Rheumatoid arthritis attacks the synovial membranes surrounding the lubricating fluid in the joints.  The body replaces the damaged tissue with scar tissue, causing the spaces between the joints to become narrow and fuse together.  The entire body is affected, instead of just one joint as in osteoarthritis, creating stiffness, swelling, fatigue, anemia, weight loss, fever, and often crippling pain.

Rheumatoid arthritis often occurs in people under forty years of age, including young children.  Twice as many women as men suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.  The onset of rheumatoid arthritis is often associated with physical or emotional stress.  Poor nutrition or bacterial infection may also be the cause.

1.         Be evaluated for allergies.  Vegetables from the nightshade family (e.g., green peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, and potatoes) contain a toxin, which interferes with enzymes in muscles, causing pain and discomfort, and should be avoided.  (See “Allergy—Foods.”)

2.        Re-examine your medical regimen.  Certain medications may result in biochemical changes increasing the need for certain nutrients.  Supplementation with antioxidants such as Bioflavonoids, vitamins A, E, and C, minerals such as magnesium and zinc, and essential fatty acids (such as omega-3 or fish oils) aid in tissue repair.  Glucosamine sulfate provides a crystalline substrate necessary for the rebuilding of cartilage.

3.        Heat from hot tubs and baths provide relief because this increases circulation to the joints.  Lack of oxygenation secondary to poor circulation may be one cause of arthritis.

4.        Increase your activity level.  A brisk walk in which increases the heart rate by approximately 10 beats will improve circulation to the body’s organs.  Do this three times weekly.

5.        Pharmaceutical grade DMSO may help relieve pain as a scavenger of hydroxyl radicals.  This can be applied topically, as well as given intravenously.  The downside is that it gives the user a garlic odor as it is broken down into its metabolites and elliminated from the body.

6.        Cortef, a weak water soluble steroid, can be used in a "Microdose Protocol" to reduce pain and break up the cycle of inflammation.  This can be done over 2-3 weeks.  Once the inflammation has been controlled, Cortef can safely be used in “booster doses” where it is cycled in such a way that adrenal function is not suppressed and pain is still controlled.  For more information, contact the Helen Foundation at (888) 864-3536. 

7.         Normalizing thyroid function is essential.  (See “Hypothyroidism.”)  Measuring your basal body temperature can help you evaluate if you are thyroid deficient or not. Place a thermometer under the arm for 10 minutes before arising from bed on two consecutive mornings.  The average basal body temperature should be between 97.8⁰ and 98.2⁰.  One or two tablespoons of coconut oil daily can provide the thyroid with what it needs to make its hormone.

8.                   As the body ages, and degenerative diseases increase, hormone levels decrease.  Have your doctor check your DHEA, testosterone, and estrogen levels.  Estrogen excess causes the body to retain water, which will aggravate joint symptoms. This is probably best assessed by estradiol blood levels.  Keeping hormone levels as near mid-range as possible helps the body to function at its optimum.  Natural hormone supplements are available from plants without the side effects of synthetic hormones.

9.                   Use Hako-Med for pain relief because it has been proven to eliminate over 80% of pain in osteoarthritis by using a combination of AM and FM radio wave frequencies, which neutralize pain and stimulate repair by resonating with the area of injury.  Whereas a typical TENS unit creates a distraction from pain, Hako-Med actually increases energy in the body to promote healing and recovery from injury.  Clinical indications and usages of Hako-Med include chronic pain, muscular dysfunction (e.g., atrophy, range of motion limitations, spasms, weakness, etc.), peripheral nerve pain, poor circulation, post-traumatic injuries, and post-surgical pain and prevention of thrombophlebitis.  Hako-Med can be used in conjunction with, in alternation to, or independently from any other therapy.  A typical treatment session can last anywhere from 10 to 50 minutes.  When used alone, the recommended protocol for Hako-Med is three times weekly for 4 to 8 weeks.  However, when used in combination with other therapies, Hako-Med works synergistically to accelerate the healing response and reduce recovery time.

10.       Consider an evaluation for free radical damage from environmental pollutants such as lead, aluminum, cadmium, and mercury.  If elevated, heavy metal detoxification therapy is indicated.  Removing excess heavy metals can eliminate a possible source of joint destruction.  (See “Chelation Therapy.”)

11.             Antioxidants such as vitamins A, E, C, and Bioflavonoids are known as “free radical scavengers” and help to neutralize damage from environmental pollutants.  Vitamin B₁₂, subcutaneous injections (1cc) one to three times weekly, have been associated with arthritic improvement.  Essential fatty acids (e.g., flaxseed oil) contain a prostaglandin that inhibits the inflammatory response that often accompanies arthritis.  Proteolytic enzymes, before or between meals, are highly recommended.

12.      Commonly used homeopathics include:  Rhus Tox (if pain is worse when at rest, stiff upon first moving, and better when in motion) Bryonia (if pain is worse with the least movement), and Formica Rufa (for gout or when arthritis comes on suddenly and is right-sided).  These can all be used in a low potency of 6X or 12X and taken 4-6 times daily until relief is obtained.

13.      Gentle skin detoxification through a medical spa with steam sauna, infrared sauna, and/or contrast shower.