Tackle the aches and pains of arthritis naturally

Boron is a trace mineral, which means your body needs it in smaller amounts.  Selenium and iodine are also trace minerals, but boron’s function is as an enzyme cofactor – a helper – specifically to make cortisol and other steroid hormones.

Cortisol is an anti-inflammatory hormone, so it is one of the main treatments that conventional medicine gives sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis.  Prednisone or cortisone injections are anti-inflammatory medications.

Research has shown that rheumatoid arthritis clients often have lower potassium and lower cortisol levels.

Boron is beneficial for post-menopausal women as it increases oestrogen and testosterone.  Osteoporosis occurs if there is an imbalance in certain hormones from bone loss during and after menopause.

Boron can be taken to enhance these two hormones and make the bones stronger.  It is needed for Vitamin D metabolism and has a natural antimicrobial and antibiotic effect while also helping toenail fungus.

Boron cleans up the microbes in your body and helps calcium and magnesium absorb better into your bones.  If you have rheumatoid, or osteoarthritis, take boron daily – 6mg is the usual regular daily therapeutic dose.

Boron is in apples, grapes, oranges, soybeans, avocados, red kidney beans, peanut butter, hazelnuts, currants, tomato, and lentils.

The difference between osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is that osteo is a decrease in joint space, where you will get bone spurring, inflammation, pain and stiffness.  It can be asymmetrical, meaning it can be on one side of the body, not both.

It is prevalent where you see wear and tear of the joints or where there have been repetitive work or trauma.

RA is an auto-immune disorder.  The body has developed antibodies that are attacking the joints, specifically, but not limited to, the wrists, hands, knees, feet, hips, and even the heart.

It is always affects both sides of the body. There is usually pain, stiffness, and joints can become deformed.  It is a systemic problem (throughout the whole body), and can also cause fever, rashes, dry eyes, and fatigue.

However, being a systemic health issue gives a clue to its potential cause.  Any time you have inflammation affecting the whole body, it makes sense that it could be circulating pathogens.   Researchers discovered that most RA sufferers have specific oral bacteria in the mouth that are also in the synovial fluid of their knee joints and hearts. The oral bacteria are the same microbe involved in gum disease and is also why the body is attacking the joint itself.

It is attempting to kill off the microbe in the joint but destroys the joint in the process.

How do you know if a microbe is causing the problems in one of the joints? Start using a natural antimicrobial and antibiotic daily, such as oregano oil, golden seal, grape seed extract, myrrh, garlic, or olive leaf extract (which works on viruses).

Oregano oil will help kill pathogens in the mouth and throughout the body. Its active constituents have been shown to be antimicrobial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory with immune-boosting properties.

Vitamin D3 can act like natural cortisol. If you take it at a therapeutic dose level, it is a natural anti-inflammatory.  Zinc is necessary for over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body that aid in metabolism, digestion, nerve function, and many other processes, including the biochemical pathways to reduce inflammation.

If you have RA, it would also be beneficial to bring your potassium levels up from the daily recommended dosage of 4700mg to 6000mg daily.

Some people have difficulty getting daily potassium up to 4700mg daily (6-8 cups of green, leafy salad or one large green, leafy salad) and may need to supplement with potassium citrate.

Consult your qualified natural medicine professional for further advice.

 Trudy Kither is a naturopath and owner, Nature’s Temple. Visit naturestemple.net