Cherie Santasiero, Ph.D., MNLP

Effective
Natural Treatment
for Arthritis

April’s issue explained the difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and their causes, and how diet plays a tremendous role. Proper natural treatments are safer and usually more effective.

Dr. Ronald Santasiero, MD, DABMA, of Sedona Holistic Medical Centre, treats both types of arthritis naturally and sees far more effective results than the traditional treatments he used in family practice years ago. Diet and lifestyle changes necessary for relief from inflammation that causes pain differ between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Dr. Santasiero has successfully treated more than 5,000 patients for arthritis. The following are treatments he uses, listed in order of importance and efficacy:

Osteoarthritis

1. Omega 3 Fish Oil; 3000-5000 mg. per day is anti-inflammatory, among other health benefits. Contraindicated in patients on blood thinners.

2. Anti-Oxidants prevent free radical damage to joints. Dosages are: Vitamin E, 400-800 IU; Vitamin C 1000-3000; Vitamin A 10,000 IU; Selenium 200mg; and Pycnogenol 100-300 mg per day.

3. Glucosamine Sulfate, 1500 mg. per day helps to rebuild cartilage. People sensitive to sulfa should not take Glucosamine Many have been led to believe that they should also take Chondroitin sulfate, but Dr. Santasiero sees little if any efficacy with Chondroitin. A cheaper alternative is Knox Gelatin, and it is now also sold as a supplement. Research at Ball State's Human Performance Laboratory showed a gelatin supplement to have a positive effect on joint pain and stiffness in athletes. Because it is made from the collagen inside animals' connective tissue, gelatin is an irreversibly hydrolyzed form of collagen and is classified as a foodstuff. Jewish kosher or Muslim halal customs may require gelatin from fish. Vegetarians usually avoid gelatin and use other emulsifiers, such as pectin, agar, carrageenan or konyaku.

4. SAME (S-adenosyl methromine), 400-800 mg per day is also an anti-inflammatory. Although expensive, it can help with the depression often associated with arthritis. It is a good choice for patients with both arthritis and depression.

5. Niacinamide 250 mg 3 times per day is a form of Vitamin B 3 (niacin), but not the same form as for lowering cholesterol. It is not widely known for use in arthritis, but it can be very effective. Contraindicated in patients with liver disease.

6. Cucumin (Tumeric), 250 mg 2 to 3 times per day is a great anti-inflammatory. It is similar to COX inhibitors, such as Celebrex. Contraindicated for patients on Coumadin. At Sedona Centre, we use BCQ made by Vital Nutrients, which combines Boswellia and Curcumin with Bromelain, also an anti-inflammatory, especially if acute. Quercetin is a powerful antioxidant and flavonoid with anti-carcinogenic properties. It too is an effective anti-inflammatory and has many other health benefits as well. BCQ; 2 three times per day.

Rheumatoid Arthritis:

Food sensitivities are the same as with osteoarthritis but 30 percent more common with rheumatoid. An example is the nightshade family mentioned in April’s issue, tomatoes, white potatoes, peppers and eggplant, etc. Aspartame (NutraSweet and Equal) should be avoided by everyone, but it is a worse irritant in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

1. Vital Nutrients’ BCQ, 2 three times a day is the starting dose. Its benefits are listed above under osteoarthritis as Curcumin. The difference between NSAID (non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs) and BCQ is that BCQ has minimal if any side effects and is natural. Dr. Santasiero recommends it to our patients rather than chancing the very real and common dangers of NSAIDs, including death. BCQ is an herbal combination that helps support the connective tissue and digestive system. Each capsule contains: Boswellia 200mg, Bromelain 100mg (the purist we have seen), Curcumin 200mg and Quercetin 100mg. Taken separately, assuming it is a very high quality, of Boswellia, you would need 200mg 2 to 3 times daily, Bromelain, 200mg 2 to 3 times daily, Curcumin 200mg 2 to 3 times daily and Quercetiin 100-600mg per day. It is much easier to take fewer capsules and Vital Nutrients’ BCQ is of the highest quality.

2. As with osteoarthritis, Omega 3 Fish Oil 3000-5000mg per day. For us and many of our patients, the liquid is much easier than the caplets and can include CoQ10.

The main difference between rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis is inflammation and re-building of cartilage, respectively. This is why the protocols differ some. The osteoarthritis treatment concentrates on rebuilding cartilage destroyed by wear and tear and inflammation. Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis concentrates on decreasing inflammation, which is most often more severe than in osteoarthrits. It is an autoimmune disease whose symptoms result from the loss of the synovial tissue, the membranes around the joints. Diet affects rheumatoid arthritis more than osteoarthritis. For both types of arthritis, it is important to keep joints moving, which is their purpose. When still, they become more painful and stiff. When prescribed by a trained holistic physician, the natural approach is usually more effective and definitely safer.