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Healing From the Debilitating Effects of
Rheumatoid Arthritis Through Alternative Methods

I have often been asked how I overcame the debilitating pain, stiffness and inflammation that wreaks havoc from rheumatoid arthritis. It's interesting to note that I have successfully remained "prescription meds" free since 1994. Undoubtedly this success has been due to a complete soul, mind, body transformation, but as with anything, it also takes dedication, focus and determination to remain healthy. And although there is no known cure for rheumatoid arthritis, you still have the ability to heal from it.

Here are some tips, based on my own personal odyssey, that may prove beneficial to improve your well-being if you sufferer from the devastating effects of arthritis. This program is designed to be used in conjunction with whatever conventional medical therapy you are currently provided with from your physician.

Caution: If you are currently taking prescribed medications, continue to follow your physician's advice. Do not stop taking your prescribed medications without your physician's knowledge or permission. Some medications cannot be stopped "cold turkey" and you must be slowly weaned off in order to avoid injury to other bodily functions.

As I maintain in other articles, I truly believe that you have the ability to heal yourself. But quite often what prevents you from doing so is simply due to a lack of understanding, knowledge and education or from a lack of confidence in your own abilities. First you must be willing to recognize, acknowledge, trust and believe in your own power before committing yourself to make positive changes in your life.

General Effects Experienced From Rheumatoid Arthritis
Without going into great descriptive detail, this type of arthritis is a chronic health condition. It's an autoimmune disease, where the body attacks itself, usually affecting both sides simultaneously and can cause a variety of conditions such as:

Swelling in the joint lining (sonovial fluid) around the joints
Inflammation (redness and heat) in joints
Extreme joint pain and tenderness
Extreme fatigue
Breakdown of joints reducing strength and mobility
Joint deformity such as in the hands or feet
Crippling in approximately 5% of sufferers where they are confined to a wheelchair
Death if major internal organs are affected, such as the heart, etc.

Caution: Only follow the subsequent instructions after you have consulted and discussed your intentions with your physician and only if you are given permission to do so. Monitor and assess your progress every 3 to 6 weeks and if you feel that you are improving with pain and stiffness, then reduce prescribed pain medication by 1/4 of a pill. You know when you have improved if your morning stiffness lasts less time each day or week. E.g. If you usually shuffle around with stiff joints for 15 minutes before loosening up, but now it only takes 8 minutes, then this indicates that your inflammation has improved and you can reduce your prescription meds by 1/4 of a pill. But resist the temptation to eliminate your medication all at once.

Dietary Changes

Reduce sugar intake
Increase pure drinking water to six to eight, 8 ounce glasses per day (water helps to release built-up toxins from your body, hydrate your body, plus circulate the energy flow throughout your body)
Reduce coffee or tea containing caffeine to one or two cups per day
Reduce consumption of soft drinks as these can be high in sugar or caffeine
Decrease fried foods and fats
Decrease junk food (e.g. potato chips and candy)
Decrease alcohol consumption
Eat a balanced, wholesome diet

