effective relief.
Oil of eucalyptus is traditionally known to be a natural relaxant and analgesic. In a Brazilian study, the essential oils exhibited anti-inflammatory effects and helped reduce joint swelling. In another study conducted in Germany, a blend of eucalyptus and mint oil produced muscle relaxing and analgesic effects.
* Swim away the pain. Don't try to be a hero and do 10 laps of butterfly kicks though. The buoyancy of water prevents jerky movements as well as supports the weight of your body. By taking the stress off stiff, painful joints, you can exercise freely without worrying about putting pressure on them.
* Low-impact exercise. Again, start simple. Biking, walking and other low-impact exercises don't pound on your joints too much, and are recommended for those with mild arthritic pains. Don't let pain stop you from working out as lack of physical activity can cause the joints and muscles to weaken. It's a vicious cycle that will only end in more joint deterioration.
* See a physical therapist who will can advise what exercises best suits you, and how frequently you should do them. A physical therapist will recommend specific joint exercises that involve strength, endurance and motion exercises to help relieve the pain.
* Increase your intake of cod liver oil. Scientists have confirmed what generations have believed about cod liver oil for alleviating joint and arthritic pains. According to one clinical study, by exposing human osteoarthritic cartilage to cod liver oil for only 24 hours, the action of the degradative enzymes and swelling affecting the joint tissue would be reversed.
Cod liver oil also contains vitamin D which aids bone resorption and formation, helps prevent rickets (aches, pains and bones enlargements at joints) as well as prevent osteomalacia (widespread joint pains and muscle weakness).
The potent combination of vitamin A, D, E and omega-3 fatty acids, makes cod liver oil a truly unique 4-in-1 supplementation to keep your joints healthy naturally and effectively.
It has been consumed for generations to alleviate joint stiffness and pain even before scientific discoveries were made. If you want healthy, limber joints, it certainly wouldn't hurt to give the time- tested oil a try. - Advertorial courtesy of MERCK
http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=5773&Section=DISEASE