Jiva™- Wholeness through the Healing Sciences of East and West.

Relieving pain is a very common reason for making a medical appointment, for who wishes to live in pain? Pain is a warning from the body that something is wrong, but sometimes it warns us about problems that are difficult to solve, such as arthritis.

If you go to a Western trained medical doctor complaining of arthritic pain, chances are he or she will put you on pain killers. Unfortunately, these medications are well established to cause all kinds of side effects - including death! Aspirin and ibuprofen can cause bleeding of the stomach. Acetaminophen can cause liver damage. Prescription pain killers such as Vioxx and Bextra were pulled from the market because they significantly increased the risk of heart attack. Even Celebrex, which was touted as the safe alternative to Vioxx and Bextra, has been shown to increase the risk of heart attack two-fold. Yet, it's still on the market today!

Treating Arthritis Instead of Treating Pain
Most people don't believe arthritis can be prevented because there's a common perception that joint cartilage (the cushioning that covers the bones in a joint) simply wears away with age. I know this is not true. Joint cartilage wears away with inflammation. And if you can prevent inflammation, you can prevent arthritis. Even if you already have arthritis, reducing the amount of inflammation in your system will help relieve your symptoms and give you more freedom of movement - sometimes within weeks or days.

Highly movable joints such as the wrists, fingers, shoulders, hips, and knees are the most likely to be affected by osteoarthritis. These are called "synovial joints" because the two bones meeting in this type of joint are bathed in synovia, a clear fluid whose job is to provide lubrication. Sometimes, though, the membrane that secretes the synovia becomes inflamed. Then, an avalanche of inflammatory chemicals gets released - and those inflammatory chemicals wear away the joint cartilage. The first step in any program to combat arthritis then isn't to stop the pain. It's to stop the inflammation!

Fermented soy can be the solution to inflammation. It contains powerful anti-inflammatory properties to help support and maintain optimal bone, joint and cartilage health. Its unique blend offers a holistic and beneficial effect on the body's physiology to provide optimal health and wellness from chronic inflammatory and degenerative conditions.

While Curcumin is not used in conventional medicine, it is widely prescribed in Indian medicine as a potent remedy for liver disorders, rheumatism, diabetic wounds, digestive aids, runny nose, cough, and sinusitis. Traditional Chinese medicine uses curcumin as a treatment for diseases associated with abdominal pain, and was used in ancient Hindu medicine as a treatment for sprains and swelling.

Ginger also has an anti-inflammatory property which protects cells against oxidative damage and pathological tissue degeneration caused by inflammation that causes degenerative diseases

Tylenol and Acetaminophen Face New Prescription Restrictions
Panel recommends measures to address drug's risk of liver damage
The FDA's Advisory Review Panel recommended in 1977 that new warnings be placed on Tylenol and its generic equivalents: "Do not exceed recommended dosage because severe liver damage may occur" and "Do not exceed recommended dosage or take for more than 10 days, because severe liver damage may occur." These warnings were never put into effect, but in June, 2009 the FDA started to consider at least limiting this drug when it is combined with various prescription medications.

The prescription drugs Vicodin, Percocet, and Tylenol 3 all combine acetaminophen with another product, and this practice is believed to be part of the reason that 42,000 people a year visit emergency rooms for acetaminophen overdose - with so many products containing the drug, it is easy to take a dangerously large dose without realizing it. The Advisory Review Panel considered several options: completely banning the drug, limiting the number and strength of the pills available over the counter, and stronger warnings on the prescription variations. This last received the greatest support, and is the most likely recommendation for the FDA to agree upon.