Arthritis
Arthritis
I'm the bass fiddle player in a five-member band called Durham Station. In recent years three of our band members or their relatives have been using an herb known as stinging nettle to relieve their arthritis pain. Although stinging nettle does cook up into a tasty vegetable, these musicians aren't eating it. Rather, they're stinging themselves with it by grasping the plant in a gloved hand and then swatting their stiff, swollen joints.
This practice, called urtication--from nettle's botanical name, Urtica dioica--dates back at least 2,000 years to biblical times. Although it's an odd-sounding practice, there's no escaping the fact that it's been around so long precisely because it helps so many people.
Not only does our banjo player keep a plant in his kitchen so that he can self-urticate when his arthritis flares up, but he and the other arthritis-afflicted band members are convincing nonmembers to try the remedy. The guitar player's mother-in-law was unable to write because of arthritis in her hands, but the sting of the nettle improved that. The fiddle player's mother now has stinging nettle taking over her garden, and she says her arthritis is "much improved."
And just so you don't think that urtication is something that only crazy musicians indulge in, my former secretary at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) kept a nettle plant in the office. She would remove the nettles and discreetly sting herself any time arthritis stiffened her fingers.
Urtication often provides considerable relief. Sometimes the stuff works pretty fast; I have seen arthritic swelling subside within minutes after the stings were administered.
The Case for the Sting
I'm open to the notion that stinging nettle's anti-arthritic action is based on distraction, meaning that the irritation of the sting simply takes people's minds off their arthritis pain. That's an explanation you might hear from doctors. But as a botanist, I have to say that I think what's going on is more chemical than psychological.
The tiny stingers of the nettle plant actually provide microinjections of several chemicals that are responsible for the stinging sensation that the plant causes. One M.D. told me that many of these chemicals might also trigger
anti-inflammatory action that would help relieve arthritis.
And there's strong folkloric evidence that stinging nettle has some specific anti-arthritic properties. On every continent where it grows, stinging nettle has developed a reputation as a treatment for arthritis. That might be a coincidence, but I don't think so.
If you'd like to give urtication a try, you shouldn't have much problem locating a plant. It's a common weed throughout most of the country. (See the illustration on page 95.) If you're not sure how to identify it, you'll need to ask someone in the know; someone who works at a plant nursery or your local county agricultural extension agent should be able to help.
The Gin-and-Raisins Cure Some years ago, the newsman Paul Harvey recommended raisins soaked in gin for all manner of aches and pains, including arthritis. Here's a letter I received on this subject from a correspondent in Mesa, Arizona: "After reading a Paul Harvey commentary on gin-soaked raisins, a group of friends and I decided to give it a try. It really works. We have all enjoyed great relief from arthritic aches and pains. After 15 years of pain, I'm almost totally pain-free. I've been taking pain pills for years with only minimal relief. Some kinds of pain that have been relieved or eliminated after taking the gin-soaked raisin formula include migraine headaches, gout and arthritic pain in joints. Several people reported a decrease in pains that awakened them at night, enabling them to have an uninterrupted sleep. In your research, have you discovered why it works so well?" I replied: "No, but I am going home to a gin Collins with grape juice, since I prefer grapes to raisins." If you benefit from gin-steeped raisins, the raisins probably do you more good than the gin. Grapes and raisins contain many pain relieving, anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory chemicals. Looking over the long list of compounds that occur naturally in grapes, I see such pain relievers as ferulic acid, gentisic acid, kaempferol-glucosides and aspirin-like salicylic acid. Grapes and raisins also contain several anti-inflammatory compounds: ascorbic acid, cinnamic acid, coumarin, myricetin, quercetin and quercitrin. And in 1997, there was a flurry of interest in resveratrol, yet another anti-inflammatory compound of which grapes are the best source. Ounce for ounce, raisins contain more of all of these compounds than grapes because they contain less water. All of these pain relievers occur at low levels in raisins, so I doubt that the mere seven gin-soaked raisins that Harvey touted would contain significant doses. My correspondent might have benefited from a placebo effect: Believing enough in a remedy really can help it work. But a large quantity of raisins might well provide significant pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory benefits. Personally, I'd be tempted to try raisins before depending on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The raisins are surely less likely to do you any harm than the gin they're soaked in, especially if you're prone to gout. Alcohol is a major trigger of excruciating gout attacks. I can guarantee that my big toe will swell if I drink a six-pack of beer and don't take my allopurinol. But if you don't have gout (and are not an alcoholic), modest consumption of alcohol may help relieve arthritis pain. |
Joints in Trouble
Arthritis literally means "joint inflammation." According to the Arthritis Foundation, there are more than 100 different diseases that produce joint pain and inflammation--everything from the flu to certain cancers. But when people say "arthritis," they usually mean osteoarthritis.