Lifestyle Changes

Believe, feel and know that you will heal! (E.g. affirm positively to yourself, "I will heal" or "I am healed", instead of, "I think that I might heal – maybe, maybe not" or "I think this might work"). Note: It is important to become consciously aware of how you think and talk to yourself. I THINK - expresses a thought that's a possibility for the future and is not fully believable yet. I WILL - expresses a thought that is about to be realized, but it's not quite ready. I AM - expresses a thought that is happening right now, in the present time. Remember......you are what you "think."
If your hands or joints feel stiff and painful, immerse them in tepid water to loosen them. Alternatively, you can use a hot water bottle, electric blanket, or hold quartz crystal wands until you feel relief.
Exercise using range of motion exercises. Note: Avoid exercising when experiencing inflammation. Monitor inflammation by amount of stiffness in the joint – how long it takes to loosen up; reduction in stiffness time indicates progress
Do low-impact exercises or water exercises - always try to keep moving, no matter how lousy you feel
Avoid shuffling your feet even when your ankles are stiff and sore; otherwise they will eventually lock into this position and you will be unable to bend your feet at the ankles
Meditate for 20 to 30-minutes daily. Close your eyes, relax and use the "breath" method - count from 1 to 4 and then keep repeating as you visualize each number in front of you. If your mind wanders, return it to the where you left off or start again from number one
Use "visualization" techniques to bring in a column of universal white (energy) light to flow from your crown chakra (top of your head) through each chakra center and then flowing from the soles of your feet down to the center of Mother Earth. As the energy flows through your body, verbalize that your body feels and knows that the energy is cleansing, re-vitalizing and releasing all toxins and lower vibrating energies (also called negative energy) from each cell (releasing and cleansing each cell allows your body to rebuild the body with healthy cells rather than duplicate un-healthy cells, thus leading to illness within the body).
Release un-healthy thinking (E.g. jealousy, hate, greed, un-forgiveness, etc.)
Release un-healthy situations. (E.g. Avoid staying in situations where your energy is being drained by others who are co-dependent or who feed from your energy source to replenish their own energy source)
Surround yourself with happy, positive thinking people
Avoid being a "perfectionist"
Avoid being a "controller"
Allow yourself more latitude; avoid scheduling yourself to death
Become pro-active to increase your self-esteem and your self-confidence
Avoid being a doormat; assert yourself by constructing boundaries for others to honour and respect
Love yourself. Use daily affirmations in the positive tense (E.g. "I am love", "I am joy", "I am peace", "I am strength", "I am prosperity", "I am abundance", etc.)
Be kind to yourself. Take more time to pamper yourself doing things that bring you total pleasure and peace
Allow yourself more rest. If you have a heavy schedule, cut back on your responsibilities in order to release stress

Natural Supplements
Although you may eat a healthy, balanced diet, many of our food products are too refined or over-processed. It's very difficult to consume enough natural, wholesome food in a day to provide the body with proper nutrients. Therefore, taking additional natural supplements is a viable method for supplying the body with much needed nourishment.

As well as incorporating dietary and lifestyle changes, until your health returns to a normal level, higher doses of natural supplements are taken. It takes approximately 6-weeks before positives effects are noticed, where there is a distinct reduction in pain, stiffness or inflammation. There are a multitude of natural supplements to choose from, but for this article, I list the ones which I was drawn to use.

There is also much hype about whether natural supplements truly help or whether they just produce a placebo effect. During my formative healing cycle, I tested this theory many times, only to discover that if I neglected to take my allotment, usually within three days I would experience an increase in joint pain, stiffness and inflammation.

Take twice daily with breakfast and lunch

2 - Salmon oil capsules- 1000 mg each (Note: keep refrigerated to prevent the oil from turning rancid. You may experience "fish burps" for the first few months)

1 - Pure Energy (bee pollen) - 475 mg

2 - Alfalfa – 750 mg each

2 - Flax seed oil capsules – 1000 mg each (Note: keep refrigerated to prevent the oil from turning rancid)

Take once daily with dinner

2 - Salmon oil capsules - 1000 mg each (Note: keep refrigerated to prevent the oil from turning rancid. You may experience "fish burps" for the first few months)

1 - Pure Energy (bee pollen) - 475 mg

2 - Alfalfa – 750 mg each

2 - Flax seed oil capsules – 1000 mg each (Note: keep refrigerated to prevent the oil from turning rancid)

1 - Multivitamin (time release, chewable type, such as Centrum brand)

1 - Calcium with magnesium (chewable type, such as Caltrate brand)

1 - Selenium with D and E – 200 mcg

1 - Vitamin B-12 -1000 mcg (Note: this can be administered by your doctor, by needle, so that it enters directly into the blood stream)

2 - Glucosamine with chondroitin sulfate capsules -900 mg (Note: 4-weeks after starting this, I noticed a huge decrease in joint stiffness, pain and inflammation)

Basic Characteristics and Healing Properties of Natural Supplements

Alfalfa

Member of the legume family – source of B-complex vitamins, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, iron and potassium lowers cholesterol and blood sugar levels

Increases energy levels and reduces fatigue

Detoxifies the blood promoting general liver health

Relieves pain and stiffness from arthritis/bursitis

Alleviates post menopausal symptoms (hot flashes)

Bee Pollen

Is considered a complete food. Contains vitamins A, D, E, K, P, plus 22 amino acids and enzymes

