New In-Clinic Test for FeLV and FIV

Sand C, Englert T, Egberink H et al: Evaluation of a new in-clinic test system to detect feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus infection, Vet Clin Pathol 39:210, 2009.

Feline leukemia (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) are both important pathogens of cats that often result in lifelong infection. Routine testing as well as testing of clinically ill cats is recommended, and is usually done using in-clinic test kits. For FeLV, these assays detect a viral protein, while for FIV, virus-specific antibody is detected. A new test system, Anigen Rapid FIV Ab/FeLV Ag test kit is now available on the European market. These investigators examined the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of this new test kit on 300 samples using western blot as the gold standard for FIV infection, and polymerase chain reaction for FeLV infection; in addition, results were compared to those attained using the most commonly-used kit made by IDEXX (SNAP Combo). In comparison to the gold standard for FIV, the new Anigen test had a sensitivity of 88.9% and specificity of 97.7%, and for FeLV, a sensitivity of 40% and a specificity of 100%. In comparing to the IDEXX Combo SNAP test for FIV testing, the Anigen assay had one false positive result; the SNAP test had no false positive results. Both kits had one false negative result. For FeLV testing, neither kit had a false positive result, but the Anigen kit had 9 false negatives, while the SNAP kit had 7 false negative results. The investigators concluded that the new test performed very well, similar in performance to the SNAP Combo test. For both kits, any positive result should be confirmed with a second, more sensitive test, especially in healthy cats. [MK]

Related articles:
Levy J, Crawford C, Hartmann K et al: 2008 American Association of Feline Practitioners' feline retrovirus management guidelines, J Feline Med Surg 10:300, 2008.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Join us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter

Sand C, Englert T, Egberink H et al: Evaluation of a new in-clinic test system to detect feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus infection, Vet Clin Pathol 39:210, 2009.

Feline leukemia (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) are both important pathogens of cats that often result in lifelong infection. Routine testing as well as testing of clinically ill cats is recommended, and is usually done using in-clinic test kits. For FeLV, these assays detect a viral protein, while for FIV, virus-specific antibody is detected. A new test system, Anigen Rapid FIV Ab/FeLV Ag test kit is now available on the European market. These investigators examined the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of this new test kit on 300 samples using western blot as the gold standard for FIV infection, and polymerase chain reaction for FeLV infection; in addition, results were compared to those attained using the most commonly-used kit made by IDEXX (SNAP Combo). In comparison to the gold standard for FIV, the new Anigen test had a sensitivity of 88.9% and specificity of 97.7%, and for FeLV, a sensitivity of 40% and a specificity of 100%. In comparing to the IDEXX Combo SNAP test for FIV testing, the Anigen assay had one false positive result; the SNAP test had no false positive results. Both kits had one false negative result. For FeLV testing, neither kit had a false positive result, but the Anigen kit had 9 false negatives, while the SNAP kit had 7 false negative results. The investigators concluded that the new test performed very well, similar in performance to the SNAP Combo test. For both kits, any positive result should be confirmed with a second, more sensitive test, especially in healthy cats. [MK]

Related articles:
Levy J, Crawford C, Hartmann K et al: 2008 American Association of Feline Practitioners' feline retrovirus management guidelines, J Feline Med Surg 10:300, 2008.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Join us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter

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Discovered: Indian spice reduces Alzheimer's symptoms by 30%

Despite millions spent on drug research and development, one of the more promising treatments for Alzheimer's disease (a progressive brain disorder that affects more than 5 million Americans) is found in a substance widely known for its ability to spice (and color) food.

The compound curcumin, only found in turmeric, is a widely used spice found in Indian food, and is also popular in the cuisines of other South Asian countries like Nepal, Iran and Thailand. The bright yellow spice is familiar to fans of curry dishes, but it has been used in other preparations as well. For centuries, it has been used in Asian medicine.

