TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
1. What is Arthritis?
- General Symptoms
- Accompanying Signs
- A Little Anatomy: The Joints
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Spondyloarthropathy
- Juvenile Arthritis
- Gout
- Pseudogout
- Reactive and Septic Arthritis
- Other Forms of Arthritis
2. What Causes Arthritis?
- The Immune System
- Joint Inflammation
- Wear and Tear, Damage or Trauma
- Bacterial Infections
- Viral Joint Invasion
- Germ or Field?
- Chemical Toxins
- Genetic Factors
- Autoimmunity
- Nutritional Factors
- Conclusion
3. The Pharmaceutical Option
- Arthritis Medications
- COX Inhibitors
- Selective COX-inhibitor NSAIDs
- Corticosteroids
- Immune System Modifying Drugs
- Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors
- T-cell Co-stimulatory blockers
- B-Cell Depletors
- Interleukin-1 (IL-1) Antagonists
- Other Immune Modulation Agents
- Gout Treatment: Hyperuricemia Drugs
- Surgical Treatments Used for Arthritis
- Conclusion
4: The Botanical Solution
- Botanicals Used Traditionally for Rheumatism and Various Forms of Arthritis
- Selected Herbal Formulations
- Foods and Spices for Arthritis
- Antioxidants
- Botanical Anti-inflammatory Nutrition
- Conclusion
5: Fallacies of Glucosamine and Chondroitin
- Contradictions in Research
- Nutrient Absorption and Utilization
- The Sulfur Connection
- Conclusion
6: Other Arthritis Solutions
- Sunshine
- Motion and Exercise
- Hydration
- Massage and Aromatherapy
- Probiotics
- Stress and Sleep
7: The Bottom Line
References and Bibliography
Index