ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM
A Holistic Therapy
By Walter Last
Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints,
while the term 'rheumatism' includes a variety of symptoms, such as
inflammation, pain, tenderness and stiffness of muscles and joints. These
conditions are extremely widespread and most people develop some form of
arthritis or rheumatism during their lifetime.
The most common forms of joint diseases are
usually classified as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and gout. Apart from
joint and muscle pain, rheumatism may also involve the tendons, bones and
nerves and may manifest as rheumatic fever, sciatica, lumbago, spondylitis, low back pain, bursitis, neuritis and myositis.
Rheumatoid arthritis affects mainly younger individuals
and is three times more common in females than in males. It can persist into
old age, progressively becoming more disabling. Early symptoms include redness,
swelling and soreness of joints. Often joints are affected symmetrically, that
is both wrists or knees are involved. Pain and stiffness may also travel to
other joints and affect the whole body. In later life lumps and nodules may
appear at the joints and lead to deformities.
Osteoarthritis starts usually after the age of 40. It is also
called degenerative joint disease. It develops more slowly than rheumatoid
arthritis and does not spread to different parts of the body. Due to chronic
inflammation around a joint, the protective cartilage wears away, causing bone
ends to rub together, erode and sometimes fuse together (ankylosis).
Gout is characterized by painful joint
inflammations, chiefly those in the hands and feet, usually the big toe is
prominently involved. There is a high level of uric acid in the blood and
tissues. Uric acid and other toxins and metabolic residues accumulating in
muscles and around nerves, often in combination with food allergies, cause the
inflammations and pain in muscles (myositis) and
nerves (neuritis).
The common medical treatment for these
conditions consists mainly of anti-inflammatory drugs, pain relief measures and
physiotherapy to maintain a degree of mobility in affected joints, but it
cannot slow or reverse the progressive deterioration of the disease. As a last
resort affected joints may be surgically replaced.
WRONG FOOD
Arthritis is sometimes called the 'cooked food
disease'. A high intake of cooked, sweet and fatty food is usually
characteristic in the development of the disease. Alternatively, there is an
inability to handle sweet and fatty food. Other main factors are a high
incidence of food allergies, nutritional deficiencies as well as an unhealthy
intestinal flora.
Rheumatoid arthritis in particular is closely
linked to food allergy. Most sufferers greatly improve when they are on a fast
or restricted diet, which eliminates the foods to which they are allergic.
Cows' milk products and wheat products are the most common offenders, but there
is usually a whole range of foods to which individuals react with a worsening
of symptoms.
When aspirin and other commonly used pain
relieving drugs are taken, the intestinal wall becomes less effective in
blocking harmful partly digested nutrients and frequently a worsening of
symptoms occurs in the longer term. The same happens if fruit acids are ingested
or sweet food is eaten. The inefficient metabolism of these individuals
converts sweet food only partly into energy; the rest forms lactic acid. Acids
liberate histamine, which in turn causes swellings and strong inflammatory
reactions. Therefore, inflammatory conditions deteriorate if fruit acids or
acid-forming foods are ingested, while alkaline-forming foods, generally
vegetables and those rich in minerals are beneficial.
Another group of foods to increase allergic
inflammations and pain sensitivity are the polyunsaturated oils. These are
converted to arachidonic acid (also present in meat)
and further into a group of tissue hormones, called prostaglandins, which are
pro-inflammatory. Also inorganic iron in supplements and water (brown residues)
can trigger inflammations.
The opposite effect, reducing pain sensitivity
and inflammation, has another group of oils containing so-called Omega-3 fatty
acids. These are mainly present in linseed and fish oils and form
prostaglandins, which are anti-inflammatory.
While food incompatibility is a frequent
trigger of rheumatoid arthritis, there may also be allergies to inhaled
substances, such as gas from a gas stove or heater, car exhaust fumes,
cigarette smoke, solvent fumes, perfumes, moth balls or any strongly or
persistently smelling substance at home or work. Even toothpaste, make-up,
detergents in dishwater, synthetic clothing, especially nylon or any
environmental, agricultural or food chemicals may contribute to this condition.
All of the factors causing or influencing
rheumatoid arthritis can also contribute to the development of osteoarthritis.
As the onset later in life shows, there must be another negative factor, which
develops over time. As we will see, it is not age itself, which is the real
problem, but the declining health of most people with advancing age and that is
an important difference.
Joints need to be well nourished to maintain a
healthy structure. Vitamins, minerals and other nutrients are required in
sufficiently high concentrations to maintain and regenerate the cartilage
linings of the joints and the synovial membranes and fluids surrounding them.
Most individuals living on a 'normal' mixed diet are more or less deficient in
one or more of these essential nutrients and this will lead over time to a
gradual deterioration of joints, especially those which are heavily used but do
not receive an adequate supply of nutrients. Commonly affected are the
weight-bearing joints in overweight individuals and also joints with old
injuries.
Medical Evidence
There are various experimental studies, which
show the extent of the allergy problems, especially in the causation of
rheumatoid arthritis. In one report all 45 patients significantly improved in
all seven objective and subjective disease parameters while on a 7-day water
fast; a similar result was reported by another author in a study with 25
patients. Subsequent challenges with implicated foods provoked intense
reactions with severe deterioration.
Reactions occur mainly against foods, which are
overused in a society. While in Australia these are mainly wheat, cows' milk
products and meat, in the United States there is also a high incidence of
allergy to corn and soy products. However, the deciding factor is the
individual food preference of the affected person. Foods to which we are
addicted and like to eat every day are usually the worst offenders.
Another report concerns 6 patients with
rheumatoid arthritis who all had remissions of joint symptoms when they went on
a low-calorie fat-free diet. When, after 7 weeks, either animal fat or
vegetable oil was reintroduced they all experienced return of their symptoms
within 72 hours. Chicken, cheese, safflower oil, beef or coconut oil all caused
inflammatory deteriorations in their joints.
Foods of the nightshade family frequently have
a negative effect on arthritis. These include potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant and
capsicum. In a study with 5000 arthritics who avoided nightshades over 70%
reported a gradual improvement over the 7 years of the experiment.
Nightshade foods contain the alkaloid solanine, which is highest in greened potatoes but also to some degree in green tomatoes and green capsicum. It may be assumed that it is mainly the occasional ingestion of green parts of nightshades, which cause the arthritic problems. This may include green capsicum and the green inner parts of some commercial tomatoes. Also damaged potatoes are higher in solanine.
Arthritics frequently do not have sufficient
gastric acid for the proper digestion of proteins. This causes deficiencies in
proteins, minerals and vitamin B12 as well as over-sensitivity to bacteria in
food and water. Of a group of 35 arthritics 28.6% did not have any gastric acid
(achlorhydria) while another 17% had only very low
gastric acid levels (hypochlorhydria).
Supplementing meals with hydrochloric acid to
assist in the digestion does not adversely affect joint inflammations. Such
inflammations are aggravated by insufficiently metabolized fruit acids, such as
citric acid, but also vinegar. However, with advancing age inflammatory
processes decrease to be replaced by increasing calcifications and stiffness.
In this situation it is actually beneficial to supply plenty of fruit acids and
cider vinegar.
This difference in the reaction to fruit acids
results from age-related changes in the metabolism. Initially the ingestion of
sweet foods causes overacidity in the tissues through
accumulation of lactic acid and metabolic fruit acids from the citric acid
cycle. This causes joint erosion by leaching calcium from the bones. With
advancing age, on the other hand, the metabolism slows down. Sugars may then
cause diabetes or be converted to fat and cause overweight. Now a deficiency of
metabolic acids develops. The tissues and fluids around the joints become too
alkaline, inflammations fade out, instead calcium starts to deposit around the
joints, forming spurs and causing joints to grow together (ankylosis).
The generally low gastric acid levels in
combination with an unhealthy intestinal flora may be the major causes for the
high incidence of malnutrition in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis. In one
study it was reported that nearly 75% of patients in
Sludged Blood
A major contributing factor, especially with
rheumatoid arthritis, is an overgrowth of the intestines with undesirable
bacteria and fungi. The main cause for this is usually antibiotic treatment,
sometimes also the meat from animals reared with routine antibiotic feeding as
well as other drugs. The problem is aggravated by low gastric acidity as well
as a diet high in sweet foods.
Frequently the intestinal walls are damaged by
a high gluten intake as well as by allergenic inflammations and this allows
bacterial decomposition products to enter the bloodstream and weaken the immune
system as well as aggravate the joint inflammations. Another contributing
factor in this process is the use of aspirin and other analgesics that make the
intestinal walls more porous.
This invasion of bacterial allergens combined
with food allergens not only produces joint inflammations, but also a
phenomenon called 'sludged blood': the red blood
cells begin to aggregate and clump together.
In this condition they cannot be sufficiently
charged with oxygen and in addition they clog the blood capillaries in the
muscles, leading to oxygen starvation, lack of nutrients and accumulation of
metabolic waste products. This results in a generally sluggish blood
circulation, which is a major cause of the morning stiffness in arthritis.
The clumped blood cells and the resulting
sluggish circulation could be directly observed in the capillaries of the
conjunctiva of the eyes of arthritics. This same condition is responsible for a
raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate or E.S.R. in the blood with inflammatory
arthritis. A raised E.S.R. is usually indicative of a general infection or of
inflammatory and widespread immune reactions in the body.
In addition to infections, inflammations and
allergies, also a high fat intake induces temporary sludging
of the blood. This is probably the reason for the improvement experienced on a
low fat diet. Arthritics often have poor liver functions and a slow clearance
of fat particles (chylomicrons) from the bloodstream.
This makes blood cells stickier, causing them to clump together and the
resulting oxygen deficiency increases the pain in the affected area.
It has been shown that sludging
of the blood occurs temporarily in an area, which has been traumatized by a
sudden impact injury such as a fall or a strong blow. This localized sludging may be the cause of the frequently resulting
'traumatic arthritis'.
Meat and Sugar
Calcium leaching out of joints, bones and teeth
is a major cause of arthritis, osteoporosis and tooth decay. There are two
commonly used foods, which lead to elevated calcium blood levels and
subsequently increased loss in the urine. These are meat and sugar.
Meat stimulates the parathyroid glands to
become overactive, due mainly to high phosphorus content. Also many soft drinks
are very high in phosphorus. Increased parathyroid activity means raised
calcium blood levels and the sources of this additional calcium are the joints
and bones. Compared to vegetarians, meat-eaters lose on average two to four
times the amount of calcium in the urine; the higher the intake of meat and
other animal protein, the greater is the calcium loss.
It is similar with sugar. After ingesting
sugar, insulin blood levels are raised and these, in turn, raise the calcium
level. When individuals with a normal insulin response ingest 100 g of sugar,
the loss of calcium in the urine approximately doubles. However, many
individuals have a poor sugar metabolism with an exaggerated insulin response
as in hypoglycemia. In these individuals a test load of 100 g sugar increases
the calcium loss with the urine about four-fold. It is unconceivable that
joints could remain healthy with such huge and continuing loss of calcium.
Another important nutrient for joint health is
magnesium, which is also regulated by the parathyroid glands. If calcium is
raised in the blood, then magnesium is lowered and vice versa. This means, an
increased magnesium intake will lower the calcium blood level and therefore
less or no calcium needs to be leached from bones and joints. With sufficient
magnesium intake calcium may even be re-deposited into joints and bones.
However, experience shows that a high calcium intake in this situation leads
only to calcifications in the wrong places, such as spurs, kidney stones, ankylosis and arteriosclerosis.
With these insights we can also understand why
the common medical advice for the prevention of osteoporosis - to ingest more
milk products and use calcium supplements - is generally ineffective. Clinical
statistics show that calcium loss from the bones continues unabated. Instead,
the real solution is to minimize the intake of animal protein and sugar and
increase the intake of magnesium and boron. In addition, hormonal changes
(menopause) play a role as well as vitamin D deficiency which can be prevented
by moderate sunbathing.
