Natural MSM and glucosamine are effective for arthritis

Natural MSM and glucosamine are effective for arthritis

Arthritis is a degenerative joint disease that causes cartilage breakdown in the joints. It causes chronic joint pain, swelling, and limited movement and usually affects the hands, knees, hips, neck, or back. Two recent landmark research studies were conducted testing natural sulfur-containing joint relief agents for osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis.

Sulfur-containing compounds such as glucosamine sulfate and MSM are promising for people with articular cartilage problems. They have been shown in studies to cure arthritis and provide relief. Sulfur is particularly concentrated in joints, nails, skin, hair and connective tissue, and sulfur deficiency can lead to arthritis symptoms.

Cartilage is the tough, elastic connective tissue that covers the ends of bones in joints. As the cartilage deteriorates, the bones can begin to grind together, causing pain and limitations in movement and flexibility. Until now, anti-inflammatory medications have been the most common treatment for arthritis symptoms, but they can have serious side effects.

MSM sulfur is a white, water-soluble element found in nature and in foods such as milk, fresh fruits, vegetables, seafood and meat. Food processing methods such as heating, washing and freezing all deplete MSM in food, making regular replenishment beneficial.

In an MSM study, Dr. Ronald Lawrence, a professor at the University of California School of Medicine, 16 patients with degenerative arthritis - a form of joint disease. Patients who took MSM daily for six weeks reported relief from arthritis pain, with an 80 percent reduction in pain. Dr. Lawrence has also conducted studies showing that MSM increases hair growth and brilliance, as well as nail thickness and length.

Glucosamine is approved as a medication in parts of Europe, but is widely used as a dietary supplement in the UK and US. An arthritis study examining the long-term use of glucosamine sulfate as a natural arthritis treatment was published in The Lancet.

Belgian researcher Jean Yves Reginster and his colleagues discovered that glucosamine sulfate not only improves the unpleasant symptoms of arthritis, but can also protect and promote the actual structure of the joints. Both MSM and glucosamine are natural substances found in cartilage that can decrease with age.

In the study, 212 patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to receive 1500 mg. of glucosamine sulfate or placebo once daily for 3 years. The researchers measured the joint space width in the knee joint at the beginning of the study and again after 1 and 3 years.

Patients receiving placebo had progressive joint space narrowing, whereas patients receiving glucosamine sulfate did not experience loss of joint space. Researchers found relief in joint pain and increased function after treatment with glucosamine.

MSM and glucosamine should be the first natural remedies one turns to when experiencing arthritis pain.