Arthritis
Can Red Light LED Therapy Help Ease Arthritis Pa…
Far too many people suffer pain from arthritis. Whether the doctor has diagnosed osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, patients may have trouble controlling the pain. Some take …
Does Generic Celecoxib Measure Up to Celebrex?
In March of 2015 we started hearing from readers of our syndicated newspaper column and visitors to this website that generic celecoxib was not working as well as the brand name Celebrex. The FDA appr…
Ibuprofen and High Blood Pressure: A Dangerous R…
Use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is on the rise (Open Heart, April 28, 2017). We're talking about drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen. Such pain relievers are perceived as quite safe…
How Safe Are Topical NSAIDs Like Voltaren Gel?
When the FDA allowed drug companies to sell NSAIDs over the counter we were concerned. That's because drugs like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, etc) and naproxen (Aleve) came with some pretty serious si…
What Are the Advantages of Voltaren Gel?
Inflammation is behind a lot of chronic disease, including arthritis. That is why nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and naproxen are so popular among people with joint pain.…
What to Do About Arthritis Pain When NSAIDs Are …
Tens of millions of people suffer constant arthritis pain. Many of them have severe joint deterioration. The usual recommendation is to take NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). You know: ib…
Will Herbal Oils Ease Arthritis Pain?
Many people have a very difficult time managing their arthritis pain. Perhaps they take NSAID drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen. Although these medicines can help temporarily with pain relief, they …
When Drugs Are Dangerous, Natural Remedies Ease …
People with arthritis often face a terrible dilemma because the medications that are most commonly used to ease stiffness and discomfort in the joints can have nasty side effects. NSAIDs such as diclo…
Turmeric and Curcumin for Arthritis
Turmeric and its most active ingredient curcumin have gotten plenty of attention for their anti-inflammatory properties. We have heard from readers that this yellow spice used in curry powder and must…
Do You Read OTC Medication Labels? You Should!
Americans LOVE Drugs. I am not talking about getting high. I am talking about pills we purchase in pharmacies, convenience stores and online. According to a study published in the journal Demography (…
What Can You Do for Your Knee Arthritis?
You don’t have to be a baby boomer to suffer from knee pain. Plenty of younger people have pain that they can trace to overuse or to a specific injury. Older people also may be afflicted with arthri…
Golden Raisins in Gin: Placebo or Powerful Arthr…
Are you a skeptic? Do you think all home remedies are nothing more than old wives' tales? Snake oil? Silliness? Or do you keep an open mind and wonder why such approaches are handed down from generati…
How to Make Gin-Soaked Raisins for Joint Pain
Have you looked at the side effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) lately? Drugs like diclofenac, ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketoprofen, meloxicam, piroxicam and naproxen can cause hig…
What Is the Alternative to Grape Juice and Pecti…
Arthritis, joint pain and inflammation and rheumatism have plagued human beings since prehistoric times. Possibly as a result, there are more home remedies for arthritis than you could count easily. T…
How Do You Weigh the Benefits and Risks of Aspir…
Aspirin has been around for over 100 years. Moreover, it is one of the most versatile drugs in the pharmacy. This tablet relieves pain, lowers fever and reduces inflammation. In addition, it has anti-…
Why Home Remedies Deserve Respect
Before there were pharmaceutical companies, drug commercials on television, pharmacists or physicians, there were herbs and home remedies. There is archeological evidence that our stone age ancestors …
Why Would Anyone Try Wacky Arthritis Remedy from…
Joint pain is such a common problem that people have invented many different approaches to easing it. One wacky arthritis remedy was reputed to be the recommendation of the famous Mayo brothers, found…
Show 1341: Lessons Learned from Long Illness
You may not have thought much about long illness, but chances are you know someone who is suffering with one. The CDC estimates that some chronic condition afflicts as many as one in six American adul…
The Dark Side of Cortisone Shots: Joint Deterior…
You have no doubt heard about “steroids.” By the way, this is a terrible term! It causes nothing but confusion. We promise not to overwhelm you with chemistry. The core structure of steroids can b…
Show 1340: Were the Old Wives Right?
This week’s episode begins with an interview. We talk with Dr. Craig Hopp of the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health about why doctors so often dismiss home remedies as old wive…
Cortisone Injections Can Have Devastating Effect…
What will the doctor offer you if you have a stubborn pain in a joint? Frequently, physicians turn to cortisone injections to ease the pain for a while. Before you agree to such treatment, make sure y…
Pectin and Grape Juice to Ease Sore Joints
People with arthritis usually rely on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen for pain relief, but these medicines can cause trouble if a person takes them for a lo…
Do You Take Your Pain Medicine for Granted?
If you are like most Americans the chances are very good that you have one of the following in your medicine cabinet or in a kitchen drawer: acetaminophen (Tylenol), aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin …
How to Help Arthritis Pain with Chair Yoga
Researchers at Florida Atlantic University report that chair yoga can be an effective treatment for people suffering from osteoarthritis pain (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, online Dec. 2…
Black Pepper Boosts Turmeric’s Benefits
Scientists have been studying the yellow spice turmeric and its primary component curcumin for more than two decades. They have found evidence that it has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticancer…
How to Use Turmeric to Ease Your Joint Pain
People with arthritis find themselves in a difficult situation. Trying to stay active and enjoy life when your joints hurt is a huge challenge. On the other hand, most of the medications such as NSAID…
Is There Any Science to Support Glucosamine for …
For decades, we have been agnostic about the use of glucosamine for arthritis. Some readers praised this dietary supplement while others denounced it. Studies have arrived at conflicting conclusions. …
Are Doctors Overprescribing Gabapentin for Pain?
Let's be perfectly honest. Many doctors have a difficult time dealing with patients in pain. Most medical schools devote relatively little time to teaching about pain management. The same can be said …
Show 1298: The Health Benefits of Tart Cherries …
In our nationally syndicated radio show this week, we talk with two scientists who have been studying how eating cherries affects our physiology. Both are experts in sports medicine who have done some…
Drug Boomerang: When Meds Cause What They Should…
When a doctor prescribes a medicine there is an implicit promise that it will relieve symptoms or cure us when we are ill. The Hippocratic Oath that most physicians take upon graduation is widely unde…
Do Treatments for Knee Arthritis Do More Harm Th…
Steroid shots and arthroscopic surgery have been mainstays in the treatment of pain and inflammation brought on by knee arthritis. Many people try to delay knee replacement as long as possible, especi…
Will the Gin and Raisin Remedy Help Hip and Knee…
We first heard about the gin and raisin remedy for arthritis nearly 30 years ago. On May 16, 1994 we received this letter: "A neighbor gave my wife a recipe for "arthritis relief" that involves soakin…
Spicy Supplement Solves Pain Problem
We love skeptics. These are people who approach both prescription drugs and home remedies with a healthy dose of doubt. That is as it should be. Outcomes matter. Do NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflamm…
What Will MSM Do for Joint Pain?
Arthritis creates such dilemmas for its sufferers. Some medications alleviate pain reasonably well, but many or most of them have serious side effects. Narcotics cause addiction if they are used for e…
Natural Approaches or Pharmaceuticals for What A…
Medical and pharmacy students must respect pharmaceuticals. They learn how drugs work (mechanism of action) and understand that the randomized controlled trials that lead to FDA approval are the gold …
Anti-inflammatory Activity of Turmeric and Other…
Drugs with anti-inflammatory activity are immensely popular. Millions of people take NSAIDs such as celecoxib, diclofenac, ibuprofen or naproxen on a regular basis. Such medicines can have serious dow…
Juice-Vinegar-Pectin Mixture Eased Joint Pain
When your joints ache and creak, you probably want relief. Will you reach for aspirin or Aleve or try a glass of a juice-vinegar mixture? Some readers are surprisingly enthusiastic about home remedies…
Turmeric Helped Dog’s Stiff Hips
We have received an impressive number of messages from people who insist that turmeric helped ease their arthritis pain. You can read about recent research at this link. A study published in Clinical …
Show 1302: Managing the Microbiome for Better He…
In our nationally syndicated radio show this week, we with an international expert about managing the microbiome. How does the microbiome interact with our immune system? Each of us has trillions of m…
Castor Oil Helped Prevent Knee Surgery
Castor oil is an old-time remedy. The oil comes from the seeds of the Ricinus communis plant, which has been used for thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians used castor oil in their lamps because i…