Health topic

Rheumatism - a disease with many faces

Even the Pharaohs suffered from aches and pains

Rheumatism in the widest sense is among the oldest known diseases, even skeletons of mummies showed corresponding pathological changes. In an old-Egyptian papyrus even different suggestions for the treatment of aches and pains were found. The term "rheumatism" which was coined by Hippocrates means "flowing of pain" and describes many diseases which are all accompanied by problems in the locomotor system. The famous Greek physician (circa 460 - 370 BC) worked intensively on rheumatism and influenced the following centuries with his popular theory on body fluids.
 
Today, rheumatism has become a real wide-spread disease. To date, there is no medicine for the prevention or genuine healing of rheumatism. Among the most important medicinal plants in the treatment of rheumatism is certainly Devil's claw. Special extracts from Devil's claw in a high dosage, as contained e.g. in Cefatec^® 480 clearly contribute to the alleviation of rheumatism, have an anti-inflammatory effect and reduce swellings in the area of the joints. Due to their excellent tolerability they are especially suitable for a long-term therapy.

Rheumatism - a disease with many faces

Rheumatism as one single specific syndrome does not exist. It is rather a generic term for about 200 different diseases, which are all integrated into the so-called "circle of rheumatic forms".
 
The following parts of the body can be affected: ligaments, muscles, tendons, cartilage, joints and vertebrae. However, all rheumatic diseases have one complex of complaints in common: pains, swellings and restricted movement.

Medicine classifies rheumatic diseases according to their cause

Inflammatory arthropathy, spondylopathy and connective tissue diseases (arthritis, chronic polyarthritis)
Arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the joints or more precisely of the synovium or articular cartilage. These forms of rheumatism can either be brought on by a reaction against endogenous joint structures (autoimmune disease) or by viral or bacterial diseases (rheumatic fever).
 
Wear-caused (degenerative) arthropathy and spondylopathy (arthroses)
An arthrosis starts slowly and almost unnoticed. Over time, the joints lose their elasticity and flexibility by wear. The irritated tissue reacts with pain and swellings. The muscles tend to cramps, the phenomenon of stiffness in the morning combined with stress-related pain in the evening is typical. Later the function and flexibility of the joints can be clearly restricted which may be accompanied by swellings and permanent pain.
 
Factors which can benefit arthrosis:
- joint injuries
- inflammations of the joints e.g. by gout
- acquired or congenital false position of joints (hip, knock-knees)
- overweight
- lack of exercise
- incorrect strain
 
Non-articular rheumatism syndrome
(e.g. fibromyalgia, painful stiffness of the shoulder, bursitis, tendovaginitis, tennis elbow). In this case not cartilage or bones are affected but the soft parts surrounding the joint (tissue attaching muscles and tendons). Fibromyalgia, the origin of which has not been clarified definitely, affects the whole locomotor system (whole-body pain).
 
Gout
When affected by this metabolic disease the body produces an excess of uric acid. The crystals of the uric acid form a deposit in the joints and cause inflammatory reactions.

No pain without inflammation

Rheumatic diseases are marked by inflammatory processes, pain and swellings. The joints of fingers, knees and hips and the spine are most frequently affected. The symptoms often start slowly and unnoticed. Occasionally mild pains or stiffness in the morning occur. The joints only hurt at an advanced stage of the disease. Later on function and flexibility are clearly restricted and accompanied by permanent pain.
 
The tissue in the area of the damage reacts with an inflammation to harmful influences from outside in the form of wear, infections, injuries or incorrect strain. Symptoms of an inflammatory reaction can be: reddening, swelling, hyperthermia, pain and dysfunctions.
These symptoms are the consequences of a complex biochemical metabolic process. In the centre of this process is a substance called arachidonic acid out of which substances develop which contribute to, control and maintain inflammations in the joints. Arachidonic acid is mainly contained in food of animal origin. If e.g. less meat products are consumed the concentration of arachidonic acid within the body will decrease.
 
By taking antirheumatics the production of phlogogenic substances within the body is to be inhibited and thereby a painless mobility is to be achieved. This anti-inflammatory effect, however, is in most cases bought with side-effects. Especially chemical-synthetic medicines with a strong effect often cause gastro-enteropathy whereas herbal remedies like the extract from Devil's claw root contained inCefatec^® 480 are not only effective but also excellently tolerated and kind to the stomach and bowels.

The healing power of the desert plant provides natural flexibility

Devil's claw (Harpagophytum procumbens by its botanical name) is a weed-like plant that lies on the ground.
Its flowers are bright violet-red in colour. It grows in the savannahs of South Africa and in the Kalahari desert. It belongs to the family of sesame plants and has been used for healing purposes by African medicine men for centuries.
The plant's extraordinary name goes back to its capsules with claw-like barbed hooks. These seeds in the form of a "grapple plant" cling to the skin or the claws of animals with their grapnels and ensure their own spreading. The plant's bulbous roots are interesting for natural medicine; they contain the curative active ingredients and serve as a water reservoir.
 
Devil's claw - effective in case of rheumatic complaints
Devil's claw has been scientifically excellently researched and documented. The full extract from the dried tuber is responsible for its specific effect.
 
The ingredients of Devil's claw root:
- inhibit inflammatory processes in the area of the joints
- have an analgesic effect and reduce swelling
- stimulate articular metabolism
- improve the elasticity of the cartilage and flexibility of the joints
 

Useful advices

• Prefer vegetables and fruits, skimmed milk products and fish (omega-3-fatty acids) to meat and fatty food. Use high-grade vegetable oils (rich in vitamin E). Soy products.
• Reduce overweight.
• Exercise regularly (cycling, swimming, crosscountry-skiing, hiking).
• Reduce alcohol.
• Have fasting days.
• Drink green tea.
• Gymnastics for back and spine, gymnastic spondylotherapy.
• Relaxation techniques.
• Avoid incorrect strain.
• Thermotherapy (mud packs, ray-treatment, thermal spa and kinotherapeutic baths). In case of acute inflammatory processes cryotherapy (ice).