Q: What are dietary supplements?
Dietary supplements, including plant-and animal-derived products, are not classified as or considered to be drugs, but that doesn’t mean they can’t act like them. To be classified as a dietary supplement, a product must be taken by mouth and contain a “dietary ingredient” – that is, a substance intended to be taken in addition to, not instead of, healthy foods. Overall, dietary supplements include vitamins, minerals, botanicals, amino acids and any part of those substances, such as extracts or concentrates.
Q: Why do I need to talk to my doctor about the supplements I take or want to take?
Plants produce chemicals just as people and animals do. Those chemicals, while from a source found in nature, can have effects on the body ranging from mild to potent, just like chemicals produced in a laboratory. Because supplements are, in fact, chemicals, they have the potential to interact with chemicals in manmade medications. That’s why you need to get the go-ahead from your doctor about supplements – not just once but each and every time you consider trying one.
Q: How are dietary supplements different from medication?
When you go to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription, you have three layers of protection between you and the product. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reviewed and approved it, your doctor has considered your history and prescribed it, and your pharmacist alerts you to possible interactions with other medications you’re taking. Even with an over-the-counter medication, there’s the FDA layer of protection, and your pharmacist is accessible to answer questions. But with a dietary supplement, there are no protective layers between your hand and the product on the shelf.
As I am in New Zealand I was hopeful that they would send me details of the seminars, or results of so that I may learn about remedies for OA.
Thank you very much and I await your early response,
Mike Brown
I also use a Vit.B6, CoQ10, Calcium with Vit.D, Fish Oils, Glucosamine/Chondroitin/MSM. I have Osteo-A in my shoulders and wrists and my index finger in my right hand, at the end joint is getting crooked and pops all the time. I have been a Nurse for 30 yrs. and a Drummer in a band for 10 yrs. No more drumming, but I still am a Nurse, but not doing things I use to. The weather changes do bother me and some mornings are difficult to get going. The great news...I don't let it stop me!
I wrote here in March about coconut oil and oil pulling. Since I haven't read one comment on the thing I assume no one have tried it.
Well, people I have a great news from my RA doctor, my RA is in remission. Less inflammation and much less pain. Inflammation causes pain around the joints. Less inflammation, less pain. Also virgin/organic coconut oil is a natural product and has no side effects. Research this phenomenal thing on www.coconutresearch.org.
My RA doctor told me that she's not against coconut oil, if it works use it. Besides how do you think people were treated prior to medicines. Americans are addicted to prescription drugs. Just look at the statistics.
Good luck to all of you, hope you find your miracle, I know I have.
There is one thing I HIGHLY recommend to any of you out there who are in pain - GET YOUR VITAMIN D LEVEL CHECKED. My daughter was in a lot of pain last fall. I called her doctor and asked to have the Vit D checked (I read it online). Her level was so low, it was indetectible. After taking 50,000 units a day for 2 weeks and 2,000 units a day since, her levels are within range AND her pain has diminished significantly. Her rheumatologist told us studies are suggesting that pain can be tied to low Vitamin D levels. It certainly seemed to be in our case.
I also want to mention - if you are on NSAIDs, consider taking a probiotic. Many NSAIDs effect good and bad bacteria in your body. A probiotic will replenish the good bacteria. (A natural doctor recommended this). My daughter had been on 1000mg ibuprofen a day for 4 months. She is now off of those (because her pain has diminished so much) but I am keeping her on the probiotic.
Good luck and thanks to all of you who have shared your info - I am taking notes and researching further!
Elavil, Lexapro, I was taking Fish Oil but, don't see any difference taking the Fish Oil, So does anyone know if Omega 3's would be better, does anyone take it and notice a difference??
I have taken Orenzia Infusions, Remicaide Infusions, Humira, Embrel, not counting all the pills I took.
Thanks, good luck to everyone trying to find that magic pill that could help us.
I have a recommendation for all of you:
START WITH OIL PULLING and COCONUT OIL, EXERCISE (WALKING IS GOOD) AND DIET CHANGE.
Please do some more reseach. Fm I have had for 20 years now and I have osteo--fm does not cause inflamation of the joints. It effects the muscles with severe pain. It does not effect joints.
OA effects the joints as well as bursitis which I also have another arthritis condition.
I take 30 mg of IR Morphine and Paxil 50 mg and Ambien to sleep 10 mg. I cannot live without these medications.
