For years we have been recommending caution with the orthodox pharmaceutical approach to arthritis treatment. We know that arthritis is effectively unmanageable in people who will not take action to improve their overall health. Too often people want to disregard good health practices, maintain unhealthy habits, invest no time or effort in learning about health and then expect a quick-fix medication, and expect it to work quickly and completely.
Drug companies (their products and their marketing), most medical practitioners and the grossly inadequate education system set people up for considerable pain and misery. At least two of those three actually stand to benefit from this long-standing situation, so it’s not likely to change too soon.
Adopting a positive health lifestyle and ensuring excellent nutrition, which entails avoiding a lot of negative-nutrition, are far better ways to tackle arthritis. Avoidance and prevention are always better than cure. When cure is sometimes promised but almost never delivered by orthodox treatments, prevention makes even better sense.
Of course this is cold comfort to someone who is already suffering from arthritis. So is there no hope?
Well, for those with arthritis, there remains hope. I would recommend a planned strategy to wean off drug-based treatments and move to herbs for cleansing and pain relief and nutritional supplements to ensure the body has the materials with which to begin repairs. An excellent starting point is the Musculotskeletal Needs page at Healthy Vitamin Choice, where you can learn foods to eat and ones to avoid, as well as some important nutrients to supplement.
A further excellent resource may be found in the Herb Health Guide. There is information on diseases of bones and muscles and their relief without drugs.
The court finding in Texas last week, that Merck’s drug Vioxx caused the death of Robert Ernst, is a timely public reminder of the importance of taking care of one’s own health, rather than risking being a victim of a so-called treatment system. If your doctor won’t support you in reducing use of drugs, consider finding a better doctor.
Learn how, and take care of your own health. It’s your life.