A diet high in meat and other animal proteins
contributes also to the formation of high levels of uric acid. Purines are formed from the breakdown of nucleic acids,
which are part of the nuclei of cells. Uric acid is formed from the oxidation
of purines, but it can also be synthesized from
simple metabolic molecules. While it may not be advisable to eat large amounts
of cooked beans and peas due to their purine content,
sprouted legumes are still recommended even with gout.
Sugars, especially fructose and the fructose
part of household sugar, increase the production of uric acid and possibly the
breakdown of nucleic acids. However, an even stronger effect on uric acid
production has alcohol, especially in the form of beer. 95% of those affected
with gout are males and of these the most common feature is high beer consumption.
Caffeine from coffee and theophylline
from tea are methylated purines.
While they do not seem to have a direct effect on uric acid levels, they contribute
to the loss of calcium and magnesium from the body. 300 mg of caffeine, which
may be found in three cups of coffee, doubles urinary calcium loss in both men
and women.
SPECIFIC NUTRIENTS
Arthritics of all types generally show a wide
range of vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Often there are abnormalities in the
metabolism, which require much higher amounts than normal in order to be
effective.
Nicotinamide (also called niacinamide)
is most effective with osteoarthritis and especially with knee problems. In one
controlled study 663 patients on nicotinamide had a
much better range of joint movements than untreated controls. Decreased pain
and increased joint mobility are noted in 2 - 6 weeks. The dosage increased
gradually to 1 g three times daily and was tapered off once effective. In
addition a high dosage B complex was used.
Pantothenic acid, on the other hand, another
B-group vitamin, is more effective with rheumatoid arthritis. Acute deficiency
of pantothenic acid in the rat produced pathological
joint changes, which were like those in osteoarthritis. Supplementation of
patients produced a limited variable improvement, which ended when the
supplementation was stopped.
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis have
significantly lower pantothenic acid blood levels
than controls and the degree of the deficiency has been shown to correlate
directly with the severity of symptoms: the lower the levels of the vitamin,
the more severe were the symptoms. After 2 months on 4 times daily 500 mg of pantothenate a group of patients showed significant
improvement in morning stiffness, degree of pain and disability.
In another trial a group of patients received a
daily injection of 50 mg of pantothenate either alone
or with Royal Jelly. Symptoms had improved after 7 days but showed no further
improvement with continued injections. When the injections were stopped, blood
levels gradually fell to their original low levels with a return of the former
symptoms.
Vegetarians generally had higher pantothenate blood levels and responded better to pantothenate supplements. Interestingly, the degree of sludging of the blood and with this the E.S.R. improved
with pantothenate supplementation.
Vitamin B6 is mainly beneficial for problems
with the hands, fingers, wrists, arms and shoulders. Numbness, tingling, pain,
stiffness and weakness commonly improved in 8 - 12 weeks while on 100 - 150 mg
vitamin B6 daily. Sometimes doses of 500 mg or more are given daily together
with zinc supplements.
Vitamin E is an inhibitor of pro-inflammatory
prostaglandins. In this way it should be beneficial in all forms of arthritis.
During a 10 day trial with 900 I.U. of vitamin E daily 52% of patients reported
a good pain relieving effect.
Vitamin C supplementation has been shown to be
beneficial in all forms of arthritis. Guinea pigs with artificially induced
osteoarthritis developed severe symptoms on a low vitamin C intake but only
mild symptoms on a high intake. Blood and tissue levels of vitamin C are
especially low with rheumatoid arthritis. With gout 4 g of ascorbic acid daily
increased the urinary excretion of uric acid while a daily intake of 8 g in
addition strongly lowered the uric acid blood levels. High vitamin C blood
levels reduce histamine levels and with this inflammations. A high intake of
niacin or nicotinic acid, on the other hand, may decrease uric acid excretion
and provoke an attack of gout.
While folic acid levels are generally low with
rheumatoid arthritis, supplements seem to be most helpful with gout. High doses
of 10 - 75 mg daily have been used to block uric acid production and have been
reported to be more effective than drugs in reducing uric acid blood levels.
Additional vitamin B12 may be required with such high folic acid intakes.
Minerals
Copper has a reputation of being an effective
anti-inflammatory agent in arthritis. Medically it is mainly used in the form
of copper salicylate. It can increase joint mobility,
decrease swellings and pain and normalize the E.S.R. In one study 65% of
620 patients became symptom free, also other inflammatory joint diseases
improved for an average of 3 years. Commonly 60 mg of copper salicylate are used twice daily for 10 days, if not
available experiment with chelates or gluconate of copper. Copper deficiency causes uric acid
levels to rise in gout. Copper blood levels in rheumatoid arthritis are
elevated as liver stores are mobilized in response to the inflammatory
processes, causing tissue deficiency.
However, arthritis sufferers have found that it
is often quite effective just to wear a copper bracelet around the affected
limb. This practice has been validated by medical research. When after one
month the copper bracelet in a large group of patients was replaced by a
placebo (an imitation bracelet) those who had previously improved deteriorated
again. The average loss of copper from the bracelets for one month was 13 mg,
presumably dissolved by the sweat and absorbed into the skin.
Zinc levels in the blood and cells of patients
with rheumatoid arthritis are markedly reduced as compared to controls,
however, more zinc than normal is lost with the urine. High-level zinc
supplements led to significant improvements in most patients in regard to all
disease parameters. However, if very high intakes (e.g. 3 X 50 mg of zinc) are
maintained for long periods, say for more than 6 months, copper deficiency may
develop with deterioration in symptoms. In addition, high doses of zinc sulfate
may irritate the digestive system.
Iron is a problem mineral. Like zinc, it is
elevated in the synovial fluid around the joints but too low in the serum. Iron
deposits can often be seen in the membranes of affected joints. There are
reports of female rheumatoid arthritis patients deteriorating with ferrous
sulfate supplements. On the other hand, there is often anemia in female
patients which calls for more iron. The suggested solution is to supplement
meals with ascorbic acid, which greatly increases iron absorption in an organic
form, which is less likely to cause problems.
Selenium levels are depressed with rheumatoid
arthritis. The longer the duration of the disease and the more severe the
symptoms, the lower are usually the blood selenium levels; conversely,
increased selenium levels are also related to improved hemoglobin levels in the
blood.