Also known as degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis is the most prevalent of more than a dozen different kinds of arthritis. Some 16 million Americans have it. The hips, knees, spine and the tiny joints of the hands and feet are most frequently affected. Osteoarthritis usually develops gradually, beginning with minor aches that eventually lead to extended pain, stiffness, swelling and limited range of motion. Symptoms sometimes subside with gentle physical activity, but not always.
Another common form of arthritis is the rheumatoid variety. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has a nasty reputation because it can cause crippling joint deformity. But many of the 2.1 million Americans with RA--approximately 75 percent of whom are women--have milder, noncrippling cases that flare up and subside mysteriously.
Frequently, both hands are affected, but RA can strike other joints as well. In addition to joint pain, swelling and warmth, possible symptoms include fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, enlarged lymph nodes, lumps under the skin and muscle stiffness after sleep or inactivity. Stiffness usually subsides with moderate activity.
Green Pharmacy for Arthritis
Fortunately, along with stinging nettle, there are a number of other herbs that can help.
Arthritis Soup Here's one for people who like quantitative recipes. Start by combining the main ingredients, then season them with dashes of any of the seasonings that appeal to you. You don't need all of these, and you can play with the proportions and flavors, if you like. If an ingredient doesn't appeal to you or is unavailable, simply leave it out. 34 quarts water 2 cups chopped cabbage 1 cup sliced string beans (1" pieces) 1 cup chopped celery 1 cup stinging nettle leaves 1/2 cup diced carrots 1/2 cup chopped asparagus 1/2 cup dandelion leaves 1/2 cup finely chopped dandelion root 1/4 cup chopped spinach 1/4 cup cubed eggplant 1/4 cup chopped chicory 2 tablespoons minced garlic 2 tablespoons turmeric 2 tablespoons licorice 2 tablespoons evening primrose seeds Ground red pepper Ground black pepper White mustard Flaxseed Sarsaparilla Fenugreek Lemon juice Place the water in a large soup pot. Add the cabbage, beans, celery, nettle, carrots, asparagus, dandelion leaves, dandelion root, spinach, eggplant, chicory, garlic, turmeric, licorice and evening primrose seeds. Season with the red pepper, black pepper, mustard, flaxseed, sarsaparilla, fenugreek and lemon juice. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender. Makes 4 servings |
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) and turmeric (Curcuma longa). In one study, Indian researchers gave three to seven grams (11Ž2 to 31Ž2 teaspoons) of ginger a day to 18 people with osteoarthritis and 28 with rheumatoid arthritis. More than 75 percent of those participating in the study reported at least some relief from pain and swelling. Even after more than two years of taking these high doses of ginger, none of the people reported side effects. This study is one reason that Jean Carper, author of Food: Your Miracle Medicine, drinks ginger tea for her osteoarthritis.
The curcumin in turmeric is a close chemical relative of some compounds found in ginger, so I'm not surprised that this herb also has a major reputation as an arthritis treatment.
You can enjoy both herbs in a wide variety of spicy dishes as well as use them to make teas.
Pineapple (Ananas comosus). Some intriguing research suggests that bromelain, a chemical in pineapple, helps prevent inflammation. For some time now, athletic trainers have been recommending pineapple to athletes to prevent and treat sports injuries. I think it's also a good bet for people with arthritis. Bromelain can help the body get rid of immune antigen complex, compounds that are implicated in some arthritic conditions. It also helps digest fibrin, another compound suspected of being involved in some types of arthritis. If you need an excuse to indulge yourself with fresh, ripe pineapple, this is it.
 Pineapple This tasty fruit is rich in vitamin C and immune-boosting minerals. |
Red pepper (Capsicum, various species). Red pepper causes some pain on the tongue, but ironically, it interferes with pain perception elsewhere around the body. The pain-relieving chemical in red pepper, capsaicin, triggers the body to release endorphins, nature's own opiates. Red pepper also contains aspirin-like compounds known as salicylates.
You can make a tea by mixing red pepper into water, but it would be a whole lot more pleasurable to have your red pepper cooked in a variety of spicy dishes. For a quick hit, try a splash of hot-pepper sauce in tomato juice.
Compounds in red pepper can also help relieve arthritis when you apply the herb to the skin. Researchers have discovered that you'll get significant pain relief if you apply capsaicin cream directly to painful arthritic joints four times daily. In one study of this treatment, the capsaicin cream reduced RA pain by more than half. Osteoarthritis pain was reduced by about one-third.
Capsaicin creams are generally believed safe and effective for arthritis. Look for capsaicin in the ingredient list of over-the-counter pain creams such as Zostrix or Capzasin-P or ask your doctor for a prescription capsaicin product. If you use a capsaicin cream, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly afterward: You don't want to get it in your eyes. Also, since some people are quite sensitive to this compound, you should test it on a small area of skin to make sure that it's okay for you to use before using it on a larger area. If it seems to irritate your skin, discontinue use.
Multi-mint Antioxidant Arthritis Tea Rosemary and oregano are both antioxidant mints. Add several more antioxidant herbs to these two, and you get my Multi-Mint Antioxidant Tea. The mints are basil, bee balm, horehound, hyssop, lemon balm (also known as melissa), marjoram, oregano, peppermint, rosemary, sage, savory, spearmint and thyme. It makes sense to top it off with a dash of ginger and turmeric. I checked my database to see if, in addition to their antioxidant value, any of these herbs contain proven anti-arthritic compounds. Sure enough, basil had five, while marjoram, oregano and rosemary weighed in with a few each. How much of each herb should you use to make this tea? People always ask me that, and I never know what to say. My teas are never the same; I use a little of this and a little of that. But to satisfy people who need recipes, I'll say to use two parts of the ingredients you like and one part of those you find less appealing. Pour boiling water over the herbs and let them steep for 10 to 20 minutes before drinking. |
stinging nettle (Urtica dioica). Beyond stinging painful joints, there's another method of using this herb to treat arthritis--steaming the fresh leaves and enjoying them as a vegetable. You'll be relieved to know that although you do have to wear gloves to harvest the leaves, the fuzzy stingers lose their sting when the leaves are cooked.
The Rheumatoid Disease Foundation suggests that three milligrams of boron, taken daily, may be helpful in treating osteoarthritis and RA. An analysis of stinging nettle provided to me by USDA scientists shows that this herb contains 47 parts per million of the mineral boron, figured on a dry-weight basis. That means that a 100-gram serving of stinging nettle, easily prepared by steaming several ounces of young, tender leaves, could easily contain more than the recommended three milligrams of boron. (You can also get a good portion of nettle in my Arthritis Soup; see page 56.)
According to the Rheumatoid Disease Foundation, boron is effective because it plays a role in helping bones retain calcium. It also has a beneficial influence on the body's endocrine (hormonal) system, and hormones play a role in helping the body maintain healthy bones and joints.
Oregano (Origanum vulgare). Studies are accumulating that the "pizza herb," oregano, is a powerful antioxidant. Like other antioxidants contained in fruits and vegetables, the compounds in oregano may help prevent the cell damage caused by free radicals--highly unstable oxygen molecules that steal electrons from other molecules they encounter. Free radical reactions are probably involved in inflammation, degenerative arthritis and the aging process in general. And evidence is accumulating that antioxidants may help relieve osteoarthritis and RA.
In a test of nearly100 plants in the mint family, of which oregano is a member, the pizza herb was the one that had the greatest total antioxidant activity. Research has shown that the antioxidant activity of oregano and other medicinal mints is due in large part to rosmarinic acid, a compound with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiviral properties. Considering how highly it ranks for this kind of protection, oregano is definitely worth adding to your pizza, or any other food, if you have arthritis. You could also try my Multi-Mint Antioxidant Arthritis Tea.
