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How Does Mangosteen Help with
Arthritis?
Is it a
Better Alternative than Conventional Drugs?
In case you’ve been diagnosed with arthritis,
you must sit down with your doctor to discuss the best treatment
regimen for you. There are plenty of drugs available to treat the
disorder but there are drugs that work best for a specific type of arthritis.
Patient response to these drugs also vary so it can take
time to determine the kind of treatment that would work best for you.
The most commonly prescribed medication
for arthritis
is a group of drugs called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs). They are also among the most common pain relief
medications used today.
NSAIDs are highly effective in relieving arthritic
pain but they can also have certain side effects. In order
for you to better understand the mechanism of action of these drugs,
you must have an idea about pain itself.
Pain is
basically your body’s alarm which
tells you that something is wrong.
Simply put, pain
is the result of impulses sent from pain receptors
called free nerve endings to your brain. For instance, if you have a
wound, the damaged cells release compounds called prostaglandins.
These chemicals are known to cause not only tissue swelling and pain but they
also amplify the nerve impulses coming from the pain
receptors. In short, you feel more intense pain.
Pain
has two major types:
neuropathic and nociceptive. Neuropathic pain is normally
the result
of injuries to the nervous system, such as the pain associated
with
shingles or diabetes. On the other hand, nociceptive pain is caused
by injury to tissues outside the nervous system, such as the chronic
pain of arthritis.
NSAIDs function on the cellular level. They
block the effects of enzymes particularly cyclo-oxygenase-1 (COX-1)
and cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzymes which catalyze the conversion
of arachidonic acid to inflammatory agents such as prostaglandins and
prostacyclins. By simply blocking the cyclo-oxygenase enzymes, NSAIDs
essentially prevent your body from producing prostaglandins. As a
result, you feel less pain and
decreased
swelling.
Mangosteen Benefits: Xanthones
found in mangosteen function like a
COX-2 inhibitor without eliciting the development of stomach ulcers.
Gastrointestinal Problems:
There are five types of prostaglandins in your body. One type of
prostaglandin produced by COX-1 enzyme and an analog called
Misoprostol helps protect the stomach lining. Regular intake of
NSAIDs blocks COX-1 enzymes and thereby negating the protective
function of the prostaglandin. Consequently, NSAIDs cause a
significant increase in the prevalence of gastrointestinal problems
such as diarrhea and indigestion.
Hypertension and Renal Damage:
The mechanism of renal damage spurred by NSAIDs is due to changes in
renal hemodynamics. NSAIDs have been shown to reduce the blood flow
to the kidneys and affect the function of the nephrons. As a result,
salt and fluids are retained in your body. The higher the volume of
salt and fluids in your bloodstream, the higher your blood pressure.
If the problem goes unchecked, it can cause irreversible damage to
your kidneys leading to eventual kidney failure, which may later
require dialysis.
Mangosteen Benefits: Recent studies have shown that Xanthones have
no harmful influence on blood coagulation and increases blood
perfusion rate in the kidneys, thereby enhancing renal function while
helping in the regulation of salt and fluid balance in the body.
Allergic Reactions:
Some people are allergic to NSAIDs and may develop dyspnea
when an NSAID is taken. People with asthma
are at a higher risk for having severe allergic reaction to NSAIDs.
Health experts generally recommend that people with asthma refrain
from taking NSAIDs.
Aside from asthma, there are other allergic
reactions that have been associated with NSAIDs, they range from mild
to life threatening. The common reactions include skin affectations
such as swelling and hives. There are also respiratory problems like
rhinitis.
Mangosteen
Benefits: Over the last three
decades, a lot of studies
on xanthones have proven its efficacy in treating various types of
allergies. This is due to the fact that xanthones block the formation
of histamines – substances that trigger the body’s allergic
response.
COX-2 inhibitors are a form of
NSAID that
directly target COX-2. Selectivity for COX-2 reduces the risk of
gastrointestinal problems such as peptic ulceration. COX-2 inhibitors
only block the COX-2 enzyme that’s why these drugs don’t affect
the prostaglandins that protect the lining of your stomach.