There is a history of taking sulfur baths for
arthritis. The beneficial effect of this has been confirmed in medical studies.
Blood sulfur levels rise following sulfur baths. Alternatively, patients may
take powdered sulfur. This resulted in an improvement in many cases with the
generally reduced cystine content of fingernails
returning to normal values. Cystine is a
sulfur-containing amino acid, which is high in egg yolk. Molybdenum is required
to incorporate sulfur into cartilage.
Boron has been reported to be of help to many
arthritics. This may be because boron lowers the urinary excretion of calcium
and magnesium and raises the blood level of sex hormones, especially in
post-menopausal women. Boron occurs naturally in fresh fruit and vegetables or
may be supplied as borax or boric acid.
Other Anti-Rheumatic Agents
While polyunsaturated oils from oil seeds tend
to produce inflammatory tissue hormones or prostaglandins, fish oils, the linolenic acid in linseed and a rare kind of oil in evening
primrose oil (gamma linolenic acid) help to produce
anti-inflammatory prostaglandins. Commonly linseed oil, cod liver oil or
capsules of fish oil concentrates are used. With evening primrose oil (e.g. 4
times daily) it may take 4 - 12 weeks for benefits to be felt. Some patients
who show the best long-term benefits may feel worse during the first 2 weeks.
Also other anti-inflammatory remedies are helpful, such as fresh ginger,
turmeric, feverfew, golden seal and propolis.
Flavonoids are mainly yellow, orange, pink or
purple plant pigments as in various fruits and flower petals. Some of the more
potent ones are called bioflavonoids; these include rutin and hesperidin. Flavonoids strengthen the blood capillaries, improve the
absorption and action of vitamin C, they are strong antioxidants and have
anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory properties. In this way, they are
especially beneficial with inflammatory forms of arthritis. In particular, some
flavonoids inhibit the autoimmune reactions around
the joints. A good diet contains 1g or more of flavonoids.
They are also available as supplements.
The amino acid D,L-phenylalanine can be
effective as a pain reliever. It may take up to 3 weeks to get results.
Commonly 750 mg 3 times daily has been used; if not effective double the dose
for another 3 weeks. Inflammation and swellings may be reduced. A similar
beneficial effect has been found with the amino acid tryptophan. Patients who
had been treated with tryptophan for depression also had relief from arthritis.
Also the amino acid L-histidine may be beneficial.
Mucopolysaccharides, also called proteoglycans,
form long chains which are the basis of the cartilage and connective tissue.
Normally proteoglycans make up about 80% of
cartilage. In arthritic cartilage this may be reduced to 40% or less. Ingesting
proteoglycans as food or supplements has been shown
to be very beneficial.
These can be supplied from green-lipped mussel
(Perna canaliculus).
Several experimental studies have shown significant improvement in most
patients with long-term supplementation. In addition, calf cartilage has been
used with good results, especially injections of pre-digested cartilage. Now
also liquid oral bovine cartilage is available, otherwise you may use shark
cartilage, but it is more difficult to digest and absorb. Other foods rich in proteoglycans are Aloe vera,
oats, okra, sweet potato leaves, shark fin soup, Irish moss and especially
broth of fish heads.
The amino sugar glucosamine is a main raw
product for the synthesis of proteoglycans. Supplying
sufficient glucosamine, about 1.5 g per day, helps to restore normal cartilage
composition and is very beneficial for affected joints, N-acetyl glucosamine is
the preferred variety. Also other types of glucosamine may be used, add MSM as
well. Another basic building block of
cartilage is chondroitin sulfate.
Yucca is one of the few herbs’ that have been
scientifically assessed in the treatment of diseases. Of 149 arthritics 61% had
less swellings, pain and stiffness. Some required several months of treatment
before improving. Encouraging reports are also available for the bitter root of
devil's claw.
Protein-digesting or proteolytic
enzymes are well known for their anti-inflammatory properties. Bromelain, an enzyme from pineapple, was found to improve
most inflammatory arthritic conditions.
WASTES, TOXINS AND MICROBES
Tense muscles surrounding a joint have a
further strong influence on joint deterioration. Such muscle tensions may
originate from overwork of this particular muscle group or the cause may be
unreleased emotional tensions. If we feel an emotion but do not properly act to
release it, then this energy is stored in a corresponding muscle in the form of
a permanent contraction of some muscle fibers.
This is called muscle armoring. Unreleased
anger may, for instance, affect the shoulder muscles and unreleased
sexual tension may amour pelvis and hip muscles. An armored muscle has a
permanently contracted core with greatly reduced blood and lymph circulation.
This in turn encourages the accumulation of toxins and metabolic wastes in this
area. Such armored muscle groups around a joint will also prevent an adequate
supply of nutrients from reaching the joint.
Furthermore, armored muscles, because of their
lack of nutrients, tend to produce large amounts of lactic acid. This in turn
liberates histamine and leads to inflammations. At the same time, these
over-acid conditions contribute to the erosion of bones and joints (e.g.
osteoporosis). On the other hand, when conditions are too alkaline (e.g. when
the metabolism slows down with advancing age) then calcifications will occur as
with joint deformities.
While armored muscles will in this way lead to
malnourishment of joints and to arthritis, also the reverse is true: an
inflamed joint will lead to muscle tension and armoring around it and this in
turn will further contribute to the long-term joint deterioration.
Dental Hazards
In addition to an unhealthy intestinal flora,
another main source of endogenous toxins, those produced within the body, are
dead teeth. Dead teeth are even more dangerous than mercury amalgam fillings
and having two different kinds of metal in the mouth. Teeth with a root canal
filling, a post-crown and sometimes also teeth with large fillings or pins are
dead.
Dead teeth slowly disintegrate and cause a
chronic osteitis with softening and inflammation of
the surrounding jawbone. Toxins are continuously released into the surrounding
tissue and blood stream. This process may continue even after removal of a dead
tooth if the diseased bone is not curetted or scraped out back to the healthy
jawbone, or if any fragments of root or metal remain embedded.
In addition, in the acupuncture system each
tooth is related to a specific energy meridian, organ and also joint.
