Celebrities Inspire Natural Solutions for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Stars Speak out about Their Painful Battles with Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder that causes pain throughout the body, muscle stiffness, limited motion, fatigue, and a variety of other symptoms. A slew of celebrities have revealed their struggles with this debilitating disorder, including Sopranos star Aida Turturro, actress Kathleen Turner and the late Oscar-winning actor James Coburn, in an effort to promote awareness of the condition. In 1999, James Coburn, then 70, told the press that he had “cured” himself of RA – after having given up on standard treatments — through a combination of a diet rich in MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane), deep tissue massage, and electromagnetic treatments. The world was stunned. Sales of MSM tripled.
Could such alternative therapies work for other RA sufferers too?
Here’s what we know about the treatments Coburn tried
MSM : an organic sulfur commonly found in many raw foods including fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, milk and grains. It is destroyed when these foods become processed. Coburn was likely taking MSM as a dietary supplement, however, which is derived from a raw material called DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide). While using MSM, arthritis patients have reported that their pain was significantly reduced. MSM has also offered an improvement to those with other autoimmune diseases, including osteoporosis and fibromyalgia. Nevertheless, Stanley Jacob MD, who developed MSM, affirms that it is “not a cure” for such conditions. The long term benefits and safety of using MSM as a dietary supplement have not been studied.
Deep Tissue Massage: 
This type of massage is often used on those who have suffered injury or damage to the joints, allowing for massage on the deepest layers of muscle. It can ease the inflammation, pain and stiffness of rheumatoid arthritis. Deep tissue massage may also help the patient to regain lost strength. This type of treatment allows for a close connection between the patient and practitioner, who can generate a program that’s best for the individual’s needs. Initially, deep tissue massage can cause soreness, but this should go away within a day or two.
Electromagnetic Treatments: Some believe that electric stimulation of the body may help it repair bone and cartilage; however this form of therapy is only currently approved by the FDA in limited forms and through clinical trials, which are being run for a variety of autoimmune disorders, including RA. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) units, for instance, are electrical stimulator devices that can deliver small electric currents of 0.0 to 12.0 volts to the patient’s affected areas as a non-surgical option for the relief of stiffness and pain.
Where’s the Cure?
While so-called experts continue to protect themselves by refusing to call these natural solutions “cures,” many others agree that sulfur deficiency a common link between RA and other auto immune and neurological conditions. So, obviously supplementing this mineral (MSM) and building immunity can greatly reduce aches and pains. Could the cure surface as mineral supplementation and immunity building?
Share your experiences.
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by Adrienne Rayski
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What? You have nothing to say?
Now is not the time to be silent. These issues affect us all
November 29th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
I don’t have arthritis, but I have Candida — which causes horrible muscle and joint pain and major fatigue. My son and I do have sulfur deficiency and supplement through diet. One great thing about the combination of massage and other therapies is that they help the body accept full benefit from dietary supplemenation. Sometimes, we can have defieciencies, take sipplements and not receive any benefit from them. I also recommend cranio sacral therapy. colon therapy, yoga, and an 80% alkaline diet to take stress away from the body. our bodies spend most of their time digesting our food (which takes away so much energy. By keeping our diets alkaline and easily digestible, we will gain much more energy to fight deficienccies and conquer pain.
Gina
December 3rd, 2007 at 11:21 am
Plus there’s no denying that massage just feels great!
August 12th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Sir,I have swelling on my right knee joint. An nothing with the other body parts. It seems little less while i am taking medicines. But if the medicines are not taken for a single day the swelling increases again. please tell me if it is rheumatoid arthritis? What is the better way to cure this