Like other brightly colored foods (think blueberries, pomegranates and tomatoes), it is the compound that gives turmeric its color that makes it a powerful antioxidant — in this case, curcumin. And like the lycopene in tomatoes and the beta-carotene in carrots, bright orange-yellow curcumin has some seriously amazing health benefits. Curcumin has been found in clinical studies Preliminary clinical studies show curcumin helps reduce beta amyloid plaque in the brains of people with Alzheimer's (and prevent plaque buildup in people who don't have the disease).


This plaque is the key to understanding — and preventing — the disease. As the NY Times recently reported:
The disease is defined by freckles of barnacle-like piles of a protein fragment, amyloid beta, in the brain. So, the current thinking goes, if you block amyloid formation or get rid of amyloid accumulations — plaque — and if you start treatment before the disease is well under way, you might have a chance to alter its course.
According to Terry Lemerond, founder and president of Europharma, "Most brain researchers and Alzheimer’s specialists believe that preventing or reducing beta amyloid plaque in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease is important. Beta amyloid plaque interferes with proper brain function and contributes to dementia."

Eating lots of turmeric isn't the only option to get a regular dose of the stuff (though it's a delicious one). Curcumin extracts are available in pill form, which is how the compound has been used in clinical trials, including the one published in the Journal of Neurochemistry. That trial found a 30 percent decrease in the size of Alzheimer's-associated brain plaque in treated subjects in just one week.

Alzheimer's isn't the only condition that might be affected by the brightly-colored spice: "Curcumin has been proven to be an extraordinarily potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound. These properties make it effective for cancer (prevention and treatment), arthritis, liver disease, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, and many other health issues — all demonstrated in clinical studies," says Lemerond.

To boost the efficacy of the curcumin compound, some studies show that it should be ingested with Vitamin D supplements. The two substances then work together to stimulate a type of immune cell that can "clean up" the beta amyloid more quickly and thoroughly.

More research is needed. According to Lemerond, "Alzheimer’s is a very complex disease, and forestalling, or even reversing, dementia is not as simple as reducing plaque."

For further reading:
Drug trials test bold plan to slow Alzheimer's
Curcumin studies look at treating dementia and memory loss
More from the Journal of Neuroscience

Despite millions spent on drug research and development, one of the more promising treatments for Alzheimer's disease (a progressive brain disorder that affects more than 5 million Americans) is found in a substance widely known for its ability to spice (and color) food.

The compound curcumin, only found in turmeric, is a widely used spice found in Indian food, and is also popular in the cuisines of other South Asian countries like Nepal, Iran and Thailand. The bright yellow spice is familiar to fans of curry dishes, but it has been used in other preparations as well. For centuries, it has been used in Asian medicine.

Like other brightly colored foods (think blueberries, pomegranates and tomatoes), it is the compound that gives turmeric its color that makes it a powerful antioxidant — in this case, curcumin. And like the lycopene in tomatoes and the beta-carotene in carrots, bright orange-yellow curcumin has some seriously amazing health benefits. Curcumin has been found in clinical studies Preliminary clinical studies show curcumin helps reduce beta amyloid plaque in the brains of people with Alzheimer's (and prevent plaque buildup in people who don't have the disease).


This plaque is the key to understanding — and preventing — the disease. As the NY Times recently reported:
The disease is defined by freckles of barnacle-like piles of a protein fragment, amyloid beta, in the brain. So, the current thinking goes, if you block amyloid formation or get rid of amyloid accumulations — plaque — and if you start treatment before the disease is well under way, you might have a chance to alter its course.
According to Terry Lemerond, founder and president of Europharma, "Most brain researchers and Alzheimer’s specialists believe that preventing or reducing beta amyloid plaque in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease is important. Beta amyloid plaque interferes with proper brain function and contributes to dementia."