Therefore, an interference field in a specific tooth can trigger or intensify
arthritis in a related joint. To give some examples, number 3 teeth in all
locations are associated with the hips, the lower 6 to 8 and the upper 4, 5 and
8 are related to the shoulders and elbows, also to the hands, feet and toes in
various locations, numbers 1 to 3 in all locations connect to the feet, back of
knees and sacrococcyx and lower 4 and 5 and upper 6
and 7 to the front of knees and the jaws.
To avoid problems, all dead teeth should be
removed and any areas of osteitis curetted. If in
doubt about the condition of the jawbone with missing teeth consult a therapist
who does electro-acupuncture testing as with Vega equipment. As there are no
nerves, there may be no pain to indicate osteitis.
Many testimonials of former sufferers attest to the benefits of having hidden
dental hazards removed. For further details see the article on Dental Problems.
The P.C. Microbe
As a result of the accumulation of waste
products and the chronic release of endogenous toxins in combination with food
allergies there is a serious decline in our immune functions, which then allows
the proliferation of harmful internally generated microbes.
Virginia Livingston-Wheeler has named this
endogenous microbe Progenitor Cryptocides or short
P.C. It normally lives in a virus-like form in a beneficial symbiosis within
our body cells, but when our immune system becomes too weak, P.C. can leave the
cells and start an uncontrolled growth with changes in size and shape to
bacterial and fungus-like forms.
In its virulent condition P.C. has been shown
by various researchers to be a major factor in the development of the group of
collagen and connective tissue diseases. These include rheumatoid arthritis and
even cancer. P.C. attacks mainly the areas with the lowest vitality by
releasing enzymes, which lead to a localized disintegration of the collagen
structure.
This allows any cancer cells, which may be
present to become embedded and start growth as a tumor. If this process of
connective tissue disintegration starts in the joints the immune system
initially contains the damage by infiltrating the attacked area with a large
number of white blood cells. These release enzymes, which dissolve the
fragments of denatured cartilage resulting from the activity of P.C. and most
likely also try to kill P.C. This process looks superficially as if the immune
system destroys its own tissue and is therefore called an autoimmune disease.
In animal experiments it has been shown that
the injection of large doses of virulent P.C. culture leads to tumor
development while lower doses lead to various forms of degenerative connective
tissue diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis. Finally, the immune system
becomes too weak and the body limits the damage by calcifying the joint.
The most effective treatment for most cases of
arthritis, but especially for rheumatoid arthritis are Intestinal Sanitation
and Antimicrobial Therapy as explained in The
Ultimate Cleanse.
Poor Elimination
Generally, in arthritis the organs of
elimination are weak, leading to mucus congestion of the lymphatic system and
to fatty degeneration of organs and muscles.
Uric acid is an especially unpleasant metabolic
residue because of its low solubility, which leads to deposits of needle-like
crystals. These crystals irritate muscles and joints and greatly add to the
pain caused by tight muscles with tension and inflammation. This results in
gout and various forms of rheumatism.
High levels of uric acid are formed by a diet
high in meat, sugar, coffee and tea. Because uric acid is only slightly
soluble, it needs plenty of water and well functioning kidneys to flush it out
of muscles and joints and remove it from the body.
Other organs that are usually weak in arthritis
are the stomach, the liver, gall bladder and generally the whole of the
digestive system. The prominent involvement of the big toes with gout is
especially significant as these are the starting points of the acupuncture
meridians of the liver. While the sugar metabolism is especially weak with other
forms of arthritis, with gout it is mainly the protein and fat metabolism.
Besides the kidneys, other organs of
elimination are the bowels, the liver, the skin and the lungs; all of these
need to be greatly stimulated to remove toxic and obstructive waste residues
from arthritic joints and rheumatic muscles.
DIET
The basic arthritis diet consists of plenty of
raw food such as sprouted seeds, fresh vegetable juices with plenty of wheat or
barley grass and beetroot, also vegetable salads in increasing amounts
according to the strength of the digestion. You may cook lentils and brown
rice, usually eaten together at the same meal, and also steamed vegetables,
especially onions, green beans, okras, sweet potato leaves and beetroot.
Generally, sweet vegetables, such as carrots, pumpkin turnips and sweet
potatoes are best eaten raw and finely grated as part of a salad. Frequently
have raw food days.
Instead of using commercial yeast-baked bread,
experiment with sourdough baking. Use free-range raw egg yolk (e.g. as part of
a salad dressing), otherwise soft-boiled egg. Fish and seafood are good and
especially the broth of simmered fish heads and bones. Liver may be used occasionally
except with gout. Other helpful foods are avocado, almonds, pecans, celery,
coleslaw, peanuts, peanut oil and extra-virgin olive oil.
The more sensitive the skin is against cold,
insect bites and irritants, the less fruit should be used or, alternatively,
any fruit acids may be neutralized with sodium bicarbonate. With insensitive
skin use a fair amount of fruit, including bananas, before or instead of meals.
Mix 1 tbsp. of ground linseed (grind in blender or coffee grinder and
refrigerate) and 1 tsp. of lecithin with most meals.
Some arthritis sufferers improve when avoiding
foods of the nightshade family: tomatoes, potatoes, capsicum and peppers,
eggplant or aubergine. These may contain the toxic
alkaloid solanine, especially high in green parts of
potatoes and tomatoes.
Best avoid these until sufficient improvement,
then introduce gradually with careful self-observation. Use only red capsicum,
not green ones. However, raw potato juice and broth of potato peels are helpful
to some sufferers and you may experiment with these.
Avoid cows' milk products, wheat products
(except wheat grass juice), and other gluten foods such as rye, barley and
oats; sweeteners and sweetened food, salt, red meat, yeast fat, fried products,
commercial polyunsaturated oils, margarine or other highly processed food or
food containing preservative, coloring or other unbiological
chemicals. If sensitive avoid also unneutralized food
acids, such as lemon juice and vinegar, fruit juice or dried fruit. Avoid
alcohol and smoking; be careful with coffee and tea. Try to avoid chlorinated
and fluoridated water for cooking and drinking. Minimize cooked legumes with
gout.
