Blog Archives
Can Organic Juicing “Cure” Disease…Specifically Ankylosing Spondylitis?
Organic juicing can provide the most amazing healing benefits, including cleansing the body of free radicals and toxins, while offering anti-inflammatory benefits, and in the process stave off the effects of aging and degenerative diseases. I juice regularly and I strongly believe in the healing power of fruits and vegetables. I’ve also been asked a number times if I believe that juicing itself, or if certain freeze-dried juices promoted by various companies can cure specific diseases such as cancer, arthritis and most recently AS. In my humble opinion, the answer is “no” and here’s why.
“Cure” defined by Wikipedia, means: “the end of a medical condition; the substance or procedure that ends the medical condition, such as a medication, a surgical operation, a change in lifestyle, or even a philosophical mindset that helps a person suffer. It may also refer to the state of being healed, or cured.” According to my definition, as someone living with Ankylosing Spondylitis, a cure would mean waking up to no further, pain, inflammation, fatigue or symptoms relating to AS, or any companion diseases falling under the category of spondyloarthropathies. Although juicing can not cure auto-immune disease, the addition of juicing to one’s daily health regimen, combined with a healthy lifestyle can do wonders.
What exactly does juicing offer?
Juicing gives the body a well needed break from digestion, so energy can be directed toward healing. During this time your cells receive well needed recovery through the rejuvenation process of detoxifying and repairing themselves. Juicing allows us the opportunity to load the body full of valuable nutrients, minerals & enzymes. Enzymes are very special proteins found in a all living cells, which act as catalysts in the metabolic process. They are indispensable and essential actions for the chemical reactions that make life possible and without them, life simply would not be. Enzymes are found in all living things, including humans, plants and animals. When foods are cooked, the enzyme content is reduced considerably. This is why it is important to consume as many servings of fresh fruits and vegetables as possible. Drinking freshly squeezed juices allows us this opportunity, without the burden of eating and digesting such large quantities of food. Consuming minerals & enzymes offer amazing healing benefits and the most powerful way to multiply our intake of these powerful nutrients is to consume green drinks. Green drinks consists of green leafy vegetables, often combined with certain fruits to make the drink more palate pleasing. Many green leafy vegetables also offer many anti-inflammatory benefits such as kale, spinach, swiss chard, collard greens & turnip greens. Many fruits also offer anti-inflammatory benefits such as: lemons, pineapple, blueberries, raspberries & kiwi. The proper combinations of these fruits and vegetables are crucial in reaping the healing benefits of juicing, without doing harm to the body such as raising your blood sugar levels, or effecting symptoms of reactive arthritis such as IBS.
What you juice is just as important as what you eat. How much you consume of certain foods, is just as important as what you consume of foods in their full form ie; a diabetic juicing fruit. Combining the proper foods when juicing can yield amazing healing benefits for just about anyone. However, juicing should be done so with caution for Gout sufferers, needing to avoid purine-rich foods & autoimmune arthritis & IBS sufferers choosing to refrain from consuming large amounts of sugars & starches. Juicing can offer incredible healing benefits for many, especially those living with chronic inflammatory diseases such as Ankylosing Spondylitis.
What can juicing offer to those living with Ankylosing Spondylitis, and other inflammatory conditions?
In addition to newly found energy, a clearer complexion and mental clarity, juicing and drinking green leafy vegetables can offer amazing anti-inflammatory benefits. Reducing inflammation without question has a positive impact on a the symptoms of Ankylosing Spondylisits, as well as other inflammatory conditions; such as eczema and asthma. As someone who lives with AS, who has also used juicing for many years, I can attest to the positive impact that juicing the proper combinations of foods can have on autoimmune arthritis related inflammation. The consumption of freshly squeezed green drinks, from vegetables high in anti-inflammatory properties reduces the inflammatory response of Ankylosing Spondylitis..at least in my case and it might also work for you.
When it comes to such beneficial remedies as juicing, it’s imperative to choose the proper terminology when describing its effects on specific conditions. In terms of healing, there is both physiological healing and wound healing. Research has shown that both fruits and vegetables have physiological healing properties, so its safe to say that juicing offers the same healing benefits. Consuming higher amounts of enzyme rich foods via juicing, without the burden of digestion can be instrumental in staving off degenerative, age related diseases contributing to inflammation, such as heart disease, along with certain types of cancer and osteoarthritis, as the foods these juices are derived from offer these very benefits. However, once a person has a disease, especially an incurable autoimmune disease, going so far as to suggest juicing as stand alone cure, is a stretch. Promoting juicing as a “cure” immediately puts it into the category of snake oil remedies, thus invalidating the importance of its use.
