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INFLAMMATORY RELIEF - ARTHRITIS AND JOINT INFLAMMATION
Health Products Business
May 1, 2004, 14:15
ARTHRITIS AND JOINT INFLAMMATION
Another sugar, glucosamine, is the basis for many natural products that alleviate arthritis and inflammation. Jarrow Formulas (Los Angeles) produces a glucosamine based headache relief product called Glucosamine HCI Mega 1000. Derived from shellfish, glucosamine is a naturally occurring amino sugar synthesized in the body from L glutamine and glucose. Amino sugars are key components of larger compounds called glycosaminoglycans and glycoproteins, necessary for the maintenance of connective tissues and lubricating fluids in the body.
Glucosamine HCI Mega utilizes chondroitin sulfates to provide the structural components of joint cartilage, inhibit free radical enzymes that degrade joint cartilage and collagen, and facilitate the entry of glucosamine into inflamed joints. It also prevents enzymes from dissolving cartilage. Studies have shown good results from long term treatment with chondroitin sulfate, reducing pain and increasing range of motion. Glucosamine, alone or in combination with chondroitin sulfate, repairs and improves joint function while providing pain relief. Other ingredients include calcium phosphate, stearic acid, magnesium stearate, and modified cellulose gum.
According to Enzymatic Therapy's Cheryl Myers, glucosamine sulfate, alone or combined with absorbable chondroitin, reduces knee pain from osteoarthritis of the knee. "It's been shown in clinical study after clinical study," she says. Specifically, in a 1999 press release, the American College of Rheumatology proclaimed glucosamine reduces the signs and symptoms associated with knee osteoarthritis. "However," she stresses, "it does not have direct anti pain effects because it helps with the support of the cartilage and connective tissue of the knee. In reducing the abrasion occurring inside the knee, it triggers less inflammation and, hence, less pain."
Some of Enzymatic Therapy's products address underlying causes of pain rather than actively halting pain symptoms. On the flipside, some directly impact the inflammatory pathways. "When you're dealing with inflammatory pain," says Myers, "one product we have is a green lipped mussel extract called Lyprinol, which is sold in our professional line and is also [available to retailers as] Prevail. It's rather expensive, but it has published human clinical studies [that show] it interferes with the inflammatory cascade of the body."
Prescription drugs, says Myers, completely shut down pathways. "But as we have learned with anything in the body, whenever you completely shut down anything, you suffer unpleasantries." Examples include ibuprofen and aspirin, which shut down the body's COX 1 (cyclo oxygenase enzyme) pathway to alleviate pain. However, since COX 1 protects the stomach lining, many people develop ulcers and other stomach problems with daily use. "When the drug companies came out with COX 2 inhibitors, [these products] were supposed to do all the good stuff aspirin and ibuprofen did, with none of the bad stuff."
A multi billion dollar industry grew overnight, Myers says. "Then, after huge numbers of people started to take I them, they found out two things: One, though they did see a reduction in stomach problems, it still occurred and people were having serious problems with bleeding ulcers. Two, in many people, it has a nottoo favorable effect on blood pressure and, in some COX 2 inhibitors, they found a slight increase in heart attacks." Conversely, Lyprinol interferes with the inflammatory cascade in several branches but does not shut them down entirely.
It should be noted that the jury is still out in regard to COX 2 inhibitors; not everyone spurns their use. Many companies, such as Maximum Human Performance Industries (Cedar Grove, N.J.), still believe in their benefit. MHP's Relieve Maximum Strength Joint Support Formula alleviates joint and muscle pain, repairs joints and connective tissues, reduces inflammation, strengthens bones, and inhibits COX 2. Active ingredients include 500 mg glucosamine sulfate to facilitate joint restoration, 500 mg IsoOxygene (a proprietary, patent pending botanical COX 2 inhibitor from Humulus Lupulus L), 500 mg N acetylcysteine, 200 mg Baikal skullcap root extract, and 100 mg alpha lipoic acid, for mulated to maximize COX 2 inhibition effects. The main active ingredient, IsoOxygene, has been researched at the University of London to validate its effectiveness as a natural COX 2 inhibitor.
Glucosamine is also an ingredient in Blue Emu, a trio of natural pain relief products available from Nature's Benefit (Newark, NJ.): Super Strength Blue Emu, Maximum Strength Blue Emu, and BlueEmu Patches. Blue Emu is an odorless topical rub featuring emu oil, aloe vera, MSM (methyl sulfonyl methane), and glucosamine for a variety of symptoms, including pain and inflammation.