Because of the usually weak digestive powers,
it is important to have only small meals, chew very well. Have breakfast as the
main meal or possibly lunch, but only a light, early evening meal. Ingest any
water in which vegetables or brown rice has been cooked. If meat, fish or nuts
are used, eat these as the first part of any meal. If possible, lie down after
lunch.
While it is important to have plenty of
fluid-intake, this should not be taken with or after meals so that digestive
juices are not diluted. Drink about one liter of preferably warm water, weak
herb tea (peppermint is good) or, most recommended, fresh diluted vegetable
juice about 30 minutes before breakfast. Use mainly wheat grass, barley grass,
celery, parsley, edible weeds and other green leaves as well as beetroot for a
vegetable juice and only a smaller amount of flavoring sweet vegetables (e.g.
carrots, pumpkin) and apple. A further glass of water, herb tea or fresh juice
may be taken before other meals. Drink juices slowly and spaced out to minimize
any rise in the blood sugar level. For further information on allergy testing,
juices, food selection and preparation as well as metabolic types and blood
groups see Healing Foods.
Cleansing Periods
Fasting or cleansing periods are of greatest
importance, the more so, the more the disease has progressed. Frequency,
duration and food restrictions are to be selected according to the severity of
the disease and the sensitivity of the body.
On the average, fast about one week each month
until much improved, then gradually less. However, you may start with one-day
fasts and then three days before proceeding to a full week. Insensitive
individuals and those with gout may often fast on fresh fruits, especially
(unsprayed) apples. Sensitive individuals should use mainly fresh green
vegetable juices, sprouted seeds and vegetable salads, flavored only with herbs
and a small amount of olive or peanut oil.
On the first morning of each fasting period
take a tablespoon of Epsom salts in water to clean the bowels. If your
digestion is rather weak, use mainly freshly pressed raw vegetable juices;
wheat grass or barley grass juice is excellent. The first cleansing period may
have added cooked brown rice. After fasting reintroduce new foods gradually and
watch for signs of allergy or worsening of symptoms, exclude any reacting food.
Sanitize your intestinal flora by taking a
course of cultures of acidophilus and bifido
bacteria. Preferably eradicate most harmful bacteria and fungi by drinking one
liter of water with the addition of 1 tbsp. of Epsom salts or if this is not
tolerated with 1-heaped teaspoon of table salt and also one large crushed clove
of garlic.
Drink this first thing in the morning of each
fasting day. Then take a suitable acidophilus - bifido
culture as yoghurt or as high potency capsules or powders in a large glass of
diluted vegetable juice one hour after the last garlic drink. After starting
with the cultures use only small amounts of fresh raw garlic to flavor meals,
large intakes would kill the beneficial bacteria. For further information see The Basic Cleanse and also Intestinal
Sanitation or The Ultimate
Cleanse.
Supplements
As a basic supplement take a B-complex tablet
with each meal. Additions of specific vitamins may be of vitamin B6 used for
certain problems, such as 500 mg or more for hand, arm and shoulder problems,
up to several grams of pantothenic acid with
rheumatoid arthritis and up to 3 g of nicotinamide
with osteoarthritis, especially effective with knee problems, all to be taken
in divided doses during meals and snacks. Mix half a teaspoon of sodium with
each meal and a natural form of vitamin E, possibly as mixed tocopherols.
Minerals that have been found to help are 30 -
50 mg of zinc, 10 - 20 mg of manganese, 500 mg of magnesium, 100 - 200 mcg of
selenium and also chromium and molybdenum. The therapeutic dose of boron
commonly is 9 mg and the maintenance dose
Chelated or otherwise organically bound
copper has been used to reduce inflammations; mainly as copper salicylates (copper salicylates
do not appear to cause problems like other salicylates).
Often it helps instead to wear a copper bracelet around the affected limb.
Sulfur is an important ingredient of cartilage. If one or two egg yolks are not
used daily or plenty of onion, use 5 - 10 g of MSM, alternatively the amino
acids methionine and cysteine
or, if these are not available or affordable, even about 300 mg of powdered
sulfur may be helpful.
Kelp and dried thyroid (absorb in mouth)
increase energy. Preferably use plenty of magnesium chloride as recommended in
the article on Magnesium Chloride or alternatively use vinegar of
fruit acids neutralized with dolomite. Dolomite supplies calcium and magnesium
in the ratio of 2:1. For details see The Acid - Alkaline
Balance with inflammations also select foods high in calcium and low in
phosphorus.
Highly recommended is glucosamine, 500 mg
before or with each meal, if available also liquid bovine cartilage (1 tsp
daily) or possibly extract of green-lipped mussel, about 350 mg 3 times daily.
Also try chondroitin sulfate. Cod liver oil is very
helpful. You may shake a tablespoonful together with some lecithin and fresh
orange juice in a jar, some recommend taking this before going to bed. This
provides the essential omega-3 fatty acid DHA and the vitamins A and D. If you
suspect fat malabsorption you frequently need to rub
cod liver oil into the skin. You may rinse it off several hours later.
If insensitive, elderly or with signs of
mineral deficiency (soft fingernails), a hydrochloric acid supplement with
meals may be beneficial, especially with protein foods. For further information
see Hydrochloric Acid.
Also digestive enzymes from supplements or
pineapple, pawpaw or ripe Kiwifruit will be helpful in advanced conditions with
cooked food meals. The protein-digesting enzymes bromelain
and papain (pineapple and papaya) can also be taken
before meals to reduce pain and inflammation. If food or chemical sensitivities
remain a problem even after allergy testing and avoiding offenders, then
several grams of the amino acid glutamine can help to make the intestinal wall
less ‘leaky’.
D-or D,L-phenylalanine (but not
L-phenylalanine) reduces pain by blocking enzymes which destroy natural
pain-killing hormones in the brain. Start with 500 mg 3 times daily. It may
take up to 3 weeks until it becomes effective; possibly increase to 1500 mg per
dose, once effective decrease again to a minimum maintenance dose. White willow
bark may be used as herbal salicylate for pain relief
but is not recommended for long-term use as it may increase allergies, it is
much better to use copper salicylate.
With gout copper salicylate and 5 mg of folic acid
with meals are helpful.