The Positive Pear recommends juicing daily with the proper food combinations. Buy Non-GMO, local and organic whenever possible, especially when eating for the purpose of healing or controlling inflammation. Using lots of dark green leafy vegetables and when adding fruit, make sure its simply enough to lighten the flavor. If you’re on a Low-Starch Diet, be sure to remain true to the diet even when juicing or the symptoms that you’re eating to control might return. Focus on anti-inflammatory foods and you just might be successful in controlling your AS inflammation via juicing as I have. What do you have to lose? Give it a shot.
Click here to view our “Kale, Cucumber, Lemon & Ginger Fresh Juice Recipe”
Dr Oz on juicing, Dr Oz has his favorite juice daily. Definition of enzymes & healing according to Wikipedia. Positive Pear Article: The Best Medicine for Stress is an Inner & Outer Smile regarding controlling stress & inflammation. Other Anti-Inflammatory Foods & Recipes here on The Positive Pear. Green leafy vegetables considered cancer fighting foods according to the American Institute for Cancer Research.
(All rights reserved. Please feel free to share this article in its entirety, excerpts or links to the article provided full & clear credit is given to The Positive Pear Blog)
Electrotherapy Pain Management For Ankylosing Spondylitis & Other Chronic Pain Conditions
Pain is unfortunately an unavoidable part of the amazing human experience. Its the body’s warning system, a way of signalling that an area of the body requires more attention. However, long-lasting persistent pain serves no useful purpose and when living with daily chronic pain, the body’s warning system quickly becomes something that we’d rather shut off. When treating chronic pain and nervous system disorders like Fibromyalgia & chronic pain & inflammatory condition such as Ankylosing Spondylitis, the recommended course of treatment usually includes NSAIDs and for AS, immunosuppressants & self-administered injectables or biologics, such as genetically engineered DMARDs. Though many of these drugs are proven to reduce the rate of damage to bone and cartilage as with Rheumatoid Arthritis, these drugs may cease to work in time and often produce negative side effects. Including some which may outweigh their benefits. There are many who would rather not risk stomach upset, bleeding ulcers, further joint discomfort, compromised immune systems, or risk developing other diseases or conditions and prefer to seek alternative anti-inflammatory options & natural pain management. However, for those who have no choice other than the use of drugs, alternative pain management may also compliment their course of treatment.
One exciting and very effective form of natural pain management is electrotherapy. Electrotherapy is the use of electrical energy as a non pharmacological, non narcotic, non addictive, non invasive treatment for pain, muscle spasms, muscle weakness, lack of circulation and compromised range of motion. Electrotherpay works by blocking pain signals, preventing them from reaching the brain. This form of alternative treatment can effectively treat symptoms such hyperalgesia associated with Fibromyalgia, as well as the chronic pain and inflammation associated with Ankylosing Spondylitis. Rather than completely numbing the body to pain and blocking its mechanism for healing the joints and regenerating cartilage, as with long term use of certain medications.
There are many forms of electrotherapy available for home use, also known as Electrical Stimulation Devices. The most commonly self administered ESDs is (TENS) Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. TENS uses electrical current applied at a high frequency to stimulate the nerves. A TENS unit is compact and portable, clipping nicely to a belt loop or placed in a small purse. It usually has dual channels with two leads attached to each channel. Each channel has both a positive and negative wire, colored either red or black. Electrodes are usually provided with the purchases of your TENS unit and are best when they are rubber and adhesive, which will allow close contact with the skin. After several uses, the electrodes might loose their ability to remain sticky, so it is highly recommended that to have an extra set on hand. Proper placement of the electrodes is important to benefit fully from the use of TENS. The electrodes of opposite polarity may be placed close to one another, but never touching, as the body will reap zereo benefit. Place the negative electrode on the site of pain and the positive electrode adjacent to it or near a nerve supply to the painful area. On sensitive areas such as the knee, instead of placing the negative electrode directly on the patella, you might place the negative and positive electrodes on opposing sides of the patella. Perhaps one above the knee and one below. There are immediate benefits to this treatment depending on the frequency used, low frequency releases endorphins and higher frequencies release harmones that are responsible for regulating pain. Long term use might provide up to a 60% improvement in both acute and chronic pain conditions. Whereas some might find that the effectiveness of TENS diminishes over time. Of course, effectiveness and results will vary from person to person.
