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by Wendy Smith

My dog was the one who first introduced me to a remedy for aches and pains in the joints. I used to run on Wednesdays with some really cute guys. Yes, that’s really what running is all about, but I digress. I took my dog on one of these runs and he barely made it. It could have been because he was 9 at the time, but he also started limping about two miles into it and limped badly for many days afterward. He’s always had a bit of a limp in his front-left shoulder and for a long time I harbored the guilt that it was because I stepped on him when he was just a little guy. He was always underfoot and, well, I have big feet. But a trip to the vet after this fateful run proved otherwise. He actually has arthritis and some sharp little bone spurs from the arthritis. Occasionally, his joint tissue swells, the bone spurs jab the tissue, it hurts and he limps. After that run, his joint tissues were inflamed and his arthritis was really causing him some pain. The vet gave him a shot and recommended that I either start giving him a special doggie anti-inflammatory or take the cheaper route and give him glucosamine chondroitin (glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate) from my favorite drugstore. I swear I’m not a bad pet owner, but I went the cheaper route and after about two weeks his limp was almost non-existent. In fact, he can now romp around the park and not limp afterwards.

After using my dog as a guinea pig, I started taking glucosamine chondroitin myself because one of my knees gets sore after running or biking several miles. Glucosamine is needed by the body to promote the production of collagen and maintain cartilage. It is not found in large amounts naturally in most diets. Glucosamine has been researched and created mostly for the treatment of osteoarthritis and is usually taken as a supplement in a capsule. Chondroitin or chondroitin sulfate is one of the major building blocks of cartilage and basically provides the transportation system by which nutrients move through cartilage. Many diseases such as osteoarthritis cause a loss of chondroitin sulfate which further erodes the cartilage. Glucosamine and chondroitin are related to one another and according to some studies are dependent on each other to work.

In recent months, I’ve heard of other anti-inflammatory agents that relieve pain caused by arthritis and other types of joint issues. Ginger is an example of such an agent. Ginger is a common spice that also has very strong anti-inflammatory properties. It is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat a variety of ailments including osteoarthritis. It is also used in the Ayurvedic and Tibb systems of medicine specifically for arthritis and rheumatism as well as other inflammatory joint diseases. Aside from its anti-inflammatory properties, ginger has the added benefit of acting as a tonic for the digestive system. Turmeric is another spice and Ayurvedic medicine that is used for treating joint pains. In addition to its culinary attribute as the distinctive taste of curry, it has a wide range of therapeutic properties. Turmeric is a strong anti-oxidant which neutralizes and protects against free radicals; it promotes liver health; it improves circulation by reducing platelet clumping and it is a very good anti-inflammatory. Studies have shown it helps to reduce joint pain and stiffness caused by inflammation and can lessen post-surgical inflammation as well.

Another very interesting and strong Ayurvedic anti-inflammatory is Boswellia. Boswellia is a gummy substance made from the purified extract of the resin of a large branching tree found in India. It has an anti-inflammatory action much like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Boswellia, like these drugs, is a cox2 inhibitor but does not have the side effect of causing ulcers. The Ayurvedic system uses Boswellia to treat osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and bursitis.

Often, people with osteoporosis have low blood levels of manganese. Manganese is essential to a lot of the body’s chemical reactions, and many people get less than the recommended daily allotment, although most quality multivitamin-mineral supplements contain an adequate amount. I mention all of these substances because the use of them can have the effect of lessening the pain and swelling that accompanies joint problems and diseases. There are also a couple of supplements on the market which contain some combination of the items listed prior along with glucosamine and/or chondroitin. One product that two friends of mine can’t live without is Super Flex Joint Formula. It contains vitamin C, manganese, glucosamine, boswellia, ginger, turmeric and a strong anti-oxidant called MSM (methysulfonylmethane). In addition to the listed anti-inflammatory substances in this product, both vitamin C and MSM are anti-oxidants and, as such, have anti-inflammatory properties.

I hate to bring up the fact that our dogs are getting older and might be experiencing some aches and pains, but it might even happen to us. There are still a few more weeks of summer left and lots of time to get out and run with the cute guys, bike, walk and enjoy the summer sunshine. Let’s go.

August 19, 2004 • Vol. 14, No. 34 © 2004 Metro Pulse