Though anti inflammatories can produce side effects so severe some consumers reject any potential benefits, laboratory irritation tests conducted by Emu Ranchers Inc. in 1991 revealed that even at full strength, emu oil generated irritation levels so low, results were comparable to that of water. Blue Emu creams and patches offer relief from aches and pains in the muscles and joints associated with strains, arthritis, and bruises of the neck, back, knees, calves, shoulders, and other areas. They also contain methyl salicylate as a counterirritant to the effects of Substance P, a biochemical that transmits the message of pain.
Distributed in America by Naturally Vitamins, Wobenzym works in conjunction with glucosamine and chondroitin to manage osteoarthritis. According to Dr. Ahmed, Wobenzym helps the body harness its own healing potential, while guiding its metabolic processes in addressing the underlying problems causing pain and inflammation. This product is composed of proteases, enzymes that degrade other specific proteins, which function systemically throughout the body when taken on a relatively empty stomach. "These enzymes," Ahmed explains, "are bromelain (from pineapple), papain (from papya fruit), and pancreatin, trypsin, and chymotrypsin from animal sources."
Wobenzym also contains the bioflavonoid rutin, an antioxidant that strengthens the integrity of blood vessel walls. "Essentially," Ahmed says, "Wobenzym works with the immune system to restore the balance between the pro and anti inflammatory cytokines. Cytokines are messenger molecules that modulate the inflammatory state. If proinflammatory cytokines are present predominantly, an inflammatory state is the result. In contrast, if anti inflammatory cytokines are preponderant, inflammatory response will be held in check." Inflammation being a beneficial response, it's natural for the body to fluctuate from acute inflammation to a subsided state. Problems arise when a chronic inflammatory response fails to subside. Ahmed adds that "since inflammation is at the root of all aches, pain, and discomforts, it makes imminent sense for this basic response to be modulated. That is precisely what Wobenzym does."
In addition to glucosamine, arthritis pain and joint inflammation can also be addressed with camphor and menthol, the active ingredients of Tiger Balm, a natural product marketed by Prince of Peace Enterprises (Hayward, Calif.). Wellington L. Quan, Jr., a Prince of Peace account manager, says Tiger Balm helps customers before and after physical activity. "Many who suffer from chronic pain such as arthritis use Tiger Balm for temporary relief. Massage therapists and chiropractors include Tiger Balm in their patients' treatments. Tiger Balm is for all ages but those with sensitive skin should [first] test on a small area of the body."
Though camphor and menthol have FDA monographs as topical analgesics, Quan believes Tiger Balm's success comes from "the combination of all its active and inactive ingredients." Prince of Peace advocates integrative approaches to pain relief in conjunction with Tiger Balm, including exercise, stretching, and "understanding the importance of preventative maintenance and healthy lifestyle choices, as opposed to the 'damage control' mentality treating symptoms we often see and experience. For example, athletes use Tiger Balm prior to physical activity to warm up and loosen muscles to lessen the possibility of muscle strains."
Ra Zen Relief also offers a product designed to reduce the effects of arthritis. Appropriately, it's called Arthri Zen Relief. Unlike many of the above products, which are largely sugar based, a serving of Arthri Zen Relief contains less than one gram of fruit sugar. Therefore, diabetics can take it regularly with no adverse side effects. With Arthri Zen Relief, the herb juniper blocks the production of compounds that hyper sensitize pain receptors and increase pain signal transmission; plus, it increases water excretion, reducing pain and swelling. Goldenrod and dandelion also increase water excretion, while meadowsweet and willow bark contain salicin compounds that have a pain relieving effect without side effects or allergic reactions.
Arthri Zen Relief alleviates occasional joint, muscle, connective tissue, or bone discomfort, as well as discomfort in the form of pain, stiffness, or soreness arising from an athletic episode. The supplement, marketed for the elderly and the athletic, blocks the transmission of this type of pain signal while allowing signals from immediate injuries to get through. A mild diuretic, it helps rid the body of chemicals naturally produced upon tissue damage by increasing fluid excretion, thus reducing inflammation and swelling (edema). This, in turn, reduces pain sensitivity.
Finally, Carlson Labs (Arlington Heights, Ill.) uses cod liver oil in its pain relief products. Before the discovery of cod liver oil as a source of vitamin D, many suffered deformed bones and osteoporosis. Sufficient elongated omega 3 oils found in cod liver oil are key to keeping and rebuilding bone. In women, higher levels of vitamin D from cod liver oil improve bone mineral density. Two symptoms of low vitamin D levels are bone pain and muscle pain. This may manifest as leg pain, muscle weakness, and difficulty climbing stairs. Numerous studies have shown improvement in muscle pain, muscle strength, and bone pain with cod liver oil, which is reportedly effective in treating arthritis as well. Researchers funded by Great Britain's Arthritis Research Campaign, in fact, found that elongated omega 3 fatty acids in cod liver oil reduce both pain and damage in inflamed joints.
Health Products Business May 2004 Page 14-16
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