Eating lots of turmeric isn't the only option to get a regular dose of the stuff (though it's a delicious one). Curcumin extracts are available in pill form, which is how the compound has been used in clinical trials, including the one published in the Journal of Neurochemistry. That trial found a 30 percent decrease in the size of Alzheimer's-associated brain plaque in treated subjects in just one week.

Alzheimer's isn't the only condition that might be affected by the brightly-colored spice: "Curcumin has been proven to be an extraordinarily potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound. These properties make it effective for cancer (prevention and treatment), arthritis, liver disease, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, and many other health issues — all demonstrated in clinical studies," says Lemerond.

To boost the efficacy of the curcumin compound, some studies show that it should be ingested with Vitamin D supplements. The two substances then work together to stimulate a type of immune cell that can "clean up" the beta amyloid more quickly and thoroughly.

More research is needed. According to Lemerond, "Alzheimer’s is a very complex disease, and forestalling, or even reversing, dementia is not as simple as reducing plaque."

For further reading:
Drug trials test bold plan to slow Alzheimer's
Curcumin studies look at treating dementia and memory loss
More from the Journal of Neuroscience

Read More

Study suggests link of cleaners to breast cancer

A survey of Massachusetts women has found a potential link between the use of household cleaners and air fresheners and breast cancer.

The study included interviews with 787 women who had breast cancer and 721 who did not. Researchers asked all the women about pesticide use but found little association.

But when about 400 women in each group were asked about cleaning products, researchers found a potential connection.

In fact, breast-cancer risk was highest among women who reported the most use of cleaning products and air fresheners; it was double the risk for those who reported low use of the products. Most study participants were white and middle-aged and were part of the Cape Cod Breast Cancer and Environment Study, which had financial support from the state of Massachusetts.

The results are published in the journal Environmental Health.

The connection was drawn mostly between mold and mildew cleaners and air fresheners. Surface and oven cleaners were not associated with increased risk. Chemicals of concern include synthetic musks, phthalates, 1,4-dichlorobenzene, terpenes, benzene and styrene and some antimicrobial agents, said Julia Brody, the lead researcher and executive director of the Silent Spring Institute.

Studies of this nature come with an inherent weakness, called recall bias. The researchers acknowledged that women who have cancer and believe in an association with cleaners might be more likely to report high use of them.

That said, the study adds weight to previous animal research showing that the same chemicals cause mammary-gland cancer in animals and disrupt the endocrine system, contributing to tumor growth, Brody said.

Much about the causes of breast cancer remains unknown. Many patients believe in environmental links, but they are notoriously difficult to prove.

"Although there seems to be an association between cleaning products and cancer, that's a long way from saying, 'Cleaning products cause breast cancer,'" said Dr. Charles Shapiro, director of breast medical oncology at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center.

"I wouldn't take too much from it," Shapiro said, noting that the study was relatively small and that it's impossible to draw definitive conclusions about cause and effect. He also cautioned that what is found in the laboratory in animal models doesn't necessarily play out among humans.

"The take-home, if any, is if you're worried about it, try to avoid those products," he said.

Sandra Steingraber, a New York ecologist, cancer survivor and author of Living Downstream, said she'd advise everyone to stop using chemical cleaners. She uses vinegar and baking soda to clean her house.

"I just see this as such an easy problem compared to a lot of things," said Steingraber, who is on the faculty at Ithaca College.

The new research, she said, "points to the really vexing problems of trying to make correlations between past exposures and present disease rates."

Steingraber said: "Clearly, the conversation is shifting now. We can't just sort of look at the murky evidence on cancer and the environment and sort of set it aside because it's too inscrutable."

A survey of Massachusetts women has found a potential link between the use of household cleaners and air fresheners and breast cancer.

The study included interviews with 787 women who had breast cancer and 721 who did not. Researchers asked all the women about pesticide use but found little association.

But when about 400 women in each group were asked about cleaning products, researchers found a potential connection.