Willow (Salix, various species), garlic (Allium sativum) and licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra). Willow bark was the original herbal aspirin. It contains a chemical called salicin, which the Bayer Company eventually transformed into little white tablets of acetylsalicylic acid--the painkilling drug called aspirin that so many people with arthritis take daily.
Willow bark tea has pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects similar to those of aspirin. But because the irritation-causing ingredient in aspirin tablets is diluted in tea, you'll have less risk of stomach upset, ulcer and overdose if you take the tea instead of the pills.
Still, willow bark might upset your stomach. That's why I've included licorice in this formula. Not only does licorice have anti-inflammatory effects, it may also help treat any gastrointestinal problems caused by the willow.
But the formula is not quite complete without garlic. While long-term use or ingestion of large amounts of licorice can raise some people's blood pressure and lead to other problems (headache, lethargy, sodium and water retention, excessive loss of potassium), garlic helps reduce blood pressure. So here's the formula for a well-balanced Anti-Arthritis Tea: approximately three parts dried willow bark, two parts dried licorice root and one part minced garlic. Pour boiling water over the mixture and steep for about 15 minutes. If you don't like the taste, add lemon and/or honey, plus ginger and turmeric to taste.
Brazil nut (Bertholettia excelsa) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus). SAM is shorthand for
S-adenosyl-methionine, a chemical shown to have pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties similar to those found in the over-the-counter medication ibuprofen.
SAM can be found in high-methionine seeds and nuts, particularly sunflower seeds and Brazil nuts. It would take 250 grams of sunflower seeds (about 9 ounces) or 500 grams of Brazil nuts (18 ounces) to provide a dose of SAM that's more effective than a standard dose of ibuprofen. It's not feasible to eat that many nuts and seeds, but I believe that every little bit helps, especially if you use the other natural approaches this chapter recommends.
So go ahead and sprinkle some sunflower seeds on your salad. And when you're nibbling mixed nuts in company, don't apologize for monopolizing the Brazil nuts.
Broccoli (Brassica oleracea) and other herbs containing glutathione. Studies indicate that people who are low in the antioxidant compound glutathione are more likely to have arthritis than those who have higher amounts.
Vegetables rich in glutathione include asparagus, cabbage, cauliflower, potatoes, tomatoes and purslane. Fruits with healthy amounts include avocados, grapefruit, oranges, peaches and watermelon.
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis). Rosemary was known in antiquity as the herb of remembrance. I find that quite fitting, since rosemary has antioxidants that help prevent aging in cells, and the aging process is certainly associated with memory loss. One Greek-American herb grower tells how her fishing relatives set out to sea with fish dishes heavily covered with rosemary. Even when it was unrefrigerated, this food lasted for days, thanks in part to the antioxidant activity of the rosemary.
Can an herb that keeps fish from spoiling help preserve your youth? The jury is still out on that one, but rosemary has preservative powers comparable to the commercial preservatives BHA and BHT. And since we know that antioxidants do help treat arthritis, it makes sense that this antioxidant-rich herb would help thwart this disease.
Vitamin C. Vitamin C inhibits the progression of osteoarthritis in guinea pigs. Does it work in humans? There's no proof yet that it does, but it certainly can't hurt to get more vitamin C. Red pepper and many of the other herbs and vegetables mentioned in this chapter contain good amounts.
Arthritis Broth To make this broth, begin with a couple of cups of water and add red pepper, burdock, black pepper, celery seed, dandelion, garlic, ginger, horseradish, juniper, lemongrass, oregano, papaya, sarsaparilla, thyme, turmeric, valerian, watercress, white mustard and willow bark. Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat and simmer for a few minutes. I confess that I have never made this broth in its entirety. I just opportunistically seize any of these ingredients that are near at hand. If you press me for a recipe, I'd say use four dashes each of burdock, dandelion, papaya, turmeric and watercress; two dashes of celery seed, garlic, ginger and oregano; and one dash each of the others, as available. This might be too spicy for your taste, but if so, you have my permission to alter the recipe to suit your own taste. |