The second ESDs that we’ll discuss in this article is (MENS) Microcurrent Electrical Nerve Stimulation. MENS uses microcurrents that are so small, typically less than 600 microamps, that there is no discomfort or discernible sensation during application. MENS might prove more beneficial to those who are sensitive to the stronger current of TENS, such as children. This form of electrotheraphy can normalize sensitivity and improve cell metabolism and heal at the site of pain. Due to the ability of Microcurrent to heal at the cellular level its often used for wound healing and for treatment of pain and swelling. Microcurrent therapy has proven quite effective and works well with the body’s own electrical system. Often used to treat swelling and pain from ligament strain, bruises, the spinal area, neck pain (beneath the collar) plus joint and back pain. MENS is also a safe treatment method for treating injury, swelling and pain in children. There are portable microcurrent devices readily available for MENS treatment.
I’ve personally used various TENS units for over 15 years, with very positive results for back & neck pain associated with multiple car accidents. Once diagnosed, I continued the use of TENS for musculoskeletal pain and symptoms associated with Ankylosing Spondylitis & Fibromyaglia. When using TENS on both my neck and back prior to bed, I have a decrease in the morning pain & stiffness often associated with AS. This allows me to wake up a simply get moving, without the usual waiting around for muscles to loosen and for the pain to subside on its own. TENS has also been great for reducing or eliminating much of the dull, nagging aches or intense pain in my heels, knees and calves associated with plantar fasciitis and achilles tendonitis, as well as the more severe pain in connection with sacroiliitis. I’ve recently discovered a device that incorporates both TENS & MENS, which I highly recommend. Its manufactured by Current Solutions, who has several ESDs combination electrotherapy units available. The Intensity TENS/MENS Micro Combo is the most reasonably priced, best reviewed and now recommended by The Positive Pear. Click here to view & purchase.
Be sure to read ALL manufacturer instructions and when in doubt please contact a Chiropractor, Acupuncturist or Natropathic Doctor. Prior to beginning any alternative treatment program please consult with your doctor, to avoid any potential harmful interactions with drugs or conditions that you may have aside from, or in addition to musculoskeletal disorders. TENS & MENS units should not be used for undiagnosed pain, and should be completely avoided by those with heart disease, pace makers, implanted defribrillators or abdominal hernia and when in doubt about the use of TENS with these conditions contact your doctor or health care professional. In addition, use of TENS or MENS near the throat, face or head should always be avoided.
Many insurance companies will cover the purchase of TENS units via reimbursement for cases of chronic pain, once you’ve met their criteria. This might include a failure to respond to several months of conventional medical treatments, including medications (NSAIDS) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and physical therapy. The purchase of MENS units may not be reimbursable, being a new therapy compared to TENS. In spite of its known use in Japanese physiotherapy since shortly after World War II, it still might be classified as experimental or investigational. Be sure to check with your insurance provider to verify your coverage for either the purchase of Electrical Stimulation Devices or professional electrotheraphy treatments.
There are many therapies that fall under the umbrella of electrotherapy such as Noninvasive Cortical Electrostimulation & Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES) which use micro-current. Proving quite effective for the treatment of anxiety, stress, depression, insomnia, drug addiction, headaches, ADHD, cognitive dysfunction and hyperalgesia associated with Fibromyalgia. While also improving mobility in conditions such as Multiple sclerosis, Parkenson’s and stroke. CES are designated class 3 devices by the FDA. Be sure to check out other natural pain management articles here on The Positive Pear. Wishing you many pain free days ahead.