In fact, breast-cancer risk was highest among women who reported the most use of cleaning products and air fresheners; it was double the risk for those who reported low use of the products. Most study participants were white and middle-aged and were part of the Cape Cod Breast Cancer and Environment Study, which had financial support from the state of Massachusetts.

The results are published in the journal Environmental Health.

The connection was drawn mostly between mold and mildew cleaners and air fresheners. Surface and oven cleaners were not associated with increased risk. Chemicals of concern include synthetic musks, phthalates, 1,4-dichlorobenzene, terpenes, benzene and styrene and some antimicrobial agents, said Julia Brody, the lead researcher and executive director of the Silent Spring Institute.

Studies of this nature come with an inherent weakness, called recall bias. The researchers acknowledged that women who have cancer and believe in an association with cleaners might be more likely to report high use of them.

That said, the study adds weight to previous animal research showing that the same chemicals cause mammary-gland cancer in animals and disrupt the endocrine system, contributing to tumor growth, Brody said.

Much about the causes of breast cancer remains unknown. Many patients believe in environmental links, but they are notoriously difficult to prove.

"Although there seems to be an association between cleaning products and cancer, that's a long way from saying, 'Cleaning products cause breast cancer,'" said Dr. Charles Shapiro, director of breast medical oncology at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center.

"I wouldn't take too much from it," Shapiro said, noting that the study was relatively small and that it's impossible to draw definitive conclusions about cause and effect. He also cautioned that what is found in the laboratory in animal models doesn't necessarily play out among humans.

"The take-home, if any, is if you're worried about it, try to avoid those products," he said.

Sandra Steingraber, a New York ecologist, cancer survivor and author of Living Downstream, said she'd advise everyone to stop using chemical cleaners. She uses vinegar and baking soda to clean her house.

"I just see this as such an easy problem compared to a lot of things," said Steingraber, who is on the faculty at Ithaca College.

The new research, she said, "points to the really vexing problems of trying to make correlations between past exposures and present disease rates."

Steingraber said: "Clearly, the conversation is shifting now. We can't just sort of look at the murky evidence on cancer and the environment and sort of set it aside because it's too inscrutable."

Read More

FIV and Papillomavirus

Munday JS, Witham AI: Frequent detection of papillomavirus DNA in clinically normal skin of cats infected and noninfected with feline immunodeficiency virus, Vet Dermatol 21:307, 2010.

Feline squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), a type of skin cancer, often have evidence of infection with feline papillomavirus (FPV); it is not known if the virus contributes to cancer development in cats. Cats infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) have a higher incidence of SCC, perhaps due to increased FPV infection. This study examined the rate of FPV infection in healthy cats (without SCC), and compared this rate in FIV-free (n=22), and FIV-infected cats (n=22). The investigators found that 52% of cats tested positive for FPV; no difference was found in FIV-infected versus uninfected cats. In addition, both FPV-infected and uninfected cats were found within single households, indicating exposure does not necessarily lead to infection. The investigators concluded that while FPV infection in asymptomatic cats is common, a link with SCC could not be shown. [MK]


Related articles:
Munday JS, Dunowska M, De Grey S: Detection of two different papillomaviruses within a feline cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: case report and review of the literature, N Z Vet J 57:248, 2009.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Join us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter

Munday JS, Witham AI: Frequent detection of papillomavirus DNA in clinically normal skin of cats infected and noninfected with feline immunodeficiency virus, Vet Dermatol 21:307, 2010.

