Alternative Therapies for Joint Health

Joint health is a common concern facing most of us today, no matter the age or level of activity. Symptoms of joint pain include swelling, stiffness, and/or warmth in your joints. This is usually caused by infection or inflammation. A doctor needs to be seen if chronic pain persists. Depending on the cause, relief can be found through surgery, drugs, or natural remedies.

For athletes and bodybuilders joint pain is most likely caused by failing to warm up properly, exercising too much or too often and using heavier weights than they should. It is absolutely necessary to let you body recover from working out, and that means taking a day off here and there. Combined with incorrect form during lifting and an improper diet there�s a lot of room for error.

The average everyday folk suffer from joint pain as well. What do they do that causes them to worry about joint health? Overexertion affects the average Joe in all sorts of ways. Injury, gout, types of arthritis (Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid), tendonitis, bursitis and infectious disease can also play a part. So it�s easy to see why joint health is a problem for a lot of people.

It�s understandable why surgery should be saved as a last resort. The risk of more infection, pain, and cost are enough to look into other therapies first. Surgery or joint replacement sometimes can require days in the hospital and even longer time off from work. There�s also a good chance that you will need to go back years later and have the same replacement done. Finding a way to pay for the surgery is getting increasingly more difficult, as the number of insured dwindles and costs rise.

Many drugs have dangerous side effects and their prescriptions aren�t covered by insurance either. The most popular of these are inflammatory drugs called COX-2 inhibitors. Unfortunately the risk of heart attack and stroke are great, which is why we saw Vioxx pulled from shelves. Over the counter medications such as Aleve and Motrin can have similar effects as prescribed drugs, so that�s a problem not many take into consideration.

However, alternative remedies for joint health are available and have been for a long time. It is now making a comeback in a big way. Natural joint pain medication can offer a safer and more effective option to drugs and surgery. There�s nothing to lose by trying these products as they are relatively inexpensive and side effects are minimal.

Along with yoga, acupuncture and acupressure, natural products can positively impact joint health. Glucosamine, MSM, chondroitin sulfate, and collagen protein have been proven to aid joint health. They help strengthen joints naturally and support cartilage.

Glucosamine is an amino sugar found in shellfish. It works to stimulate joint function and repair. As we age, we lose the ability to produce sufficient quantities of glucosamine. We need a certain amount to produce synovial fluid, which lubricates our cartilage and maintains healthy joints. Another added benefit is that it provides a buffering action against the wear and tear of joints.

Low amounts of glucosamine lead to hardening of the cartilage and bone spurs which lead to deformities in the joints. There is only one brand proven in published U.S. studies to reduce joint pain. Cosamin DS Double Strength Joint Health Supplement is the product that sports trainers recommend to the professional athletes that they treat. This product can be hard to find, but luckily the Natural Health Shoppe sells Cosamin DS at a low, low price. If you want to buy anything to help your joints, make sure this is it!

Schiff Glucosamine Highest Potency Joint Care is a formula found in tablet form that combines 1500 mg of glucosamine and 1500 mg of MSM. Talk about extra strength! Best of all, there are no added sugars, salt, wheat, gluten, or milk. This helps maintain healthy structure and function of cartilage in joints.

Another highly recommended natural product that repairs cartilage is Joint Elixir, which contains other helpful ingredients and comes in liquid form. Mango and pineapple flavors are added to the fortified drink so you can drink it straight or in a beverage.

Need an easy to take formula to hydrate and lubricate your joints for added cushioning? Joint Juice is a dietary supplement that will do just that for you in a ready made can. Results will be seen in just four to eight weeks with daily use.

MSM is the organic form of sulfur and you can get this from your diet. It�s effective at relieving inflammation but works best when used in conjunction with glucosamine because it helps the amino sugar to work better and faster. MSM is basically what holds the cartilage, ligaments, and muscles in place. If you�re looking for liquid form, Joint Movement Glucosamine with Chondroitin & MSM is a must have alternative product. MSM 1500 mg tablets are also sold as supplements.

Finally there�s a supplement on the market that improves your mood along with helping joints and the liver. Mood Plus Sam-e does all that without artificial flavorings or preservatives. The substance Sam-e found in our bodies diminishes over time due to aging, poor nutrition, and health problems. This depletion can cause depression or mood swings.

Chondroitin sulfate is a helpful natural remedy that can slow osteoarthritis. It�s a major component found in cartilage by providing structure and holding in the water and nutrients. Again, Liquid Joint Elixir and Cosamin DS Double Strength Joint Health Supplement are great sources of Chondroiton sulfate. Another product to pick up is Move Free Advanced tablets, which is two times more effective than glucosamine and chondroitin alone.

NeoCell Super Collagen + C Type I and III provides great results in maintaining the strength and flexibility of skin, ligaments, joints, muscles and much more. This product contains the main collagen types in connective tissue. Loss of collagen is our face lead to wrinkles, but in our joints it leads to pain. Collagen makes up 70-90% of what holds our joints and bones together, so any natural supplement of it will greatly help joint health.

There is more than sufficient scientific evidence backing the claim of natural joint health products and supplements. Clinical tests provided by Boston University School of Medicine have shown that glucosamine and chondroiton sulfate show some efficacy against symptoms of osteoarthritis. Clinical research has shown that pilot studies have suggested MSM has beneficial effects in joint repair.

University of Tennessee related that a clinical trial linking collagen with growth near joint areas were encouraging. Many more studies exist that have come to the same conclusion. These alternative remedies are actually helping to promote joint health and repair. When these remedies are used in conjunction with one another, the results are extremely positive.

With the many items available at the Natural Health Shoppe, you�ll be sure to relieve your aching, sore joints. You won�t find a better price anywhere else. There�s nothing to lose so begin repairing your body today, in a natural way!

Alternative remedies there range in categories from stress relief to weight loss and anti aging products. Here is a total list of products that promote joint health found in their store: