Tag Archives: rheumatoid arthritis

Fight Arthritis with Ants

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Researchers from the School of Chinese Medicine at Hong Kong Baptist University are looking at a traditional folk remedy to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic diseases. A certain type of Chinese ant (Polyrhacis lamellidens for you scientific types) has long been used in Chinese folk medicine to treat chronic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and hepatitis. For centuries, the little ant has been used as a painkiller and an anti-inflammatory agent to help reduce the symptoms of various chronic diseases. The study from the School of Chinese Medicine at Hong Kong Baptist University looked at extracts made from the ants. … Continue reading →

A Gluten-Free Diet for Rheumatoid Arthritis

You might not think about a gluten-free diet unless you have celiac disease (gluten allergy). Swedish researchers want you to think again — especially if you have rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. A recent study from Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden looked at diet in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Researchers divided rheumatoid arthritis sufferers into two groups: one group ate a vegan and gluten-free diet (vegetables, fruits, nuts, no wheat proteins, and no animal products like meat, cheese, or eggs); one … Continue reading →

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

According to the Arthritis Foundation, the most common form of arthritis in children is juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. The disease affects each child differently; some have a more mild case with few problems and symptoms while others have severe cases with serious complications. Symptoms of JRA include: Joint inflammation Stiffness and bending of the joints, also known as joint contracture Joint damage Change in growth Joint stiffness following rest, also known as morning stiffness Muscle weakness Weakness in soft tissues around joints with JRA There are three major types of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Pauciarticular JRA affects four joints or less. Approximately … Continue reading →

What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

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Rheumatoid arthritis is less common than osteoarthritis — only about one percent of the adult population in the United States suffers from the disease. Many different joints can be affected; rheumatoid arthritis can even affect the blood, lungs, and heart. How is rheumatoid arthritis different from osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis is caused by a deterioration of the cartilage that cushions your joints; rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammation of the joint lining known as the synovium. The affected joints may lose shape, affecting movement. The disease lasts a long time, and may flare up (periods of active symptoms) and go into remission (periods … Continue reading →