Arthritis:

Another big question last time from a reader who is looking for a reliable cure for arthritis. She's tried MSM, glucosamine and fish oils for a year without too much success. One reader thinks that a common cause of arthritis is wheat. She suggests giving up all wheat products for a few weeks and see if there is any improvement. So the ban would include bread, cake, sweet and dry biscuits, crumpets, muffins, pancakes, scones, muesli bars, health/snack bars, pizza, pasta, for example. Also, look out for wheat in gravy and sauces. Supplement the new diet with one to two tablespoons of flaxseed oil a day. Another dietary 'no-no' is the nightshade family, which includes potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, and aubergines, and others to avoid include white wine, sugar, red meat, oranges and other citrus fruits, bread and beer. One reader also adds red wine to the list, as her mother was able to prove that the drink caused the terrible pains that always occurred the following day. Another reader tells us of a friend who cured her arthritis just by eating raw foods. Another reader recommends the JMT (Jaffe-Mellor) Technique, although this is principally for osteoarthritis. Another considers acupuncture with moxibuxion to be the best therapy. It's also important to stay warm, so wrap up well if you're going outside. One reader's arthritis was cleared up when she wore a Bioflow magnetic bracelet, made by Ecoflow, mentioned last time. One word of warning - people with pacemakers shouldn't wear any magnetic device, such as the bracelet. Several readers point out that glucosamine can work, but the dosage needs to be around 1500mg a day, and your supplements need to come from a reputable source. Even then, it will take 10 weeks before you start seeing positive effects. And make sure you're taking the right type - it needs to be glucosamine sulphate. Finally, one reader comes up with an interesting holistic approach. On the spiritual/emotional side, she recommends love, music, fun and humour, 'finding ways of doing things I'm not supposed to be able to do', drawing and painting, and Christian prayer. Therapies to try include craniosacral therapy, shia-tzu and seaweed body wrap, and cut out wheat, dairy and 'nutritional stressors' from your diet, and major on brown rice, cold water oily fish and greens. Take no prescribed drugs but instead use Solgar's bromelain, and supplement with vitamin E, EFAs, selenium, magnesium and bifidus-acidophilus. Finally make sure you claim all your benefits because arthritis is as much bureaucratic as medical.