Healing Juvenile Arthritis the Natural Way
July is National Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month. Almost 300,000 American children 16 years of age and younger suffer with some form of arthritis. While scientists pretty much concur that most forms of juvenile arthritis (JA) are autoimmune in nature, they still don't know what causes this to happen. Current theories being tested include the idea that there is a genetic predisposition to this disease and that viruses and other environmental factors “turn it on” in certain individuals. JA strikes children from all ethnic backgrounds, but 75% of them are female.
While conventional allopathic medicine doesn't acknowledge a “cure” for this disease, the natural healing world thinks very differently about autoimmune disorders. Natural medicine treats the whole person—mind, body and spirit—and has found that autoimmune disorders tend to flare up and subside in response to emotional ups and downs. So, anything that can help your child with JA to deal in a more efficient way with unresolved stress is certainly worth exploring. Yoga, Tai chi, meditation, guided imagery, hypnosis and psychotherapy are just some of the wonderful natural tools available for learning how to deal with emotional stress and help your child gain a more positive and relaxed outlook on life. Exercise of any type is also extremely important for children with JA and you can read more about this at July is National Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month.
JA and any autoimmune disorder will tend to respond very favorably to a healthy diet. Decreasing protein intake toward 10% to 15% of daily calories and replacing animal protein with plant protein is highly suggested by most natural health experts. Substituting plant based sources of calcium for cow's milk and cow's milk products is also very important and will be much better absorbed by your child's body. Eliminating polyunsaturated vegetable oils, shortening, margarine, hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils and any foods that contain trans-fatty acids is helpful for anyone's health, while making sure to include more flax seed oil and other sources of Omega-3 fatty acids which are the “healthy” fats and help to reduce inflammation in the body.
And of course, eating more vegetables and fruits that are organically grown gives your child a wide range of vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients that promote good health and a properly functioning immune system. Be aware, however, that certain plants from the nightshade family might cause MORE inflammation and pain. Limit or eliminate tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and white potatoes from your child's diet if you see signs of increased flare-ups of the JA symptoms. DO increase more sulfur containing foods such as asparagus, garlic, onions and natural eggs as sulfur is needed for the repair and rebuilding of bone, cartilage and connective tissue and also aids in the absorption of calcium. Fresh pineapple contains bromelain which has proven to be excellent for reducing inflammation, but be careful with other citrus fruits—these can sometimes cause more inflammation.
A good vitamin/mineral supplement is definitely recommended to help ensure that your child is getting all of the essential nutrition that may be lacking from even the healthiest diet. Most experts recommend one that doesn't contain iron, however, as supplemental/isolated iron might contribute to joint deterioration, pain and swelling in any individual with arthritis. Iron is very important for a growing child, however, so do make sure your child is getting plenty of iron from food sources such as peas, lima beans, cauliflower, brussels sprouts and blackstrap molasses. Herbal sources of iron include burdock root, chickweed, mullein, nettle, red beet root, red raspberry leaves and yellow dock root. Alfalfa is a great supplement for children with JA and for many other folks with chronic and/or debilitating kinds of conditions as it contains just about all of the vitamins, minerals and essential nutrients that the human body requires for good health. Avoid the sprouts, however, as they contain canavain which tends to promote inflammation in any individual with an autoimmune disorder. Other sprouts such as broccoli and red clover are fine.
There is a wide variety of herbs and supplements that can be very helpful for managing pain and inflammation, while also helping the body to heal itself. Be sure to check with your child's doctor before using any supplements, especially when your child is taking any medications. Certain drugs given for JA might also facilitate the need for increases of certain nutrient supplementation such as zinc and folic acid, so have your child's blood tested regularly. If your child is taking any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), it is wise to reduce their sodium intake to avoid water retention.
Black currant seed oil is a great source of Omega-6 fatty acids which can help to suppress the production of prostaglandins that tend to trigger inflammation. Other great sources of this important Gamma-linolenic acid are evening primrose oil and borage seed oil. Boswellia, also known as frankincense, has been used both internally and externally in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years to treat inflammation and is quickly gaining in popularity in our Western cultures as well. Una de Gato, also known as cat's claw, is an effective South American anti-inflammatory that has some great antioxidant benefits for the immune system, too. Ginger root is often used for pain and inflammation and kids tend to love products made with real ginger, including dried ginger. Turmeric is another widely publicized anti-inflammatory plant often used for all kinds of arthritis that also has many other beneficial effects on the body. This is better used one week on, one week off, however, as continued, uninterrupted use can result in stomach distress.
As mentioned above, calcium is extremely important for children with JA , but there are many nutrients that need to be consumed to help the body better absorb the calcium. Phosphorus is the second most abundant mineral in the human body and magnesium, boron, copper, potassium, folic acid and vitamins B6, C, D, E and K are all required to help calcium break down correctly and to be used more efficiently by the body. You can find more information on calcium absorption at Osteoporosis and Calcium. All of these nutrients working together help control inflammation and pain, promote healthy bone and muscle growth, and improve sleep quality which always leads to faster healing and repair. Silicon is the second most abundant element on the planet (oxygen is first) and is very much needed by the human body for strengthening and balancing the immune system, in the formation of healthy bones and connective tissue and also for facilitating calcium absorption. Good food and herbal sources of silicon include alfalfa, beets, brown rice, horsetail, soybeans, leafy green vegetables and whole (unprocessed) grains.
Given the right variables, your child's body can certainly cure juvenile arthritis, or, at the very least, can much better manage this disease and keep it in remission. Natural approaches for health such as diet, exercise, stress management and relaxation techniques provide your child with JA a much stronger base for wellness than just taking drugs to mask the pain. Talk to your doctor about more natural ways to treat this disease and ask for resources to help point you in the right direction. This natural approach will also teach your child healthy life habits and how to better take care of herself as she grows into adulthood.
DISCLAIMER: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are for educational purposes only. These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Carol Koenigsknecht, Medical Consumer Writer
and
Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Team Leader & CEO
