The Arthritis Bible
A Comprehensive Guide to Alternative Therapies and Conventional Treatments for Arthritic Diseases including Osteoarthrosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Gout, Fibromyalgia, and More
- Pages: 272
- Book Size: 6 x 9
- ISBN-13: 9780892818259
- Imprint: Healing Arts Press
- On Sale Date: April 1, 1999
- Format: Paperback Book
• The most up-to-date information on this disease that strikes one in six people.
• Includes case histories, practitioners' perspectives, and a complete resource guide to the organizations, publications, and Internet sites devoted to arthritis.
For those suffering from arthritis and other arthritic diseases such as gout and fibromyalgia, The Arthritis Bible is a complete resource to available treatments--both alternative and conventional. One in six Americans are afflicted with arthritis, yet the traditional medical community continues to offer only the limited number of treatments found within the narrowly proscribed boundaries of Western medicine. And while many alternative therapies do provide relief, too many have become victims of the "flavor-of-the-month" mentality, their true merits being lost amidst hype and unwarranted claims before adequate research has been done.
The Arthritis Bible supplies wisdom on conventional drugs, exercise, physical therapy, diet, vitamins and minerals, traditional herbs, nutraceuticals, homeopathy, and folk remedies. It also advises how to choose the right medical approach and practitioner, and includes a complete resource guide to the organizations, publications and internet sites devoted to arthritis. For anyone seeking relief from the painful and often debilitating consequences of arthritic diseases, The Arthritis Bible is a must for the shelf.
Acknowledgments
Foreword
Preface Take Charge of Your Health
Medical Biases
The Importance of " Bio-individuality"
Experimental Therapies
Introduction What is Arthritis
Connective Tissues Affected by Arthritis
Joint Structure
Key Supporting Structures
Part One: Osteoarthrosis and Gout
Chapter 1 Osteoarthrosis (Osteoarthritis): A Case of Dysfunctional Cartilage
Defining Disease
Symptoms of Osteoarthrosis
Diagnosis of Osteoarthrosis
Surgical Options
What Causes Osteoarthrosis?
Who is Most at Risk?
Chapter 2 Physical and Mental Therapies: Working Mind and Body to Reduce Drug Dependency
Exercise, Physical Therapies, and Acupuncture
Psychological Therapies
Chapters 3 Aspirin and Its Offspring
Mechanical Pain Versus Inflammatory Pain
Analgesic Options
Aspirin: The First Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drug (NSAID)
Synthetic NSAIDs
Stinging Nettles for Pain? Giving NSAIDs an Herbal Assist
Side Effect of Aspirin and Other NSAIDs
How NSAIDs Help and Hurt
Safer New NSAIDs: Natural and Synthetic Alternatives
Acetaminophen: Pain Relief with the Leading "Un-NSAID"
Chapter 4 The Cartilage Therapy Revolution: Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Bovine Cartilage, Sulfur, Gelatin, Boswellia Herb
Cartilage: Creation and Destruction
Cartilage Protectors: Treating Root Causes
Chapter 5 Gout
What Causes Gout?
Progression
Diagnosis
Drug Therapy for Acute and Chronic Gout
Diet and Natural Remedies
Part Two: Rheumatic Diseases
Chapter 6 Rheumatic Diseases: What, How, and Why
Diagnosis of Rheumatic Diseases
Prognosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Progression of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Inflammation: Why Arthritic Tissues Catch Fire
What Causes Rheumatic Disease?
Fibromyalgia: A Special Case
An Overview of Rheumatic Diseases Causative Factors and Pain Management: an Analysis from the Functional Perspective By Leonid Gordon, M.D.