Other beneficial supplements are Royal Jelly
(absorb under the tongue), evening primrose oil, octacosanol,
spirulina, bee pollen, ginseng and yucca; with
rheumatoid arthritis also immune stimulants such as propolis,
echinacea, and freeze-dried thymus (absorb under the
tongue). Good anti-inflammatory herbal remedies are golden seal, feverfew,
ginger, pau d’arco or taheebo and turmeric.
To improve liver functions use Kyolic aged garlic, milk thistle, and after meals half a
cup of a bitter liver herb such as centaury, devils claw or gentian. At other
times also diuretic herb teas are useful, such as meadowsweet and sarsaparilla
which both help to remove uric acid. For osteoarthritis the homeopathic
remedies Rhus.Tox and Bryonia
taken in alternation may be beneficial.
Increase and decrease high-dosage supplements
gradually, such as initially or before and after fasts and with improvement.
The more you use fresh green juice, raw food, cleansing and suitable additional
therapies, the less supplements will be needed
BLISTERING
Blistering, also called counter-irritation, is
a direct cleansing method for local conditions and has been used successfully
for centuries with arthritis and other rheumatic complaints. It often gives
results quicker and more reliably than other methods.
The usual technique to irritate the skin over a
painful or stiff joint is by applying a blistering agent. One may also
vigorously brush affected joints or even intentionally expose them to insect
bites or stings. A folk remedy for arthritis it to hold a stiff or sore joint
in an ants nest or let it be bitten by sand flies or mosquitoes, even bee
stings have been used. Another folk remedy is beating the affected area with a
bunch of stinging nettles.
The principle is to draw the toxins and
congesting energies from the inside to the surface. Liniments, compresses and
plasters may be used. Vegetable turpentine or kerosene are suitable as
blistering agents, but most commonly used are cayenne, mustard powder and
Cantharides.
If Cantharides plaster is available cut out and
apply a piece the size of one to several postage stamps. Leave for 12 - 24
hours, depending on the sensitivity of the skin. With rather insensitive skin,
the skin must first be pricked in many places or otherwise mechanically
irritated over the affected joint before applying the plaster. In long-standing
conditions blistering may have to be repeated several times in different places
around the joint or along the course of an infected nerve as with shingles.
Blistering can also be used with low back pain,
sciatica, myositis, bursitis, neuralgia and neuritis,
lumbago, spondylitis as well as with pain,
inflammation and infection of inner organs. While in many countries Cantharides
plaster is not for sale, in
I found kerosene very effective. Moisten a
cloth with kerosene and wrap it around the affected joint. Possibly cover the
cloth with plastic. After some time the skin may start burning but try to keep
the pack on as long as you can stand it. This may be less than half an hour
with sensitive skin or several hours if the skin is insensitive. After removing
the pack, the burning will stop very quickly, but do not wash with water. The
skin should be very red as after sunburn and it may start peeling after a few
days, just like sunburn.
FURTHER MEASURES
In addition to the direct elimination of
harmful residues through the skin it is of greatest importance to improve the
elimination through the bowels and kidneys. Much of the morning stiffness with
arthritis is due to water retention. This, can improve by avoiding salt and
taking herbal diuretics, such as juniper berries or tea of elder or peach
leaves, also meadowsweet, sarsaparilla or sassafras.
Bowel Cleansing
Fatty and fat-soluble toxins and wastes are
released through the liver and gall bladder into the bowels. Bitter herbal teas
as recommended to improve the digestion will also assist in this task. In
addition, the bowels must be kept active and open. The cleaner the bowels are
the easier and quicker it is to clean the rest of the body. Congested bowels
lead to congested lymph, blood and tissues.
Use sufficient laxative food, foremost ground
linseed and magnesium chloride, to have 2 - 3 bowel movements daily. In
addition, you may take 1 tsp. of Epsom salts with warm water first thing in the
morning or at bedtime. A good herbal cleanser is aloe, which may be combined
with senna for an occasional thorough cleanout,
especially before and during fasting. If available, have initially a series of
professional colonics (colonic irrigations). See also the page on Hydrotherapy.
Packs, Rubs, Baths, Colors
Packs, baths and rubs can be very helpful. As a
rub use warm peanut oil. Rub it into affected joints while at the same time and
for 5 - 15 minutes afterwards keeping the area warm with an infrared lamp or
heater. For more immediate pain relief, you may also add some oil of sassafras,
wintergreen or cloves to the peanut oil.
As a pack use Epsom salts. Soak a cloth in a
saturated solution of Epsom salts or alternatively in very warm water, wring
out lightly and cover with a heavy layer of Epsom salts. Apply this to a
painful or stiff area and keep warm for 1 - 2 hours with a hot water bottle. If
the problem is in the hands or feet, make a concentrated Epsom salts solution
and bathe the affected part in it while keeping the solution as hot as
possible. For the hips or if joints and spine hurt in many places, you may buy
a big fertilizer bag of Epsom salts and dissolve 1 - 5 kg in a hot bath, the
more concentrated the better. Repeat all of these once or twice a week. Often
induce sweating after a bath.
If you can obtain the necessary herbs, a very
warm hand or foot bath with the following may bring relief: one crushed head of
garlic, one handful each of greater celandine leaves, dandelion (whole plant),
buttercup (whole plant), meadowsweet flowers and two handfuls of nettle (whole
plant). Even if not all of these are available, you may try it with part of the
ingredients.
If you like to experiment with color therapy,
you may shine a strong blue light at close range onto a painful or inflamed
area, while for chronic weakness and stiffness use an orange light. You may use
a colored light bulb, or alternatively a color-filter or colored cellophane may
be used with a normal light bulb or the sun as a light source. Expose the
affected area for about 60 minutes at a time with a colored light bulb as close
as possible to the skin but far enough that excessive heat is not a problem.
Eliminate other light sources during this time, for instance by covering the
colored light source and the irradiated area with a blanket. It may be more
convenient just to wrap the affected joint or area with colored cellophane and
expose it to normal daylight or sunlight or electrical light.
Deep muscle massage can be extremely effective.