Feline squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), a type of skin cancer, often have evidence of infection with feline papillomavirus (FPV); it is not known if the virus contributes to cancer development in cats. Cats infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) have a higher incidence of SCC, perhaps due to increased FPV infection. This study examined the rate of FPV infection in healthy cats (without SCC), and compared this rate in FIV-free (n=22), and FIV-infected cats (n=22). The investigators found that 52% of cats tested positive for FPV; no difference was found in FIV-infected versus uninfected cats. In addition, both FPV-infected and uninfected cats were found within single households, indicating exposure does not necessarily lead to infection. The investigators concluded that while FPV infection in asymptomatic cats is common, a link with SCC could not be shown. [MK]


Related articles:
Munday JS, Dunowska M, De Grey S: Detection of two different papillomaviruses within a feline cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: case report and review of the literature, N Z Vet J 57:248, 2009.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Join us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter

Read More

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Watsons and Orchard Clinic Promo

Spend min. $30 nett in a single recipt at watsons and get to enjoy the following at Orchard Clinic:
- Free Spinal Check Up or Free Podiatrist Consultation worth $110. 

Go to for more info: http://vip.watsons.com.sg/web/PriceOff.do

Spend min. $30 nett in a single recipt at watsons and get to enjoy the following at Orchard Clinic:
- Free Spinal Check Up or Free Podiatrist Consultation worth $110. 

Go to for more info: http://vip.watsons.com.sg/web/PriceOff.do

Read More

Health Book Summaires: Arthritis

Arthritis is a disease that causes loss of movement and pain in the joints. Affecting both adults and children alike, over 40 million people in the United States have arthritis, many with chronic pain which affects daily life. Read on to learn more about this debilitating disease and what you can do about it.

1. According to the Arthritis Foundation, nearly one in three adults has arthritis or chronic joint symptoms, and arthritis is the leading cause of disability among Americans older than age fifteen.

- David Winston, RH(AHG), and Steven Maimes, Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief



2. Enzyme therapy has been used to treat arthritis for many years, particularly because of the ability of certain enzymes to reduce inflammation.

- Tom Bohager, Everything You Need to Know About Enzymes to Treat Everything from Digestive Problems and Allergies to Migraines and Arthritis



3. The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Fibromyalgia often is considered an arthritis-related condition, but it is not a true form of arthritis because it does not cause inflammation or damage to the joints.

- David Winston, RH(AHG), and Steven Maimes, Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief



4. The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis, afflicts 12 percent of the United States population age twenty-five and older (approximately 21 million people).

- Jonathan W. Emord, The Rise of Tyranny



5. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that is related to but distinct from osteoarthritis. In rheumatoid arthritis antibodies are formed against components of bone, cartilage and synovia of joints, and the immune cells of the body attack the joints of most parts of the body, causing inflammation, fibrosis and joint destruction. Although this disease can affect children in the juvenile form of rheumatoid arthritis, most sufferers from arthritis are middle-aged or elderly.

- Kilmer S. McCully, The Homocysteine Revolution





6. Juvenile arthritis is a form of rheumatoid arthritis that strikes children under the age of sixteen. It affects 71,000 young Americans, most of them female. The onset of rheumatoid arthritis is associated with physical or emotional stress, poor nutrition, and bacterial infection. Rheumatologists have discovered that the blood of many people with rheumatoid arthritis contains antibodies called rheumatoid factors, a finding that can aid in the diagnosis of the condition. While osteoarthritis affects individual joints, rheumatoid arthritis affects all of the body's synovial joints.

- Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements



7. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is the most prevalent form in children, and there are three major types: polyarticular (affecting many joints), pauciarticular (affecting a few joints), and systemic (affecting the entire body). The signs and symptoms of juvenile rheumatoid Arthritis vary from child to child. There is no single test that establishes conclusively a diagnosis of juvenile Arthritis, and the condition must be present consistently for six or more consecutive weeks before a correct diagnosis can be made. Heredity is thought to play some part in the development of juvenile Arthritis.

- Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements



8. Today there is a very simple, effective, and inexpensive treatment for arthritis: powdered dried chicken cartilage — specifically, 1 teaspoonful in a glass of fruit juice once a day. Shark cartilage, which is quite rich in various nutrients, also works well in this application. According to a study performed by Harvard Medical School, arthritis sufferers who had previously been treated by conventional means with no results took this dosage of chicken cartilage and found that all pain and inflammation disappeared in ten days. In three months, they had recovered lasting mobility.

