* Osteoarthritis – a degenerative joint disease due to infection or simply due to aging.
* Rheumatoid Arthritis – An autoimmune disease caused by deficient immune system health , which starts attacking the body’s normal cells.
* Septic Arthritis – An infectious condition.
* Gout – Caused by deposition of uric acid crystals.
* Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis – It mostly affects children and the causes are unknown.
* Still’s Disease – Another form of Juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
* Ankylosing Spondylitis – A degenerative inflammatory condition that has genetic undertones.

There is no permanent cure for arthritis and treatment normally involves physical and occupational therapies. Use of steroids to reduce inflammation is temporary in nature and long term use has serious side effects.

A major breakthrough made researchers come across an infectious cause of rheumatic arthritis. Mycoplasma, small parasitic bacteria that lacks a cell wall and can survive without oxygen was isolated from the tissue and exudates of rheumatic patients in 1939.

The discovery presented an antibiotic alternative for treating arthritis, which was traditionally being treated with Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory (NSAID) and Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARD) in conjunction with pain killers and steroids.

Results of research have shown promising results of Tetracycline therapy for treating rheumatoid diseases. Minocycline, a Tetracycline antibiotic is the preferred antibiotic to treat mild to moderate occurrences of arthritis. Doxycycline, another tetracycline antibiotic is considered to enhance the affects of methotrexate, a DMARD and a toxic antimetabolite that limits cellular reproduction.

Some of the antibiotics recommended for treating arthritis have serious side effects that outweigh the benefits expected from them. For example Dapsone, an antibacterial drug, is known to cause hemolytic anemia.

Indiscriminate use of antibiotics not only reduces their efficacy but also causes serious harm to the body’s ability to cure disease on its own. A minute observation will help us realize that we inadvertently invite most of the diseases ourselves.

Improper diet, sedentary lifestyles, unnecessary dependence on commercial fast foods and dependence that borders on foolhardiness, on antibiotics, cause most of the diseases we suffer from.

There are natural and herbal antibiotics like colloidal silver and garlic, which when consumed regularly can help in preventing attacks from bacteria and viruses. In addition to safety from side effects there is no risk of pathogens using them for their own growth. Apart from the degenerative arthritic conditions, arthritis is mostly caused by dysfunction of immune system.

Herbs for immune system , such as Goldenseal, osha, and Tabebuia (pau d’arco) and flavonoids contained in certain fruits, vegetables, teas, wines, nuts, seeds, and roots, not only boost your immune system but also facilitate elimination of wastes and toxins.

Arthritis is a painful condition that may last lifelong. At best you can reconcile with the disorder and manage the ensuing pain. A natural and active lifestyle can actually help in avoiding many diseases including arthritis.

Anxiety Disorder can be a debilitating and all-consuming condition for many of those who suffer from it. Whether you are affected by Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder or one of the many other forms of the disorder, you may have investigated the option of using prescription medication as part of your treatment.

With over 19 million people in the U.S. alone reporting suffering from some type of it, anxiety disorder is the most common of all mental health disorders. Fortunately, anxiety disorder is highly treatable, and with professional help, it can often be completely overcome. Many times, successful treatment depends only upon individual or group therapy and learned relaxation techniques. In some cases, however, anti-anxiety prescription medication is also recommended. The most commonly prescribed anxiety medications are benzodiazepines, such as Xanax, because they tend to have fewer side effects than anti-depressant medications. But benzodiazepines also carry a risk of alarming side effects and can be highly addictive, spurring many people to seek safer, more natural alternatives.

There are many natural herbs for anxiety which have been proven to effectively ease many of the symptoms of anxiety with a very low risk of side effects. Just as with prescription medications, everyone reacts differently to natural medications, and it can take time to find the right combination and dosage for your body. There are many combination remedies on the market that include a mixture of effective ingredients, and that may provide you with long-lasting anxiety relief.

Passion flower, an ingredient that is often used in natural medicine, alleviates hyperactivity, anxiety, insomnia, nervous tension — and is even sometimes used to treat Parkinson’s Disease. Passion flower soothes and calms and can lower high blood pressure.

Lemon balm is a general restorative for the nervous system, can reduce blood pressure and also calm the digestive system.

Lavender is an excellent anxiety treatment and one of the best natural panic attack treatments. Lavender is a general tonic for the nervous system and a natural relaxant.

Valerian is a popular natural ingredient that can be used as a sedative and a painkiller. It is often effectively employed as a treatment for anxiety and for insomnia, as well.

You may find that with psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, relaxation exercises or support groups, or some combination of all of them, you do not need any medication. But if you do decide to explore the option of medication, natural treatments for anxiety can provide you with safe, effective results, without the risk of side effects that prescription medications pose. Natural medications are becoming increasingly popular as awareness of them grows, and you might find that they are the right treatment for you as well.

The word drug is derived from druug, Swedish for ‘dried plants’. A large proportion of the early conventional medicines and drugs that were discovered, originated from plants. Aspirin was originally developed after isolating acetysalicyclic acid from a plant known as meadowsweet (Latin: Spiraea). Quinine has its origins in cinchona, medicinal bark of the cinchona tree. Morphine and codeine have their roots in poppy plant.

However, there are certain aspects that differentiate conventional drugs from herbal remedies and homeopathic remedies, as well. These are:

- Conventional drugs are based on a single compound that is isolated from herbs or plants. On the other hand, therapies that are based on natural remedies, use the entire herb without isolating the active ingredient. This is done on the belief that a combination of compounds produces a better therapeutic value and work together to reduce toxicity.

- Chemicals and synthetics are used in the manufacturing process for conventional medicine. In many cases the compound is synthesized. Herbal remedies do not use chemicals or synthetic products during the process of preparing a remedy. In fact, synthetic products are not used even as catalysts or aiding agents in the preparation of herbal or homeopathic products.

The harshest criticism of herbal supplements and remedies is that many herbs are toxic in nature and that they can be dangerous to ingest. It is a known fact that some herbs are extremely toxic in nature. However, herbalists profess that the preparation process of herbal medicines ensures that the toxic effect is negated. Homeopathy makes use of even poisonous plants and herbs to arrive at suitable remedies.

Nux vomica and rhus toxicodendron are two commonly prescribed homeopathic remedies and both of them are prepared from toxic plants. Lachesis muta, on the other hand, is made from the venom of bushmaster snake. To understand how these poisonous substances are converted from poisons to remedy it is necessary to know the basics of how a homeopathic remedy is prepared.

Remedy, in homeopathy does not have the common meaning that we all are conversant with. In homeopathy it is a technical term applied to herbs, plants, minerals, live specimens or any other natural substance that has undergone a specific procedure so as to be able to treat a patient (not a disease).

Homeopathic remedies are prepared using a process called ‘potentisation’. The basic ingredient is diluted in water or alcohol and vigorously shaken ten times against an elastic body. The process is repeated with further dilutions based on the potency that is required. During this process, known as succussion, the vital energy of the natural remedy is activated and released. The curative properties of the ingredient are also transferred to the diluting liquid. Contrary to general belief, higher the dilution and succession, the higher the potency of the remedy!

The end product is completely natural and the original herb, plant, natural substance or poison is present in a negligible ratio

Homeopathy is based on the principle of ‘similar treats similar’, which means that a symptom caused by a substance is cured by the same substance.

Conventionalist may find it difficult to believe that such huge dilution can have any therapeutic value but homeopathy has remedies that produce positive results if prepared, prescribed and taken according to the principles defined by homeopathy.

Related posts:
Homeopathic medicines boost the immune system
Some precautions while using herbs for weight loss
Learn how to use herbs for insomnia