OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA writes on various types of arthritis and the phytotherapy that can alleviate them.
Arthritis affects the musculoskeletal system, specifically the joints. It is the main cause of disability among people over 55 years of age in industrialised countries. But due to the husttle and bustle of city life, many Nigerians, as young as 12 years are being diagnosed with arthritis.
According to a phytotherapist, Dr Francis Elegbuo, of franel food Supplements and Natural Health Clinic, Ijegun, Lagos, the use of herbal-plants in the treatment of various forms of arthritis is efficacious. This is due to their anti-inflammatory or anti-arthritic properties.
Dr Elegbuo said the word “arthritis” comes from the Greek arthron meaning “joint” and the Latin itis meaning ‘inflammation’. The plural of arthritis is arthritides. He said: “Arthritis is a term that covers over 100 medical conditions. It affects the joints and musculoskeletal system. Most types of arthritis are caused by a combination of factors. These can include genetic makeup, a physically demanding job, previous injury, infection or allergies, certain foods, obesity, autoimmune disease. The most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, infectious arthritis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Any sufferer of arthritis should always be active. Inactivity could harm the health of most patients with arthritis or any kind of rheumatic disease.”
Dr Elegbuo explained the best way to know if one has arthritis or prone to same, “if you have trouble moving around or feeling pain and stiffness in your body, you could have arthritis. In the majority of cases arthritis causes pain and swelling in the joints. Eventually a swollen joint can suffer severe damage. In some cases, arthritis can cause problems in the patient’s eye, skin or other organs. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and generally affects elderly people. Some forms of arthritis can affect people at a very early age.
The symptoms of arthritis depend on the type. For example, the symptoms of osteoarthritis develop slowly and get worse as time goes by. There is pain in a joint, either during or after use, or after a period of inactivity. There will be tenderness when pressure is applied to the joint. The joint will be stiff, especially first thing in the morning. The person may find it hard to use the joint – it loses its flexibility. Some patients experience a grating sensation when they use the joint. Hard lumps, or bone spurs may appear around the joint. In some cases the joint might swell. The most commonly affected joints are in the hips, hands, knees and spine.”
He added: “In Rheumatoid arthritis, the person often finds the same joints on each side of the body are painfully swollen, inflamed, and stiff. The fingers, arms, legs and wrists are most commonly affected. Symptoms are usually worst on waking up in the morning and the stiffness can last for 30 minutes at this time. The joint is tender when touched. Hands may be red and puffy. There may be rheumatoid nodules (bumps of tissue under the skin of the patient’s arms). Many patients with rheumatoid arthritis feel tired most of the time. Weight loss is common. The smaller joints are usually noticeably affected first. Experts say patients with rheumatoid arthritis have problems with several joints at the same time. As the arthritis progresses it spreads from the smaller joints in your hands, wrists, ankles and feet to your elbows, knees, hips, neck, shoulders and jaw.
“In Infectious arthritis the patient commonly has a fever, joint inflammation and swelling. They will feel tenderness and/or a sharp pain. Often these symptoms are linked to an injury or another illness. Most commonly affected areas are the knee, shoulder, elbow, wrist and finger. In the majority of cases just one joint is affected.”
Dr Elegbuo said when a child below 12 years has arthritis, it is called Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. “In Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, the patient is a child and will experience intermittent fevers which tend to peak in the evening and then suddenly disappear. Appetite will be poor and weight may be lost. There may be blotchy rashes on arms and legs. Anaemia is also common. The child may limp or have a sore wrist, finger, or knee. A joint may suddenly swell and stay larger than it usually is. The child may experience a stiff neck, hips or some other joint.”
On ways out using herbal-plants, the Phytotherapist said: “Aloe vera is one of the most commonly used herbs in alternative medicine. Known for its healing properties, it is popular for treating small skin abrasions. You may already have a bottle of aloe vera gel in the medicine cabinet from a past experience with sunburn for pain relief. This same type of product may be applied topically to soothe achy joints. Oral aloe vera can cause decreased blood sugar and gastrointestinal side effects, such as diarrhoea. Topical aloe vera use, on the other hand, does not cause any side effects.
“Cat’s claw is another anti-inflammatory herb that may reduce swelling in arthritis. Traditionally, cat’s claw is used to boost your immune system. In recent years, the immunity powers of the herb have been tried in arthritis. The downside is that cat’s claw may over stimulate the immune system, potentially making arthritis pain worse.
“Eucalyptus, like aloe vera, is widely available in western markets. It is used in oral medications, and topical oil extracts are used for a variety of conditions. Topical forms of eucalyptus leaves are used to treat arthritis pain. These plant leaves contain tannins, which may be helpful in reducing swelling and the resulting pain that arthritis causes. Some users follow up with heat pads to maximise the effects of eucalyptus on swollen joints.
“One may have ginger as spice in the cabinet for cooking, but this herb is also a staple in many alternative medicine cabinets. The same compounds that give ginger its strong flavor are also the same ones that have anti-inflammatory properties.
“Green tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world, and has even been used to reduce inflammation in the body. It is possible that green tea can be used to treat arthritis inflammation in the form of beverages, tablets, or tinctures. Tumeric used in cooking to make curry, is a yellow powder made from the related flowering plant. Unlike other types of herbs, turmeric may work best in fighting joint pain when it is taken orally.”
