Osteoarthritis

Diet and Nutrition: (references)

Eliminate foods that cause an allergic response or to which there is a sensitivity (fast, use an elimination diet, or allergy test to isolate such foods)
Reduce all fats to less than 20% of the diet, especially saturated fats (animal products)
Eat more vegetables, brown rice, and fish
Avoid sugar, refined foods, and all food additives
Avoid alcohol, coffee, and black tea
Avoid tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, peppers, and tobacco (Solanacea family)
Avoid carbonated drinks and citrus

Vitamins and Minerals: (references)

Vitamin A: 10,000 I.U.
Niacinamide: 500 mg. QID (check liver enzymes regularly)
Vitamin B5: 500 mg. BID - QID
Vitamin B6: 100 mg. TID (for menopausal arthritis)
Vitamin B12: 1,000 - 3,000 mcg. daily to weekly, with folic acid
Vitamin C (buffered - reduce if joint pain increases): 1 gm. TID
Vitamin E: 800 I.U.
Selenium: 200 - 300 mcg.
Boron: 3 mg.
Zinc: 45 mg.
Copper (Salicylate form): 64 mg. BID
Magnesium: 300 mg.
Calcium: 300 mg.

Supplements: (references)

S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe): 1200 mg. in divided doses
Hydrochloric Acid: 10 - 70 grains per meal (if lab confirms)
Glucosamine Sulfate: 350 mg. TID
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: 2 - 5 gm.

Botanicals: (references)

Dry Herbs - Harpagophytum (248 mg.), Yucca (248 mg.), Juniperus (124 mg.), Angelica s. (124 mg.), Arctium (124 mg.), Cimicifuga (124 mg.), Medicago seed and leaf (248 mg. total): take 2 capsules TID

Individual botanicals to be considered for this condtion:

Homeopathic Remedies: (references)

Inflammation of arthritis:
Acon., Apis, Bell., Bry., Led., Sil.
Joint aching and pain:
Carl., Chin-S., Gels., Dalm., Ruta.
Rheumatic pain:
Arn., Ars., Aur-M-N., Bad., Benz-Ac., Bry., Caust., Cham., Chel., Colch., Form., Kali-I., Dalm., Lyc., Med., Nat-A., Phyt., Puls., Rhod., Rhus-T., Sang., Sars., Sulph.

(For an overview of Homeopathy, click here.)

Other Therapies: (references)

Hot epsom salt compress followed by castor oil massage (not directly on joints, but around) - no more than 2 per week
Epsom salt spa sessions once a week have been shown to be helpful
Daily exercise (walking, cycling, yoga, etc.) prevents immobility and supports the immune system
For pain, capsaicin
Alternating magnets (north/south) have been shown to increase circulation and reduce arthritis inflammation

Recommended Labs:

Check for osteoarthritis: X-Ray
Rule out autoimmune disorders: ANA with Reflex
Rule out degenerative joint disease: X-Ray
Rule out Epstein Barr infection: EBV Capsid IgG and IgM
Rule out gout: Gout, Uric Acid
Rule out HIV: ELISA, Western Blot
Rule out infectious arthritis: Joint Fluid Culture
Rule out Lyme Disease: Western Blot
Rule out occult malignancies: Antimalignant Antibody
Rule out pseudogout: Joint Fluid Aspiration
Rule out rheumatoid arthritis: ANA, Rheumatoid Factor
Rule out systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): CBC with Diff, Blood Chemistry, Urinalysis, CRP, ANA with Reflex, Quantitative Immunoglobulins, Tissue Biopsy

* The recommended use of this supplement or therapy is based on a physiological mechanism or empirical data and is not necessarily supported by peer-reviewed research studies.