Protocol For Rheumatoid Arthritis

By Michael Mooney
Updated August, 2012

While a doctor might prescribe toxic drugs, such as methotrexate, for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), I have seen purely natural, safe approaches reverse this painful degenerative disease of aging, enough so that reversal with a significant reduction in symptoms is possible, depending on the degree of RA experienced and how consistent one can be in changing their diet and taking supplements.

Even for severe advanced cases, some reversal is possible.

It seems that the main causes of RA are long-term deficiencies of essential nutrients and eating foods that promote inflammation in the body, such as trans fats, sugar/sweets, for some deadly nightshade plants (potatoes and tomatoes) and certain processed foods.

"Essential" refers to nutrients that are known to be required for life and health. Having long-term deficiencies of these nutrients can cause various tissues in the body to become inflammed. Joint tissue is just one compartment that can be affected. For this article, we will focus on RA and joints.

To be clear, some, who have a fast-paced lifestyle might choose methotrexate because it's easier to take one thing than avoid foods that promote arthritis and then take multiple supplements every day.

However, side effects from methotrexate, including nausea, infertility, hair loss and a list of dozens of other problems do occur and frequently get worse over time.

A female friend, who works a 70-hour week decided to use methotrexate and started losing hair after a few months of use.

Until I told her this was a possible side effect of methotrexate she had no idea because her doctor didn't told her. Note that methotrexate can cause multiple nutrient deficiencies, which can promote the progression of RA. So, while methotrexate has a strong effect of shrinking swollen join tissue that is affected by RA, its promotion of nutrient deficiencies in the body could cause multiple serious health problems over time. It probably shortens lifespan, too.

Here is the list of dietary supplements I have seen reverse RA. The products listed with an importance of 10 are very important for success. The others are helpful.

In 2012 I experienced Prolozone Therapy, which, amazingly, generates new cartilage. Prolozone was devised
by Dr. Frank Shallenberger by adding ozone to Prolotherapy. Prolozone can give someone with knees that
are bone-on-bone, new cartilage and fully functioning knees.

For a list of doctors who administer Prolozone Therapy, go to:
http://www.oxygenhealingtherapies.com/my_ozone_doctor.com.html

I strongly suggest reading DMSO, Nature's Healer by Dr. Morton Walker for information about DMSO. DMSO is probably the most effective single product to address RA. All the nutrients listed as "10's" improve chances of successful reduction of symptoms. DMSO has been used intravenously for severe RA by knowledgeable doctors, as discussed in "DMSO, Nature's Healer."

Interesting reading below. Tumeric's most important component is curcumin, best taken as Curcumin 95 or a product called Meriva.

Turmeric supplements show promise in treating arthritis
2006/10/30 - Arthritis & Rheumatism (November 2006)
http://www.npicenter.com/anm/anmviewer.asp?a=16919&print=yes

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More than 40 percent of arthritis sufferers in the U.S. report using complementary and alternative medicine, including dietary supplements, and the use of alternative remedies has increased since the FDA issued health warnings about anti-inflammatory drugs such as Celebrex. However, the effectiveness of many supplement ingredients has not been adequately studied. To complicate the matter, over-the-counter supplements are not regulated in the same way as drugs and their composition can vary widely. A new study published in the November 2006 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism (http://www.interscience.wiley.com/journal/arthritis) examined the effect and mechanism of turmeric (a botanical supplement long thought to have anti-inflammatory properties) on arthritis.

Janet L. Funk and Barbara N. Timmermann (currently at the University of Kansas), researchers at the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ had already shown in an earlier study that turmeric can prevent joint inflammation in rats. In the current study, they expanded their research to compare the chemical composition of an experimental turmeric extract with those of commercially available over the counter turmeric dietary supplements. They also examined the dosage of the experimental version on joint inflammation and destruction, determined its effect on inflammation markers, and ascertained the mechanism by which turmeric protects joints in arthritis. 

Initial results showed that a version of turmeric extract that was free of essential oils had a significant impact on arthritis and most closely matched the composition of commercially available supplements. This version was used in subsequent experiments and was shown to prevent acute and chronic arthritis, even when it was administered after arthritis had been induced. In addition, turmeric significantly inhibited joint destruction due to arthritis, and inhibited NF-aB, a protein that controls the gene expression of substances that produce an inflammatory response. Turmeric also altered the expression of hundreds of genes involved in joint swelling and destruction and prevented an increase in osteoclasts (cells that break down bone) in joints.
 