Great energy booster

Taken for stamina and weight control

A natural source of protein

Reduces effects of stress

Aids digestive system function

Glucosamine with Chondroitin Sulfate

Glucosamine stimulates the formation of cartilage that is essential to joint repair

Chondroitin Sulfate maintains the viscosity in joints, stimulates cartilage repair mechanisms and inhibits enzymes that break down cartilage

Has beneficial effect on inflammation, relieving pain and increasing range of motion

Flax Seed Oil

Rich source of Omega 3 fatty acids and Omega 6 fatty acids (Linolenic Acid)

Is a natural anti-inflammatory

Omega 6 fatty acids is necessary for stimulating skin and hair growth, regulating metabolism and promoting the transport of fatty acids to the liver

Our consumption of refined foods and oils inhibits our body’s ability to use the essential fatty acids we consume

Found in plant seed oils of borage, black currant and evening primrose

Salmon Oil

Contains EPA (Eicosapaentoic Acid) and DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) Omega 3 fatty acids

Helps keep cholesterol and triglycerides in check and prevent blood platelets from becoming too sticky

Is a natural anti-inflammatory

Selenium

Is an essential trace mineral in the body and an important part of antioxidant enzymes that protect the cells against free radicals

Plant foods are the major dietary sources and also contained in some meats and seafood

Pain, stiffness and swelling in joints may indicate reduced selenium levels in the blood or low selenium intake

Vitamin B-12

Maintains healthy nerve and blood cells and is also needed to make DNA

Found in fish, eggs, meat, milk and poultry

Vegetarians may lack this vitamin

People with digestive/intestinal problems may not be able to absorb sufficient amounts

Quartz Crystals
In 1994, I unwittingly started using two quartz crystal wands each morning and surprisingly found that they helped to reduce and relieve pain, stiffness and inflammation in my hands. Below are listed some basic characteristics and healing properties surrounding quartz crystals.

Quartz crystals produce an electrical charge called piezo-electricity (pronounced pie-zoe), which can be used to amplify and process energy. The energy quartz emits is uniform and constant; therefore it creates a harmonious balance between the physical and spiritual bodies. They are classified as a best all-purpose stone.

Metaphysical healing properties of quartz crystals:

Cleans and enhances subtle bodies (aura or bands of energy that surround and interpenetrate the physical body)

A deep soul cleanser

Enhances psychic awareness, amplifies psychic abilities and aligns you with your higher self

Stimulates immune system

Stores, releases and regulates energy on physical and mental levels

Soothes burns

Reduces inflammation

Releases pain and stiffness

Other unique characteristics that quartz crystals have are:

They can focus and transfer energy over distances (similar to a transmitter)

They can maintain energy (can be programmed)

They can maintain the intensity of energy (like power generators)

They can receive energy over distance (similar to a receiver)

They are natural conductors of electromagnetic energy

The energy that is transformed and released can be stimulated by:

Body heat

Direct sunlight

Metals

Mind thought

Your Healing Regiment
This is an ongoing endeavour and must be adhered to with passion and dedication. In order for total healing to occur and to be maintained, there must be continuous balance among all levels - physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.

Remember……You are....what you believe yourself to be!

As your body heals, your energy level will gradually return to normal and feelings of fatigue will dissipate. You will notice this when you start to take fewer naps or shorter naps throughout the day.

Once this occurs, you will regain strength and endurance, but then it is important to increase your daily exercise routine (E.g. weights, rebounding, skipping, Yoga, aerobics, etc.) to build and maintain muscle strength and flexibility. Avoid returning to old unhealthy living and dietary habits.

As your health continues to improve, the daily natural supplements can be slowly reduced to lower dosages. Again, monitor for pain, stiffness and inflammation and adjust dosages accordingly.

Your accomplishment for taking charge of your well-being is certainly well worth the effort. Good luck and may you enjoy increased and continued good health!

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Disclaimer
The above information is not intended to replace, diagnose, prescribe or treat any ailment or to be used as a replacement for medical treatment or consultation. It is only intended to enhance your knowledge or general interest and is offered as an alternative and complimentary source of information. In all cases, it is recommended that you continue to follow medical treatment as prescribed by your medical physician.