Pear Reference: Aetna Health clarifies the use of TENS and its recommendations by doctors for chronic pain. Spondylitis Association of America: Lists TENS as one the many alternative therapies found useful for AS patience. Arthritis Foundation Clarifies that TENS will not cure AS or any form of arthritis, but suggests the usefulness of TENS for fibromyalgia & chronic back pain. TENS falls under the category of Acupuncture for the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. There have been many studies proving the efficacy of both Acupuncture & TENS, that many insurance companies now consider these acceptable forms of alternative treatments. Cortical Electrostimulation Study, Cerephex Cortical Electrostimulation Study
(All rights reserved. Please feel free to share this article in its entirety, excerpts or links provided full & clear credit is given to The Positive Pear Blog)
The Best Medicine for Stress is an Inner & Outer Smile
Controlling your anxiety and stress levels might be helpful in controlling inflammation, as well as ward off aging related chronic illnesses. When we are in a constant state of worry relating to daily life such as work, school, finances, family etc; our bodies begin to recognize this continued exposure as a threat. Thus Immediately activating the stress response by switching the body’s systems to “fight or flight” mode, a physiological response normally reserved for dangerous situations. The hypothalamus gland in the brain sets the response in motion by triggering the nervous system, which in turn alerts the adrenal glands to release a huge surge of stress hormones known as epinephrine (adrenaline), norepinephrine (noradrenaline) and cortisol directly into the bloodstream which causes several physical changes in the body. Including increasing the heart rate, elevating blood pressure and boosting our energy supply. Cortisol the primary stress hormone, also increases our levels of glucose in the bloodstream and enhances the brain’s use of glucose, which allows us to think faster to plan an escape. The release of cortisol also minimizes the use of crucial functions of the body. Functions such as the immune system, digestive system and reproductive system, rendering them temporarily useless, which would allow us to flee a truly dangerous situation much more quickly. Because several areas of the brain are alerted, this physiological state also effects our mood among other things. In a real life emergency these responses would be beneficial, but imagine what’s happening to the body each time you are under mental, physical or emotional stress. Being exposed frequently to stressful situations creates a constant release of these hormones and over long periods of time can be incredibly be harmful to the immune system.
In a real “fight or flight” situation the body completely returns to normal after the perceived threat has been removed. Stress hormone levels 
decrease, cortisol levels drop, heart rate returns to normal, blood pressure returns to its original level and body functions such as, the immune, digestive and reproduction systems resume their normal routines. However, with the continued exposure to stress, the body remains in constant “fight or flight” mode with the inability to regulate itself. The continued release of these stress hormones can lead to an impaired immune system. Thus breaking down the body’s ability to discern allies from helpers. As a result, the body begins to view everything as a threat causing immune malfunctions such as chronic inflammation. Which is the number one contributing factor to aging related diseases and major symptoms and conditions such as allergies, chronic headaches, obesity, diabetes, adrenal fatigue, autoimmune diseases, hypertension, heart disease, strokes, insomnia, digestive issues, depression and memory impairment. It can also trigger the inflammatory response in the body, which would naturally effect chronic inflammatory diseases of the joints (arthritis) and skin (eczema). Imagine what the continued exposure to stressful situations can do to someone battling an autoimmune disease and chronic inflammatory conditions such as Ankylosing Spondylitis, or a syndrome such a Fibromyalgia which is directly effected by stress.
We are living in very stressful times, but stress does not have to dominate your life. If you learn to master healthy stress reducing techniques now, you can limit your risk of chronic illness, aging related disease or the risk of exacerbating symptoms associated with diseases or conditions that you may already have. There is one technique that we can employ at anytime allowing us to reap immediate positive health benefits, while allowing us to regain control of our minds & bodies and that would be to adapt both an inner & outer smile. It sounds far too simple to actually work, but you can have confidence in knowing that by putting on an immediate outer smile, in spite of whatever stressful situation that you might be experiencing, it forces an inward shift. Which then becomes an inner smile or a positive mental attitude. This chain reaction then tells the body that everything is going to be ok. This causes the body to then immediately stop releasing stress hormones, which returns the blood pressure to normal, while also allowing the immune and digestive systems to regain their normal functions. It also releases endorphins which is a natural pain killer and serotonin which is a mood enhancer. By simply utilizing this little technique we can immediately create a positive mental attitude, which not only allows us to problem solve more effectively, but when used regularly combined with a healthy lifestyle can also extend our lives. Remember when you are under stress, remove yourself from the situation, close your eyes, take a deep cleansing breath and immediately adapt both an inner & outer smile. Have several each day and share a few with friends. Wishing you many beautiful and stress free days ahead “The Positive Pear” Blog:)
Other natural stress management techniques here on the positive pear.
(All rights reserved. Please feel free to share this article in its entirety, excerpts or links provided full & clear credit is given to The Positive Pear Blog)
