Lose the Pain by Addressing the Cause

. . . glucosamine addresses arthritic pain by healing joints There isn’t a single drug for relieving arthritic pain that doesn’t have serious adverse side effects.  Yet there is a natural substance that has been shown to alleviate pain as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS). Because it is a normal body constituent, it has few side effects (mild stomach upset is usually alleviated by taking it with food). Best of all, it reduces osteoarthritic pain primarily by addressing and healing its cause – deteriorating joints. This substance is glucosamine. The bones in our joints are cushioned by cartilage bathed in lubricating fluid. Osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage breaks down faster than it can be produced, becoming thin, stiff and dry. The bones begin to rub against each other, causing pain, inflammation and further damage to cartilage, as well as to other tissues, nerves and bone. Glucosamine, found in almost all body tissues, is a basic building block for both cartilage and joint fluids. Although it can't restore cartilage that has completely worn away, it stimulates the production of new cartilage molecules and decreases the enzymes that break it down. It hastens healing of joint injuries like sprains and muscle injuries (strains), and is particularly effective in protecting and strengthening cartilage around knees, hips, spine and hands. In 2001, a study published in The Lancet followed over 200 people who received either 1,500 mg of glucosamine sulfate per day or a placebo for three years.  Although those in the placebo group experienced deteriorating joints and worsening symptoms, joint deterioration in the glucosamine group did not progress (and in some cases was slightly reversed) and symptoms improved. Several studies have shown glucosamine to be as effective as NSAIDS. For example a 1998 Chinese study compared glucosamine with ibuprofen. During 4 weeks of treatment, glucosamine sulfate (again at 1,500 mg/day) outperformed ibuprofen at its recommended dose in symptom relief and was much better tolerated.  Because glucosamine alleviates pain by healing joints, it may not have a dramatic impact right away. For most people, it takes 4-6 weeks for results to become apparent. However it becomes progressively more effective with time. Unfortunately, most people who’ve tried glucosamine have been disappointed. This is primarily because low-quality glucosamine has flooded the market. To get the right results, you need to start out with a high quality glucosamine, such as you’ll find in Beyond Health’s Joint Protection Formula, together with supporting and anti-inflammatory nutrients. Those with shellfish allergies may have an allergic reaction to glucosamine.  

Reginster JY. Long-term effects of glucosamine sulphate on osteoarthritis progression: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Lancet, January 2001;357(9252):251-256.

 Qiu GX. Efficacy and safety to glucosamine sulfate versus ibuprofen in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Arzneimittelforschung. 1998;48:469-474.