However, just like other drugs there is a
drawback. COX-1 and COX-2 work in tandem to accomplish certain
biological tasks. COX-1 also helps in the production of a chemical
that stimulates blood clotting and vasoconstriction. These effects
are being regulated by another chemical called prostacyclin. It
exerts an opposite effect to that of COX-1 because it prevents the
formation of the platelet plug and is likewise a potent vasodilator.
However, prostacyclin is manufactured, in part, with the aid of COX-2
enzymes. Therefore, blocking only COX-2 means that the effects of
blood clotting go unchecked. Consequently, it
increases the risk of myocardial infarction and strokes.
This is precisely the reason why COX-2 inhibitors have been recalled
from the market.
Mangosteen
contains antioxidants
and remains to be the only
thing in nature to
embody a broad spectrum of a new
type of phytonutrients called xanthones. The
two most valuable
xanthones found in the mangosteen have
been called alpha and gamma mangosteen.
To
date, more than 40 different classes of xanthones
have been identified in mangosteen. are
powerful,
life-enhancing compounds. In fact, Xanthonesxanthones
are by far the most
potent antioxidant known to man. It has been claimed to be more
powerful than both Vitamins C and E. Additionally, the most dynamic
and biologically active type of xanthone is
found in mangosteen.
Xanthones
are naturally occurring compounds that have recently caught the
attention of health and fitness experts and have earned high regard
from researchers and scientists alike. Xanthones have
been thoroughly
studied for their medicinal and pharmaceutical properties.
Based on the results of research studies, the
xanthones found in mangosteen can suppress both acute and chronic
inflammation, and function like a COX-2 inhibitor without triggering
any harmful side effects. Another research conducted to determine
mangosteen’s effect on the inflammatory process found out that xanthones
have no deleterious influence on blood coagulation and they
don’t stimulate the development of stomach ulcers.
Furthermore, testimonies from a number of
patients suffering from chronic arthritis claimed that the patients
were able to stop or reduce their prescription drugs. The benefits
they reaped from mangosteen
became evident in as little as a couple
of days to beyond three months.
Mangosteen
and Arthritis Precaution: So
far, mangosteen
may not provide the elusive
cure to but it offers that extra ounce of energy required
to counter the effects of the disease, effectively alleviates arthritisarthritic
pain and helps you manage the side effects caused by
medications. However, it is worth noting that you may need some time
to determine if mangosteen
works for you. Likewise, if you are taking
any medications, it is recommended to consult your physician
regarding any possible drug interaction.
Finally, taking regular mangosteen
supplements
offer three major health benefits:
Anti-Inflammatory Properties: The
benefits derived from mangosteen
largely come from its potent
anti-inflammatory effects since it effectively blocks the
cyclo-oxygenase enzymes without causing any gastrointestinal side
effects. Mangosteen
also helps to reduce the pain and
swelling of the
affected joints.
The anti-inflammatory properties of mangosteen
have been compared to those of Dexamethasone, one of the most
powerful anti-inflammatory prescription drugs. However,
Dexamethasone is known to have a long list of adverse side effects. Mangosteen
has none of the reported side effects caused by
Dexamethasone as well as other anti-inflammatory medications.
Antioxidant: Mangosteen
contains a truckload of antioxidants. The mechanism behind
the development of arthritis
is the gradual degeneration of joint
structures. It has been theorized that as people age, the body’s
ability to recuperate and repair the damage at the cellular level
declines. Antioxidants work on the cellular level by effectively
eliminating harmful free radicals, thereby enhancing the body’s
innate healing process.
Increase in Energy Helps to
Fight Arthritis:
If you’re suffering from arthritis, your
physician most likely
referred you to a physical therapist for treatment sessions. One of
the best approaches in physical therapy when it comes to the
management of arthritis
is the inclusion of an exercise program to
improve joint dynamics. A significant increase in energy can help you
go through your routine exercise program. In most cases, the mere
anticipation of pain while beginning an exercise program can be quite
daunting. Mangosteen
supplements help provide the energy needed and
also aids in the management of pain and anxiety.
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38-11
Ditmars Blvd
Astoria
New York USA 11105
Tel:
(718) 956-0807 Fax: (419)
793-5542
Email
(Online Since
October 15, 2005.)
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