Osteoarthritis is the most common among the over 100 different types of arthritis conditions. Osteoarthritis is an old age problem like old age weak bones, nerves, tendons and joints. When we are young none of these problems surfaces but the wear and tear of these active parts of our body during a life time of usage, without taking food to nourish them over the years, would eventually cause them to breakdown. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease caused by the breakdown of joint cartilage due to aging and can affect any joint in our body. Our fingers, hips, knees, lower back or feet can be affected by osteoarthritis. Initially osteoarthritis may strike only one joint and then progress to other joints. Osteoarthritis occurs more frequently in males before the age of 45 but after the age 55 years, women are more susceptible to the disease. In America 20 million suffer from osteoarthritis.
 

Causes of Osteoarthritis

When our cartilage deteriorates due to aging diseases like menopause, the cartilage begins to wear down. Eventually you may be left with bone rubbing on bone, causing the ends of your bones to become damaged and your joints to become painful. Doctors do not know exactly the cause but suspect being overweight, aging, joint injury or stress, heredity, hormone disturbances and muscle weakness are factors that could result in the disease.

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis

• Joint pain is usually grow worse as the day progresses

• There can be inflammation of the affected joints  

• Joints feel warm

• Pain and stiffness of the joints can also occur

• In advance cases the sufferer suffers pain at rest or pain with limited motion

• Osteoarthritis that causes deformed knees (bowed legs) is due to obesity

• Osteoarthritis of the spine causes pain in the neck or low back

• Discomfort in a joint before or during a change in the weather

• Loss of joint flexibility

Common areas affected by osteoarthritis:

• Fingers
• Spines
• Weight bearing areas

Complications of Osteoarthritis

• Pains, mild or acute

• Joints susceptible to sprain

• Joints can easily get fractured

Osteoarthritis Risk Factors

• Those 45 years old and above
• Being female
• Hereditary conditions i.e. someone in your family has it
• Having joint injuries caused by physical activity or sports
• Obesity
• Having certain type of diseases like having gout problem

Treatments for Osteoarthritis

Generally speaking allopathic science's method of treating osteoarthritis is ineffective. There are either usually symptomatic and temporary at best or they can cause even more problems because of its invasive nature. There is no concept of rejuvenation or nourishment in their treatment method. In their treatment, there is no specific treatment to halt cartilage degeneration or to repair damaged cartilage. Treatment method involves:

• weight reduction

• avoiding activities that exert excessive stress on the joint cartilage

• taking pain killer drugs (can cause stomach, liver or  kidney damage, diarrhoea, ringing in the ear, cardiovascular problems like heart attack or stroke and lastly edema)

• taking anti-inflammatory drugs (can cause tissue or bones problems, nausea, constipation)

• taking anti-depressant drugs

• rest

• exercise (this may lead to more damage)

• physical and occupational therapy

• mechanical support devices

• surgery

• research shows that food supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin are not effective in treating this type of problem

The best form of treatment for osteoarthritis is to take therapeutically proven form of herbal treatment to rejuvenate bone, tendons, nerves, ligaments and cartilage and prevent them from further degeneration. A strengthen bone, tendons, nerves and ligaments system would relief the joints from further stress. In ancient time, these group of herbs are called bones and nerves herbs because of its proven ability to repair damaged joints.

Herbs like Radix Achyranthes Bidentatae, Semen Prunus Persica, Panax Notoginseng, Cortex Eucommia Ulmoides, Psoralea Corylifolia, Lycopus Lucidus and Radix Notopterygium Incisum have been used traditionally for relieving pain, improve blood circulation and restoring degenerative or damaged bones, tendons, cartilage, ligaments and nerves. Old ladies in ancient China regularly consume them as food for old age health maintenance. The Chinese name for Psoralea Corylifolia is "bu gu zhi" meaning "tonify bone resin". Research has shown that it helps to stimulate bone formation. Because Psoralea promotes bone calcification it is useful in treating osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.

Achyranthes Bidentata:

1) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that oleanolic acid glycosides from Achyranthes bidentata inhibits osteoclast formation (prevents bone lost). 41655

2) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that Achyranthes Bidentata exerts analgestic and anti-inflammatory action. 72519

Semen Prunus Persica: Semen Prunus Persica is rich in potassium that intervenes directly, together with the calcium content, in the process of bone formation. Chemical Constituents: Oil contains oleic acid, palmitic acid, benzaldehyde. The leaves contain cyanogenic glycosides. The seed contains amygdalin, emulsin, linoleic acid, oleic acid, glyceric acid. The essential fatty acids (EFA), omega 3 and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) play an essential role in metabolism (chemical changes which take place in our bodies to utilize food and eliminate waste materials).

Panax Notoginseng:

1) Clinical research  by western scientists have shown that Panax Notoginseng has anti-inflammatory, analgesic (reduces pain) and immunomodulatory action. 44000

2) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that ginsenosides Rg1 from Panax Notoginseng has estrogen-like activity and should be classified as a novel class of potent phytoestrogen. (Phytoestrogen helps to strengthen and restored the osteo-muscular system). 61497

3) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that Panax Notoginseng has anti-inflammatory effect. 78152

4) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that the protection against hypoxic damage of Panax Notoginseng was related to improving energy metabolism, preserving the structural integrity of neurons (restore and prevent nerves damage).01752

5) Clinical research  by western scientists has shown that Panax Notoginseng  increasing the resistance of mice to anoxia (a region of the body where there is complete deprivation of oxygen supply) and contract bleeding and coagulation time. 18584

Cortex Eucommia Ulmoides: Cortex Eucommia Ulmoides is a type of rubber tree. Historically, it has been commonly used for alleviating lower body pain and for weakness of the sinews and bones. This is a condition that arises with deficiency of the liver and kidney. "Aucubin and the other iridoids of eucommia are likely responsible for the anti-inflammatory effect, which is attained by inhibiting the arachidonic acid pathway" (Recio MC, Structural considerations on the iridoids as anti-inflammatory agents, Planta Medica 1994; 60(3): 232-234 and Yue H, et al., Development of healthy beverage from Eucommia ulmoides foliage, Chinese Medicinal Herbs 1999; 22(8): 385-387).This may partly explain its use in treatment of arthritis. Eucommia was mentioned in the Shennong Bencao Jing "Eucommia is acrid and balanced. It mainly treats pain in the lower back and knees, supplements the center, boosts the essence qi, fortifies the sinews and bones, strengthens the will, and eliminates genital damp itch and dribbling urine after voiding. Protracted taking may make the body light and slow aging".

Psoralea Coryfolia:

1) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that Psoralea corylifolia L. extract, its ethyl acetate fraction and corylin stimulate bone formation. 17144  

2) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that bakuchiol, a major component of Corylifoliae Fructus (Psoralea corylifolia L.), is an antioxidant. 00 085

3) Clinical research by western scientists have shown that Fructus Psoraleae [Psoralea corylifolia] has both in vitro and ex vivo antioxidant activity and immunomodulatory activities. 329-335

Lycopus Lucidus: Clinical research by western scientists have shown that Lycopus lucidus L promotes blood circulation and removes blood stasis.  17: 313-7

Notopterygium Incisum: Clinical research by western scientists have shown that notopterol,the analgesic component of Notopterygium incisum, has anti-inflammatory functions. 39339