Osteoarthritis often afflicts older adults and can be described as the “wear and tear” form of arthritis. It occurs when the matrix of cartilage in a weight–bearing joint demineralizes due to the body’s naturally declining level of glucosamine. This leads to brittleness and the development of bone spurs as the body tries to stabilize the joints.

Signs/ Symptoms:
• Stiffness (especially in the morning)
• Painful and/or limited motion
• No signs of inflammation
• Occasionally only hands or knees affected
• Rarely are all joints affected at once

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory condition that may affect the whole body. The joints that are typically affected include hands, wrists, feet, ankles and knees, but may include hips and shoulders. This form of arthritis is considered an autoimmune disease, which means that the immune system is attacking its own tissues, in this case the joints, causing a constant state of inflammation. The onset of rheumatoid arthritis has nothing to do with ‘wear and tear’ of the joints and is often observed to be hereditary.

Signs/ Symptoms:
• Joint may be warm, tender and/or swollen, with almost constant pain or stiffness
• Joint deformities may become evident

There are many contributing factors to arthritis, including overuse, trauma to the joint, inflammation or age-related changes in the collagen repair system. Individuals with
rheumatoid arthritis have shown to have increased intestinal permeability to dietary and bacterial antigens, triggering delayed food allergies. Any food can be problematic, and it is best to consult with your naturopathic doctor for more information.

When dealing with arthritis, Naturopathic medicine includes many approaches that focus on correcting the body chemistry in order to slow down and reverse the disease process. Treatment should start as soon after symptoms are diagnosed as possible. Since naturopathic doctors look at the underlying causes of disease, the recommended therapies and lifestyle changes will not mask symptoms, but rather bring healing and correction to the body.

Slowing the degeneration of the joints can be achieved through the use of specially chosen diets, eliminating food sensitivities, vitamin supplementation, botanical medicine, acupuncture and lifestyle counselling. A naturopathic doctor will assess the level of pain and deterioration and develop an appropriate plan for treatment as well as pain management. The primary goal of naturopathic treatment is to help the body eliminate toxins and rebuild its vitality in order to allow for healing and repair.

If you or someone you love suffers from arthritis, you are one of over four million Canadians affected by this painful disease. Today, 75% of the Canadian population over the age of 50 is afflicted with this potentially debilitating condition. By rebalancing your body chemistry to slow down and reverse the disease process, naturopathic medicine may be able to help relieve the pain and inflammation associated with this increasingly common disease