Factors in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Dysbiosis: Bacterial Overgrowth
Free radical Stress and Cartilage Degeneration
Acute and Chronic Pain
Pain Management
Chapter 7 Getting the Right Medical Help
Rheumatologists
Rheumatology Nurse Practitioners
Other Medical Doctors
Holistic Medical Doctors
Naturopaths
Chiropractors
Chapter 8 Conventional Medicines for Rheumatic Disease
Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs)
An Aggressive New Stance on DMARDs
Cytotoxic Drugs
Corticosteroids
A New Approach: Biologic Response Modifiers
Alternative Options
Chapter 9 Consumer's Guide to Rheumatic Remedies
Using the Remedies Table
Ranking Rheumatic Remedies
Chapter 10 Dietary Therapy in Rheumatic Diseases
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Stomach Acid (Hypochlorhydria) and Rheumatic Disease
Therapeutic Disease
Oral Tolerance Therapy
Chapter 11 Vitamins and Minerals
Vitamin A/Beta Carotene
B Vitamins
Vitamin C
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
Boron
Copper
Selenium
Zinc
Chapter 12 Traditional Herbs
Ranking Herbs for Arthritis
Primary Therapeutic Herbs
Secondary Herbs
Chapter 13 Nutraceutical Remedies from Nature
EPA
GLA
CMO
Emu Oil
Bovine Tracheal Cartilage
Capsaicin
Curcumin Turmeric
OPCs
Dietary Enzymes
Sea Cucumber
New Zealand Green-Lipped Mussel
Chapter 14 Antibiotic Therapy
Bacterial Arthritis
Clues from the Heart and Gut
How Microbes Might Cause Rheumatic Diseases
Early Evidence for Microbe Theory
The Changing Fortunes of Microbe Theory
Germs on Trial
Antibiotics as Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
Are Antibiotics Right for You?
Chapter 15 Homeopathic Remedies
Less is More, Ad Infinitum: The Paradox of Homeopathy
The Return of Homeopathy
Does it Work?
Homeopathy in Arthritis
Chapter 16 Folk Remedies
Alfalfa
Bee Venom
Copper Bracelets
Honey and Vinegar
Appendix A Resources
Appendix B More Herbal Options
Appendix C Top Herbs: Scientific Summaries
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Leonid Gordin, M.D., a board-certified member of the Academy of Pain Management, is an expert in “functional medicine,” the fully scientific approach to holistic medicine that focuses on proven connections between the body’s physical and mental systems. He is also trained in physical medicine, rehabilitation, prolotherapy, water-therapy, homeopathy, reflexology, and acupuncture.
“The Arthritis Bible is an outstanding resource to anyone with arthritic symptoms, as it blends the best of conventional and complementary medicine to help alleviate the pain and suffering in these patients.”
--Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D., F.A.C.C., author of Optimum Health
For those suffering from arthritis and other inflammatory diseases, The Arthritis Bible is a complete guide to alternative and conventional treatments. One in six Americans are afflicted with arthritis, yet the traditional medical community continues to offer only the limited treatments developed by institutions of Western medicine. And while many alternative therapies do provide relief, their true potential can be hard to evaluate amidst hype on one hand and unwarranted dismissal on the other.
The Arthritis Bible supplies research on conventional drugs, exercise, physical therapy, diet, vitamins and minerals, traditional herbs, homeopathy, folk remedies, and more. It ranks remedies according to evidence of efficacy and historical use, making it an ideal aid in choosing the right medical approach and practitioner. Anyone seeking relief from the painful and often debilitating consequences of arthritic diseases will find The Arthritis Bible to be an indispensable resource.
CRAIG WEATHERBY is a journalist and writer who has specialized in nutrition, herbs, and complementary therapies since 1987. His research for The Arthritis Bible spanned two years and entailed extensive study of conventional rheumatology, therapeutic nutrition, physical therapy, infectious etiology of rheumatic diseases, and botanical medicines.
LEONID GORDIN, M.D., a board-certified member of the Academy of Pain Management, is an expert in “functional medicine,” the fully scientific approach to holistic medicine that focuses on proven connections between the body’s physical and mental systems. He is also trained in physical medicine, rehabilitation, prolotherapy, water-therapy, homeopathy, reflexology, and acupuncture.