The current research, which was funded by the Office of Dietary Supplements and National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine of the National Institutes of Healthis the first study to document the composition of a turmeric-containing compound that is similar to commercially available products and to document the mechanisms by which it reduces the effects of arthritis. The authors were able to find an effective dose in rats that would be equivalent in humans to 1.5 milligrams per day of a portion of the turmeric root that makes up 3% of dried turmeric powder. B and of key inflammatory genes directly orkThe inhibition of NF-aB suggests that inhibition of this proteink indirectly activated by NF-aB may be an important mechanism in turmeric's anti-arthritic effects. In fact, the authors state that "it would appear that turmeric dietary supplements share the same mechanism of action as antiarthritic pharmaceuticals currently under development that target NF-aB. It is also possible that turmeric blocks other inflammatory pathways, given its chemical complexity. Turmeric seems to block early inflammatory responses, as evidenced by the fact that it was effective when started 3 days but not 8 days after arthritis was induced, the authors note. 
 
"In summary," the authors state, "just as the willow bark provided relief for arthritis patients before the advent of aspirin, it would appear that the underground stem (rhizome) of a tropical plant [turmeric] may also hold promise for the treatment of joint inflammation and destruction." They note that the anti-inflammatory effects of botanicals can only be utilized if their chemical content is analyzed. The authors conclude: "Finally, before turmeric supplements can be recommended for medicinal use, clinical trials are clearly needed to verify/determine whether treatment with adequate doses of well-characterized turmeric extracts can indeed prevent/suppress disease flares in RA [rheumatoid arthritis] patients, as well as to explore any potential benefits of turmeric dietary supplements in the prevention or treatment of more common forms of arthritis in the general population."

See: "Efficacy and Mechanism of Action of Turmeric Supplements in the Treatment of Experimental Arthritis," Janet L. Funk, Jennifer B. Frye, Janice N. Oyarzo, Nesrin Kuscuoglu, Jonathan Wilson, Gwen McCaffrey, Gregory Stafford, Guanjie Chen, R. Clark Lantz, Shivanand D. Jolad, Aniko M. Sólyom, Pawel R. Kiela, Barbara N. Timmermann, Arthritis & Rheumatism, November 2006; 54:11; pp. 3452-3464; (DOI: 10.1002/art.22180).
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NPICenter.com
http://www.npicenter.com/
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Olive oil can significantly benefit rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who are already taking fish oil (Omega-3) supplements, according to a study conducted in Brazil.

RA is an inflammatory condition caused by an autoimmune reaction that targets the joints; symptoms include joint pain, stiffness, swelling and fatigue. Supplementing with fish oil has demonstrated a positive effect on RA symptoms. Fish oil contains high amounts of two fatty acids EPA and DHA, polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids that have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. Olive oil is rich in the monounsaturated fatty acid oleic acid, which is also believed to have anti-inflammatory properties. Also, extra-virgin olive oil contains vitamin E and numerous other compounds that act as antioxidants and could contribute to its beneficial effects.

In the study, 43 patients with RA were randomly assigned to one of three groups: one group received a total of three grams of omega-3 fatty acids from 20 capsules of fish oil per day; a second group received the same amount of fish oil fatty acids, plus 6.8 grams (about two teaspoons) of extra virgin olive oil per day, taken on salads; and a third group received a soy oil placebo. Symptoms (pain, stiffness and fatigue) and ability to function (hand grip strength and limitations to daily activities and self-care) were evaluated at clinic visits at the beginning of the study, after 12 weeks and after 24 weeks.

At the end of the study, both groups supplementing with oils experienced significantly more improvement than the placebo group. The improvements noted at 12 weeks, however, were seen more in people using fish oil, plus olive oil than those using just fish oil. Furthermore, those using fish oil and olive oil had a significantly greater improvement in a blood marker of RA than those using placebo, but those using fish oil alone did not.

Results of the study suggest that extra-virgin olive oil might enhance the benefits of fish oil in people with RA.

Nutrition 21(2):131-136, 2005