- Marie-France Muller, M.D., N.D., Ph.D., Colloidal Minerals and Trace Elements: How to Restore the Body's Natural Vitality



9. The sulfur content in fingernails of arthritis sufferers is lower than that of healthy subjects without arthritis. Ginger contains anti-inflammatory compounds called gingerols. These substances are believed to explain why so many people with osteoarthritis experience reduction in their pain levels and improvement in their mobility when they consume ginger regularly. Although most scientific studies have used powdered gingerroot, fresh gingerroot at an equivalent dosage is believed to yield even better results because it contains active enzymes. Most studies utilized 1 gram of powdered gingerroot.

- Michael Murray, N.D. and Joseph Pizzorno, N.D., The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods



10. The swelling and deformity that takes place in arthritic joints can result from a thickening of the synovial membrane, an increase in the secretion of synovial fluid, enlargement of the bones, or some combination of these factors.

- Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements



11. The anti-inflammatory action of the following adaptogens makes them useful for relief from arthritis: amla, ashwagandha, Asian ginseng, cordyceps, eleuthero, guduchi, holy basil, jiaogulan, licorice, reishi, rhodiola, schisandra, and shilajit.

- David Winston, RH(AHG), and Steven Maimes, Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief



12. Arthritis can sometimes be exacerbated by a deficiency in minerals, including phosphorous, magnesium, calcium, and manganese, and also by a lack of vitamins E and C.

- Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., Brain Longevity: The Breakthrough Medical Program that Improves Your Mind and Memory



13. Research has shown that fish-oil supplements can sometimes reduce the pain, swelling, and stiffness of rheumatoid arthritis, says Dr. Prosch. Take 6 grams, or six 1,000-milligram capsules, a day for 4 to 6 months, he recommends. The capsules provide 1,080 milligrams of EPA and 720 milligrams of DHA, which is the average amount needed by most patients, he says. You can take them all at once or in divided doses, according to Dr. Prosch. As with most natural treatments for chronic disease, don't expect the pain to vanish overnight. For most people, it takes 3 to 4 months before the treatment begins to soothe aching joints. After about 5 months, Dr. Prosch recommends reducing the dosage to three capsules, or 3,000 milligrams, daily.

- Bill Gottlieb, Alternative Cures: The Most Effective Natural Home Remedies for 160 Health Problems



14. Athletes are not necessarily more likely to develop osteoarthritis than couch potatoes, though football players and those who damage their joints are at greater risk. In some respects the couch potato may be in greater danger of developing joint problems than many athletes. If you are overweight, you put more strain on your knees and hips and increase your risk for later problems. We are also beginning to learn that what you eat may influence your risk of arthritis.

- Joe Graedon, M.S. and Teresa Graedon, Ph.D., Best Choices From the People's Pharmacy



15. Lyme disease can mimic arthritis, causing many of the same symptoms.

- Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements



16. Another autoimmune disease that often manifests itself as arthritis is systemic lupus erythematosus (Lupus). For reasons unknown, the body produces antibodies that act against its own tissues. In its early stages, ulcerative colitis can cause symptoms like those of arthritis. Because this may occur before there are any abdominal symptoms, it can lead to misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. More information about arthritis is available from the Arthritis Foundation.

- Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements



17. In nearly half of the women with unexplained arthritis tested in one study, chlamydia was found in the joints. Seventy-five percent had elevated levels of antibodies to chlamydia in their blood.

- Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements



18. Benefits of cayenne for specific health conditions include the following: Arthritis, diabetic and herpes-related nerve Damage, psoriasis, and sore muscles. Capsaicin in cayenne acts as a counter-irritant, causing temporary pain to the skin that depletes the chemical messengers of pain for the joint.

- Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Herbal Healing: An Easy-to-Use A-Z Reference to Hundreds of Common Disorders and Their Herbal Remedies



19. Olives and olive oil may also be important in the prevention and treatment of asthma, arthritis, and Cancer. Since healthy oils are important for lowering systemic inflammation, it is not surprising that olive oil intake has been shown to be helpful with arthritis and asthma symptoms as well.

- Michael Murray, N.D. and Joseph Pizzorno, N.D., The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods



20. In the northern hemisphere, communities that are farther north tend to have more Type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer, in addition to other diseases.

- T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D. and Thomas M. Campbell II, The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health

Arthritis is a disease that causes loss of movement and pain in the joints. Affecting both adults and children alike, over 40 million people in the United States have arthritis, many with chronic pain which affects daily life. Read on to learn more about this debilitating disease and what you can do about it.

1. According to the Arthritis Foundation, nearly one in three adults has arthritis or chronic joint symptoms, and arthritis is the leading cause of disability among Americans older than age fifteen.

- David Winston, RH(AHG), and Steven Maimes, Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief



2. Enzyme therapy has been used to treat arthritis for many years, particularly because of the ability of certain enzymes to reduce inflammation.

- Tom Bohager, Everything You Need to Know About Enzymes to Treat Everything from Digestive Problems and Allergies to Migraines and Arthritis



3. The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Fibromyalgia often is considered an arthritis-related condition, but it is not a true form of arthritis because it does not cause inflammation or damage to the joints.

- David Winston, RH(AHG), and Steven Maimes, Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief



4. The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis, afflicts 12 percent of the United States population age twenty-five and older (approximately 21 million people).

- Jonathan W. Emord, The Rise of Tyranny



5. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that is related to but distinct from osteoarthritis. In rheumatoid arthritis antibodies are formed against components of bone, cartilage and synovia of joints, and the immune cells of the body attack the joints of most parts of the body, causing inflammation, fibrosis and joint destruction. Although this disease can affect children in the juvenile form of rheumatoid arthritis, most sufferers from arthritis are middle-aged or elderly.

- Kilmer S. McCully, The Homocysteine Revolution





6. Juvenile arthritis is a form of rheumatoid arthritis that strikes children under the age of sixteen. It affects 71,000 young Americans, most of them female. The onset of rheumatoid arthritis is associated with physical or emotional stress, poor nutrition, and bacterial infection. Rheumatologists have discovered that the blood of many people with rheumatoid arthritis contains antibodies called rheumatoid factors, a finding that can aid in the diagnosis of the condition. While osteoarthritis affects individual joints, rheumatoid arthritis affects all of the body's synovial joints.

- Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements



7. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is the most prevalent form in children, and there are three major types: polyarticular (affecting many joints), pauciarticular (affecting a few joints), and systemic (affecting the entire body). The signs and symptoms of juvenile rheumatoid Arthritis vary from child to child. There is no single test that establishes conclusively a diagnosis of juvenile Arthritis, and the condition must be present consistently for six or more consecutive weeks before a correct diagnosis can be made. Heredity is thought to play some part in the development of juvenile Arthritis.

- Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements



8. Today there is a very simple, effective, and inexpensive treatment for arthritis: powdered dried chicken cartilage — specifically, 1 teaspoonful in a glass of fruit juice once a day. Shark cartilage, which is quite rich in various nutrients, also works well in this application. According to a study performed by Harvard Medical School, arthritis sufferers who had previously been treated by conventional means with no results took this dosage of chicken cartilage and found that all pain and inflammation disappeared in ten days. In three months, they had recovered lasting mobility.

- Marie-France Muller, M.D., N.D., Ph.D., Colloidal Minerals and Trace Elements: How to Restore the Body's Natural Vitality



9. The sulfur content in fingernails of arthritis sufferers is lower than that of healthy subjects without arthritis. Ginger contains anti-inflammatory compounds called gingerols. These substances are believed to explain why so many people with osteoarthritis experience reduction in their pain levels and improvement in their mobility when they consume ginger regularly. Although most scientific studies have used powdered gingerroot, fresh gingerroot at an equivalent dosage is believed to yield even better results because it contains active enzymes. Most studies utilized 1 gram of powdered gingerroot.

