How to relieve joint pain?
Nature has endowed humans with a structured physical body in which movement is the basis of growth and overall health. So we're designed to move to maintain optimal physical health. Physical activity is therefore a key factor in the prevention of degenerative diseases such as arthritis, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.
You've probably heard of someone you know who has had to have a joint replaced because they suffer from bone friction... In other words, the cartilage (the cushion) of the joint has completely disappeared..1, 3
Articular cartilage covers the ends of our bones, while joints such as knees have additional cartilage that acts as a cushion between the bones. The structural cartilage of human cartilage follows a continuous cycle of construction and deterioration to maintain healthy joints. When a joint starts to wear out, and we begin to feel some pain, we know that further deterioration of cartilage production has occurred..3
This is when an inflammatory cascade enters the joint, with inflammatory markers (prostaglandins, thromboxanes and leukotrienes) being one of the main causes, since they possess anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory qualities that direct this lesion towards an evolutionary process.
When we're in a process of joint inflammation, pain and swelling are the main warning signs..3, 4
Relieving joint pain: the difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis
The word arthritis is made up of the prefix 'arthro', meaning joint, and the suffix 'ite', meaning inflammation. Arthritis is associated with joint pain and damage, caused by the presence of uncontrolled inflammation, resulting in the secretion of substances that gradually destroy joint structure. This is known as 'cartilage degeneration'.
Arthritis affects 70-80% of people over the age of 50, and to varying degrees. Symptoms are stiffness on rising, and joints are slightly swollen and painful. It affects men as well as women, and can attack any joint in the body, including the neck, lower back, hips, etc. When arthritis worsens, it can cause serious discomfort, and the pain itself can become disabling..2, 3, 4
Arthritis primarily affects weight-bearing joints (knees and hips). Repeated mechanical stress also causes excessive weight, and even more so in the case of trauma, which adds to the development and progression of the disease.
Osteoarthritis, on the other hand, is mainly defined by the gradual wearing away of joint cartilage. It may also involve the synovial membrane (lining of the joint) and the underlying bone. The more the cartilage wears away, the greater the stress placed on the bone, resulting in the formation of protrusions around the joint..6, 7, 8
Relieving joint pain: what is a healthy joint?
Cartilage is essentially made up of collagen fibers, glycoproteins, proteoglycans, hyaluronic acid and more. A healthy joint enables friction-free, smooth movement, and can absorb shocks. Solid, supple cartilage and synovial fluid ensure maximum mobility..1, 2, 3
Digestive health has an impact on inflammation
Today's widely recognized food intolerances are a sign of poor digestive health. It is recognized that food proteins normally retained in the intestinal lumen pass through the intestinal mucosa via the bloodstream. These same large, undigested molecules, recognized as foreign elements, provoke an immune and inflammatory reaction. This inflammatory disorder is known as intestinal hypermeability, and is a trigger for chronic diseases such as arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, etc.
To control inflammation and encourage recovery, it's important to listen to your digestive health. A strict gluten-free, dairy-free or other food-intolerance-causing diet must be adhered to if the natural approach is to deliver conclusive results. The best-known foods to reduce or avoid are wheat, corn, soy, dairy products, etc..1, 2, 4
Relieving joint pain: the natural Reeliv5 formula
Reeliv5 is a product designed primarily to help heal sports injuries, and can also relieve arthritic pain. It is a liquid concentrate made from 5 active ingredients chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine sulfate, devil's claw (Harpagophytum procumbens), marine hydrolyzed collagen and MSM (methylsulfonylmethane).
Reeliv5: the active ingredient Chondroitin
Chondroitin is intrinsically produced by the body. Derived from an amino acid (glucoronic acid) and a sugar (galactose), it contributes to the formation and maintenance of cartilage tissue by ensuring water retention in cartilage. Its inhibitory action on the enzyme hyaluronidase reduces the destruction of cartilage, thus limiting damage.
Reeliv5: the active ingredient Glucosamine
Glucosamine naturally stimulates cartilage chondrocytes to synthesize and repair cartilage tissue and collagen. It helps reduce pain and improve joint mobility.
Reeliv5: the active ingredient Devil's Claw
Devil's claw is an immune response modulator. It also inhibits inflammatory markers (leukotrienes, thromboxanes) involved in inflammation mechanisms. Devils claw is anti-rheumatic, anti-arthritic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic.
Reeliv5: the active ingredient Collagen
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body. It is comparable to the cement that holds together the various components of the body. It ensures the body's stability by maintaining its structure. Our body naturally manufactures collagen, and it's around our twenties that it produces less. But the good news is that it is possible to reverse collagen loss by consuming it.
Reeliv5: the active ingredient MSM
MSM is a naturally bioavailable sulfur compound found in plants, fruit and soil. It's part of the terrestrial sulfur cycle, which involves sulfur absorbed by marine plants and returned to the atmosphere and soil. Sulfur is an essential mineral. It plays an important role in joint health. Its action is of particular interest in cases of chronic inflammation and oedema. MSM has the ability to release water at cellular level, calming disabling inflammation..2, 4, 5
Basically, the product Reeliv5 helps reduce joint pain and inflammation, increases mobility and flexibility, repairs cartilage damage, stimulates tissue regeneration and, above all, restores energy and the desire to be active and healthy..5
A natural solution to joint inflammation, with no side effects!
About the author
Marie Couture, Certified Naturopath
Specialized in :
- Digestive disorders
- Inflammation
- Hormonal problems
- Stress management
References :
- Dionne Jean-Yves O.S. Strong bones at any age! Wiley, 2008, 132 pages
- Labelle Yvan n.d., Overcoming rheumatoid and inflammatory diseases: the true causes of inflammation finally revealedÉditions Souffle de vie, 2003, 299 pages.
- Strand Ray D. M.D. What your doctor doesn't know about nutritional medicine could be fatal to you, Hidden Treasure, 2002, 274 pages
- Mon profil ostéo-articulaire, Guide pratique naturopathique