Naturalpath

Informing yourself of the myriad health conditions in this world is not only important in keeping yourself healthy, but, in turn, creating a healthy community of the people around you.

In the list below, you'll find links to comprehensive descriptions of hundreds of health conditions, with information on symptoms, therapies, product ratings, herbs, holistic options and more. If you can't find what you're looking for, try writing a blog entry to get advice from the Naturalpath community. Hey, it's what we're here for.

Healthnotes Newswire (May 24, 2007)—People with arthritis often look for alternatives to drug medicine, but a new analysis has determined that chondroitin doesn’t reduce symptoms, despite some research to the contrary and the supplement’s loyal following of people who feel it has helped them.

Cartilage provides the cushion between bones that meet and form joints. It holds more water, is softer, and can repair and replace itself more quickly than bone. As we age, the repair process slows down and the layer of cartilage in the joints thins and can eventually disappear. Osteoarthritis is the joint condition marked by this thinning of cartilage and the resulting pain and stiffness.

Healthnotes Newswire (May 3, 2007)—Pain relief is one of the most common reasons that people seek medical care, and now people looking for alternatives to drugs have another place to turn. A new report finds that omega-3 fatty acids from fish are effective for relieving joint pain associated with a variety of conditions.

Nutritional, herbal, and homeopathic supplements have become increasingly popular among people looking for pain relief, owing in part to concerns about the side effects of anti-inflammatory and analgesic medicines. While some of these natural therapies have promising evidence supporting their effectiveness, many remain unstudied.

Healthnotes Newswire (April 12, 2007)—Arnica (Arnica montana), also known as leopard’s bane, has been used as a topical medicine since at least the sixteenth century. Now modern clinical research shows it to be equal to topical ibuprofen in treating osteoarthritis of the hands.

“Although a multitude of topical gel preparations for osteoarthritis of the hands are used by patients and prescribed by doctors, we set out to evaluate whether there was a noticeable difference between a commonly used synthetic NSAID [nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug] and a modern preparation of a traditional medical plant,” said Jörg Melzer, MD, of the Institute of Complementary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, at the University of Zurich in Switzerland. “We chose this specific arnica preparation because of its demonstrated anti-inflammatory action, its ability to penetrate the skin, and its availability as a gel similar to ibuprofen gel.”

Try as we might, it is hard to outdo nature. Supplements are a great way to get antioxidants, but the best way to increase antioxidants in your body is through diet. A recent USDA study listed red beans, pinto beans, artichokes, prunes, and berries (including blueberries, cranberries, blackberries, and raspberries) as having the highest levels of antioxidants.

”The amount of antioxidants in your body is directly proportional to how long you will live."
- Dr. Richard Cutler, former Director of the National Institute of Aging, Washington