- Michael Murray, N.D. and Joseph Pizzorno, N.D., The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods



10. The swelling and deformity that takes place in arthritic joints can result from a thickening of the synovial membrane, an increase in the secretion of synovial fluid, enlargement of the bones, or some combination of these factors.

- Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements



11. The anti-inflammatory action of the following adaptogens makes them useful for relief from arthritis: amla, ashwagandha, Asian ginseng, cordyceps, eleuthero, guduchi, holy basil, jiaogulan, licorice, reishi, rhodiola, schisandra, and shilajit.

- David Winston, RH(AHG), and Steven Maimes, Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief



12. Arthritis can sometimes be exacerbated by a deficiency in minerals, including phosphorous, magnesium, calcium, and manganese, and also by a lack of vitamins E and C.

- Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., Brain Longevity: The Breakthrough Medical Program that Improves Your Mind and Memory



13. Research has shown that fish-oil supplements can sometimes reduce the pain, swelling, and stiffness of rheumatoid arthritis, says Dr. Prosch. Take 6 grams, or six 1,000-milligram capsules, a day for 4 to 6 months, he recommends. The capsules provide 1,080 milligrams of EPA and 720 milligrams of DHA, which is the average amount needed by most patients, he says. You can take them all at once or in divided doses, according to Dr. Prosch. As with most natural treatments for chronic disease, don't expect the pain to vanish overnight. For most people, it takes 3 to 4 months before the treatment begins to soothe aching joints. After about 5 months, Dr. Prosch recommends reducing the dosage to three capsules, or 3,000 milligrams, daily.

- Bill Gottlieb, Alternative Cures: The Most Effective Natural Home Remedies for 160 Health Problems



14. Athletes are not necessarily more likely to develop osteoarthritis than couch potatoes, though football players and those who damage their joints are at greater risk. In some respects the couch potato may be in greater danger of developing joint problems than many athletes. If you are overweight, you put more strain on your knees and hips and increase your risk for later problems. We are also beginning to learn that what you eat may influence your risk of arthritis.

- Joe Graedon, M.S. and Teresa Graedon, Ph.D., Best Choices From the People's Pharmacy



15. Lyme disease can mimic arthritis, causing many of the same symptoms.

- Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements



16. Another autoimmune disease that often manifests itself as arthritis is systemic lupus erythematosus (Lupus). For reasons unknown, the body produces antibodies that act against its own tissues. In its early stages, ulcerative colitis can cause symptoms like those of arthritis. Because this may occur before there are any abdominal symptoms, it can lead to misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. More information about arthritis is available from the Arthritis Foundation.

- Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements



17. In nearly half of the women with unexplained arthritis tested in one study, chlamydia was found in the joints. Seventy-five percent had elevated levels of antibodies to chlamydia in their blood.

- Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements



18. Benefits of cayenne for specific health conditions include the following: Arthritis, diabetic and herpes-related nerve Damage, psoriasis, and sore muscles. Capsaicin in cayenne acts as a counter-irritant, causing temporary pain to the skin that depletes the chemical messengers of pain for the joint.

- Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Herbal Healing: An Easy-to-Use A-Z Reference to Hundreds of Common Disorders and Their Herbal Remedies



19. Olives and olive oil may also be important in the prevention and treatment of asthma, arthritis, and Cancer. Since healthy oils are important for lowering systemic inflammation, it is not surprising that olive oil intake has been shown to be helpful with arthritis and asthma symptoms as well.

- Michael Murray, N.D. and Joseph Pizzorno, N.D., The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods



20. In the northern hemisphere, communities that are farther north tend to have more Type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer, in addition to other diseases.

- T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D. and Thomas M. Campbell II, The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health

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