Unfortunately it is also rather painful, but if you have the opportunity and
courage, I strongly recommend it. If it cannot be done professionally you may
ask a friend or relative to press deeply into sore or tight muscles or you may
even do it yourself. Also press sore spots in the shoulders for arm problems
and in the buttocks for leg problems.
Vomiting Therapy
Another method that can bring surprisingly good
results in difficult cases is induced vomiting. This not only clears the
stomach of any accumulated waste but more importantly, it relaxes the digestive
organs and stimulates the solar plexus.
To induce vomiting, drink five or six cups of
lukewarm water within a few minutes and then touch or tickle the throat far
down. Repeat induced vomiting until the water comes back clear. If this is not
successful to induce vomiting, herbal emetic may be used, such as bayberry
bark, black root, boneset, horehound, lobelia, mustard, ragwort or vervain. Afterwards drink mint tea to settle the stomach.
Best consult an herbalist or herb book about the correct use of herbal emetics.
Exercise
The best exercises to energize and relax tight
muscles are tensing and shaking exercises. Sometimes you may shake the whole
body, at other times just the affected parts. You may do this standing, sitting
or even lying down. Shake the limbs or the whole body for one minute or longer
while at the same time breathing as rapidly and deeply as you can.
Tensing, too, may be practiced in any position.
You may either just tense the muscles around a painful, weak or stiff joint or
leg, or gradually tense all your muscles, starting with the feet and proceeding
towards the top. At the same time inhale deeply. Hold breath and maximum
tension for several seconds and then exhale while at the same time relaxing the
muscles from the head downward. Do this about ten times and repeat several
times during the day. Also isometric exercises may be done: press with the arms
or legs against a wall or other unmovable objects. Hold a deep breath while
pressing and pay attention to relaxing the muscles afterwards.
If you can walk without much pain, then go for
long walks and practice deep breathing in clean air at the same time. If you
have difficulty walking, try swimming. As a general health measure, get into
the habit of doing suitable yoga exercises, especially those, which strengthen
the spine or the back and the intestinal area.
Emotions and Imagination
Unreleased emotions contribute significantly to
muscle armoring and with this to the development of arthritis. The most
frequent problems are suppressed anger, suppressed sexuality and resentment.
If you have arthritis in the leg joints or hip,
violently kick a cushion or something similar for several minutes. If the
problem is in the arms or shoulders, hit a cushion or mattress with the fists.
If you remember having felt a grudge against a particular person, you may
imagine hitting or kicking him or her. Make angry sounds at the same time, you
may also cry or shout. You may have to repeat this on subsequent days. When you
feel that you have reacted out all the stored resentment, frustration and anger
and feel emotionally empty, begin creating an imaginary scene in your mind in
which you forgive that person and any others you do remember. Try to send out
some kind thoughts in the end.
Even if you do not remember a particular
incident or person that caused you to be frustrated and resentful, do the
exercise anyway. Some memories may come up while you are doing it. Finally,
forgive yourself formally for problems you may have caused to others or which
others may have caused you.
Another very helpful exercise is mental
imagery. Sit or lie in a comfortable position and do one of the many available
relaxation exercises. Then imagine that with each inhalation you draw in a cool
blue stream of healing energy, which you mentally direct to any painful area.
Imagine the pain as a red fire ball around the inflamed joint. See the blue
healing energy washing away at the fireball and with each exhalation a murky
mixture of red and blue energy leaving the body. Gradually the fireball becomes
smaller and smaller until after several minutes it has completely disappeared.
Feel the joint being immersed in the soothing blue healing energy. Repeat this
exercise as necessary to control any pain.
If a joint is weak or stiff, you may imagine
the healing energy to be orange or golden-yellow and see it washing away any
constricting grey or black waste matter or calcifications. Then see the joint
in a perfect shape and condition, have a look at an anatomical picture to know
what a healthy joint should look like. Finally, see yourself in a mental movie
exercising, working and using the diseased joint and also the whole body in a
normal way or as you would like to use your body.
Other Aspects
There are various other aspects, which may have
either a positive or negative influence on your condition. I want to mention
briefly just some of them. Keep warm during cold nights. It may be beneficial
to sleep in a natural fiber sleeping bag during cold periods. A featherbed, on
the other hand, may aggravate symptoms due to static electricity generated
between feathers. Have a pillow of some natural material and preferably the
same for the mattress. If you want to continue sleeping on a foam rubber
mattress, put several natural fiber blankets on top.
Do not sleep or work for long periods close to
operating high-powered electric appliances, avoid being exposed to fluorescent
lighting for long periods – see Electromagnetic
Pollution. Do not sleep with the head resting on an arm or sit with your
knees crossed. Do not wear synthetic clothing. Preferably have natural fiber
carpets and curtains and only a minimum of large synthetic or plastic items in
living and work areas.
Minimize wearing glasses, frequently look
without glasses at the blue sky and green surroundings; be outdoors as much as
possible. Walk barefoot on moist grass. As an elderly male restrict semen loss
from sexual activity until much improved. Females should avoid strenuous
activity during period time, which may suppress menstruation and worsen
arthritis. However, it is fine for the period to stop due to a vegetarian or
raw food cleansing diet.
Have any dead teeth removed and osteitis in the jawbone curetted. Preferably have also
amalgam fillings replaced with biocompatible composite fillings, if in doubt
find a therapist who does electro-acupuncture testing, also called
electro-dermal screening.
Try reflexology, it is very effective; see the
article on Reflexology. Also stimulate the skin with alternating hot and cold
showers and with vigorous skin brushing, especially over stiff areas.
Low back pain is often due to problems in
abdomen and sexual organs. An excellent therapy for low back problems, beside
yoga exercises, is to hang upside down. Special inversion equipment is
available from sporting goods stores. However, if you are sufficiently
adventurous, you may also hang from a firmly secured ladder. Cushion two upper
rungs, sit on the lower of these and let the torso hang down, the feet find
safe support behind the upper cushioned rung. Have a helper for support.
As you can see there is so much you can do to
help yourself that you may not know where to start. Begin with the most
essential items: diet improvement, basic supplements, cleansing, blistering and
improving the intestinal flora. By and by as your time, money and energy allow
experiment with other recommendations. Your reward will be proportional to your
efforts.