Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Natural anti-inflammatories

Want to try something really off-track? An old buddy of mine had arthritis so bad he couldn't get out of bed some mornings. When that happened, he would take 1 tablespoon of fruit pectin in water and be good for weeks!

Don't know why it worked or how it worked, but for him, it worked!

I always thought I might go ahead and give it a try if I ever get arthritis that severe - it seems to be a cheap, non-toxic and safe alternative treatment.

Ice.

Well, it DOES fit the criteria of A. Natural & B. Anti-inflammatory

Out of curiosity Smoke, do you drink a lot of diet drinks or otherwise use a significant amount of artificial sweeteners?

It was intended a little TIC, but it is a very good adjunct to anything natural or synthetic oral meds.

No doubt. Hard to find ice when you're out on foot but I have dunked the ankle in cold creeks and it helps.

Negative, none at all. My issue is bone-on-bone osteoarthritis in the ankle from repeated sprains going back 40 years. I've had doctors and orthotists tell me I have "the gnarliest ankle" they've seen. I'll need surgery some time soon, but not yet.

Turmeric and salmon oil works well for me.

Check on both.

Phil,
If I may.

The type of pain you are having-bone on bone, and perhaps post op shoulder, although that doesn't seem to be a declared issue-has little to no chance of responding to natural remedies. There just isn't enough juice in the orange.

Part of medicine today is flow charts. You have this, this and this you try that, that or that. You have this without this, but this, then you go to that and that. This by itself, then go straight to that. Simplified, but you are smart enough to get it.

Definitely late for the hunt, but have you gone to a pain therapist. Not one that necessarily will put you on the narcs, but one that works with the head. No you are not crazy and yes your pain is real. I get it.

Do you rate you pain? The standard is 1 to 10. Anything above 7 being a bitch and 9-10 being, I can't take it.

My back is bad and getting out of bed is 7. Then it becomes that step was do-able. Next one ok, keep going and finally it loosens up and we are down in the 4-5 area. Carrying a heavy pack for me is a mind game of "Ok, you can keep going, it ain't fun or easy, but there are more steps in there to take."

I hope you can find a natural that will help, because constant pain is a bitch. It just wears you down. Good luck, but I seriously doubt with the pain you have there are any out there. They are not meant to treat what I think you are experiencing. Headaches, minor or short term inflammation, slight non-major muscle pulls? Ok, perhaps. Chronic with significant discomfort? I've yet to come across anyone who has found a natural that makes the team.

Good luck on the upcoming hunt.

Addition: I've tried just about everyone mentioned. I dispense the poisons, but that doesn't mean I like to take them.

DMSO????

Harry, I appreciate it. To be clear, I'm not trying to treat this with naturals alone. I've tried a bunch of prescrption strength NSAIDs including vioxx, relafen, ibuprofen, naproxen, and voltaren. Voltaren works the best. I have both pills and topical voltaren. The thing about all nsaids is they're hard on your digestive tract and I don't want to use them long term. The voltaren has an enteric coating so it won't dissolve until it gets to the intestine. There's a reason for that. I also have two kinds of custom orthotic foot beds and an Arizona brace for the ankle, which is the gold standard.

Natural anti inflammatories are just one more tool, and they do help.

I participated in a dietary study on polyphenols last summer and we weren't supposed to use any NSAID's. I've used ibuprofen for years but during the high polyphenol portion of the study (6 weeks high polyphenols & 6 weeks low polyphenols) I had very little joint pain and less overall soreness. Since the study I've continued to try and get lots of polyphenols in my diet e.g. nuts, cloves, cinnamon, dark chocolate, berries, coffee.

I can't guarantee that it wasn't a placebo effect and my evidence is anecdotal but since I've increased them in my diet I've gone from 3-5 pills daily to about 1 per week. Here's a couple of links if anyone's interested:
http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v64/n3s/fig_tab/ejcn2010221t1.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21432698

Hey Battue,

From your posts, I gather you are a fan of good 'ole Aspirin.

I've been in a bunch of consistent pain for a long time. I'm in the gym 5 days a week for the last 30 years; I've worn my body pretty good.

I finally gave up "spot treating" myself with doses of Ibuprofen consistently and just started an Aleve every morning and every night along with vitamin supplements and such. It's worked pretty well.

I've never tried taking Aspirin on a consistent basis instead of the other NSAID'S. Should I give it a go?

Rick,

I can't make that choice for you. Not avoiding your question, but I'm not a Physician and since again your situation is chronic there are considerations that need to be evaluated by one.

Alcohol usage, liver or kidney function, heart disease, blood pressure, bleeding issues. Just plain overall general health.

Aspirin works best for me, but I have the Doc do blood workup perhaps three times a year and usually only take one or two tables per day. If I'm going on a long days hunt, maybe two three times a day. Some other friends swear by Naprosyn, which is a different brand of Aleve.


Again aspirin works for me, but I wouldn't say it was twice as good as Motrin. I think it just works better and perhaps has a longer duration of action for myself

If you are healthy otherwise, I can't see why you can't give aspirin a short try and see if you notice any improvement over the others. As with any of them, take the smallest amount that gives relief. Aspirin can also mess with the stomach, but they make and enteric coated one if that is an issue.

Addition: Should have mentioned it, but Aspirin and Alive get their anti-inflammation action by slightly different mechanism of action. I don't understand it completely. Few do, but that is not the point. Perhaps I respond to the Aspirin pathway better or my condition is more responsive to it. Others may be the opposite.

Stomatador, thanks for the link, I will check that out when I get home. Out of all the foods you listed as sources for polyphenols the only one I don't eat much of is cloves, just coincidence but I love all that stuff.

This shows a high correlation between regular aspirin use and GI bleeding

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3086018/pdf/nihms274683.pdf


Dosage levels seem to be the key

No doubt aspirin probably has the highest risk and why the conclusion states one should use the lowest effective dose. Also one of the reasons why I didn't recommend that it was the best choice for you without a physician being involved. I didn't see where the study-read it quickly and may have missed it-where they indicated if they took it on an empty stomach or with food. I try to make sure I have eaten something relatively substantial.

Today was a relatively good day for me and I only took one. Even after a workout that included deadlifts, I didn't feel the need to take any additional. Had some aches, but monitored myself and said at this time no need to take another.





As an aside, having some aspirin close is always a good idea in case of a cardiac event. At that time it is aspirin you want and not the other NSAIDs.

Thanks Batt,

I give my 16 year old Lab a 325 with her feedings twice daily. Can't be all bad

Hell, if I get to the equivalent age of a 16 year old Lab, I'm going to eat, drink, chew and take any damn thing I feel like.

Years ago a Doc told an 84year old mentor friend of both my father and myself to quit smoking. He in effect said, "Screw you."