Arthritis & Joint Inflammation: Joint Formula

A combination of nutrients and herbs designed to support normal joint function and integrity. It combines some of the most potent agents known for reducing inflammation and maintaining and rebuilding the matrix of collagen and connective tissue of the joint.

Introduction

Arthritis is a condition characterized by an inflammation of a joint with accompanying pain, swelling, stiffness and redness. The term does not refer to just one disease, but rather to a number of joint disorders which can develop from a number of different conditions. Osteoarthritis, which is a natural consequence of aging joints, attacks the knees, hips, and fingers. It occurs when the cartilage cushion which lines the joints becomes stiffer and rougher. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most severe type of the disease and is classified as an autoimmune disorder. The body’s immune system acts against the joints and surrounding tissue the same way it would attack an unwanted invader. Joints in the hands, feet and arms become extremely painful, stiff and eventually deformed. This type of arthritis can affect the entire body. Gout is a disorder associated with a type of arthritis in which uric acid, a waste product, accumulates as crystals in the joints and causes inflammation.1

One can say that inflammation is always a factor in arthritic joint disease. In the case of osteoarthritis, the inflammation is a result of the damage to the joint, while in the case of rheumatoid arthritis, the inflammation is the cause of the damage!

Some of the antioxidants that are effective in modulating the inflammatory component of joint disease are discussed below, along with the various cartilage-protective agents, herbs and amino acids known to support and maintain health joint tissue.

Vitamin C

"Deficient intake of vitamin C is common among the elderly, resulting in altered cartilage synthesis and compromised cartilage repair. Several studies have demonstrated that vitamin C, like vitamin E, protects and enhances cartilage formation...by retarding the erosion of cartilage."5

It is important to note the role that vitamin plays in building and protecting collagen. As an antioxidant, vitamin C helps to control the inflammation of arthritis. And, in addition, it helps to rebuild and regenerate the damaged joint tissue as well.

Turmeric Extract

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a plant native to India, and is widely used as a spice. Medicinally, when standardized for its curcumin content, it demonstrates anti-inflammatory properties, some of which are similar to those of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It is also a powerful antioxidant, and is effective in treating the pain and inflammation of all types of arthritis.

Glucosamine Sulfate

Glucosamine has several important functions in the joints. It stimulates the production of two very important components of the joint—proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans. These special proteins serve to bind water in the cartilage matrix, providing a cushion between the various bones of the joint. Glucosamine also regulates cartilage metabolism, helping to keep cartilage build-up and break-down in balance.

Chondroitin Sulfate

"Chondroitin sulfate as well as shark cartilage, bovine cartilage extracts, and sea cucumber contain a mixture of intact or partially hydrolyzed GAGs (glycosaminoglycans)... Chondroitin sulfate is composed of repeating units of derivatives of glucosamine sulfa

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