I am chronic pain and have had many problems in my area of PA to get help with pain....
I know from a specialist I went to in Franklin NC how NSAIDS are worse for my condition than anything else on the market because they have nothing to do to help FM.
FM is so complicated with all the symptoms a person has. I say treat each one separately.
I also treat IBS occasionally with Belledonne or (Donatol) same medicines.
I get extremely bad migranes from my spine. I do not know why. Hot burning painful. Only a strong marcotic with Visteril helps those.
That is why fm is so difficult. A person has to really know what ache is where and what is happening to get the right medication.
Doctor's I have dealt with here in Pa will not prescribe fetynal which is what the specialist prescribe in NC for me and I was able to manage my flare-ups better with the sucker's which he had no problem giving me.
He also knew I was very knowledgeable with the fm issue too and the patient doctor trust issue then is good.
Doctor's here in PA for whatever reason will not help me this way. So state to state I have to say is very different in what meds you can find but being exact in knowledge will take you a shorter distance in the doctor/patient relationship. I have found a lot of so called "quakes" here more than helping knowledgeable physcians too.
I wish everyone a pain less year....!
a natural form (besides sunlight) - I've also had skin cancer a number of X. Thanks for your help.
15 years ago. The glucosomine and chonodroitin pills are too rough on my stomach. I have found joint juice to give me immediate results by drinking the pre mixed juice. Emergen-C Joint Health is the fastest and economical source of glucosomine and chonodroitin in addition to 1,000mg of vitamin c and all other vitamins and minerals that you need. It is a tangerine flavored instant drink. Carolyn Kimball
carolyn.kimball@yahoo.com
Of course, I will follow again sometime later to gain more information.
I wish to grant my thanks to the creators of such sites.
w.b. regards,
Thank You
thank you
Donna
The only thing that keeps RA at bay for me is a weekly 50 mg injection of Enbrel. And even that hasn't stopped its progression completely.
Good luck all.
I tried to email "healthyagain" at the email address given, but it came back to me saying it could not be delivered. Could "healthyagain" email me at slmarch@hotmail.com and give me the resources concerning Calcium as mentioned before?
Thank you.
Our body works in mysterious ways. Calcium that is not properly absorbed in the body, could be deposited in the joints, and restricting flow of blood and lymph thus intensifying the pain. The problem could be due to poor quality calcium supplements, or lack of proper probiotics in the colon. The problem could happen any time.
If you need more specific info. Email me at:
healthyagain@yahoo.com
I could send you some additional resources on this.
Shi Yun
Pycnogenol is a trademark of a french maritime pine bark extract. Pycnogenol is mainly OPC, the strongest antioxidant know to men. Pycnogenol is one of the most researched nutraceuticals (nutritional supplements that has therapeutical effects) there is. Yes, absolutely Pycnogenol is a great for reducing inflammation and reducing pain.
How this works is that, Pycnogenol was chosen due to a history of studies of the extract to alleviate inflammation by inhibiting COX-1, COX-2 and the pro-inflammatory "master-switch" nuclear factor-kappa B, NF-kB"said lead researcher Dr. Ronald Watson from the University of Arizona.
Pycnogenol offers a safe nutritional approach to significantly reduce pain and improve physical function of arthritic joints. It controls inflammation and thus ideally complements existing strategies that comprise delivery of building blocks for replacement of degenerated cartilage.
I will be doing a webnar that helps people to give the body what it needs to naturally heal itself. I will go over some of the beneficial nutraceuticals with scientific research behind it. We will go through how to naturally reduce inflammation and also eliminate the sources of inflammation. How liver function is so closely related to arthritis. At the end of the seminar, I hope you will have a good grasp of what to do.
if you are interested, please email me at the following address, I will email you the details of dates of the webinar.
healthyagain@yahoo.com
Shi Yun
regards
Thank you.
Elations + exersise + stretching (I recomment yoga)= less knee and back pain for me.
I have had relief with accupuncture, and pro lo therapy shots into joints. Some physical therapy from time to time also. And if I get fatigued, I find if I exercise I snap out of it. so I DRAG my tired body to the gym instead of sleeping too much during the day because then I cant sleep at night..
Good luck.
Meagan
I have heard of a suppliment by the name of "AthroZyme distributed by SeaCoast Vitimines, Brand / Sedona Labs" Do you have any information on this product?
Ed Huebener
hueb@sbcglobal.net
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