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Home » RA Connect » Rheumatoid Arthritis - (RA Connect) » An odd little thing that helps.....arnica gel...

An odd little thing that helps.....arnica gel... Expand / Collapse
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Chris Braile
Posted Thursday, October 29, 2009 9:59 PM


 

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I know I've seen things about not taking arnica as a supplement (very diluted homeopathy is fine), but nothing about using it as a gel. Since it's worked for me for bruises and muscle aches, it finally occurred to me to try it on my joints. I've been flaring thanks to some diet lapses - a couple accidental, a couple from being rebellious and stupid.

It worked immediately. Not a huge decrease in pain, but a marked difference.....enough to take it down a few notches. It lasted for a few hours (2-3).

Anyway, I thought I'd post this and ask if anyone else has tried it or if someone goes out and tries it to please let me know what they think. And maybe it'll help someone having a bad day.

SAHM/homeschooler Diagnosed 2009 with RA
Diet (no nightshades/gluten), supplements (fish oil, cal/mag, Vit D, Vit C), Chinese herbal medicine (3rd Coast Herb Company), acupuncture, yoga
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Katavistic
Posted Friday, October 30, 2009 2:01 PM


 

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I was actually looking at a balm at Whole Foods last week that has arnica in it, but was in a rush. Maybe I'll head over there over weekend and pick up a tube. I can't remember the name of the actual product. I tried some stuff a few weeks ago that has poison ivy as an active ingredient. It seemed to help a little, but I prefer the ointments that actually heat up on the skin. Does the arnica do that??

36, diagnosed 3/09
Meds: 20 mg Methotrexate, 1 mg Folic Acid, 5 mg Prednisone and fading
Supplements: Milk Thistle, Salba seed oil, "Nature's Basket" Organic Greens and Organic Reds with Flax (usually in a morning fruit smoothie for breakfast), Iron, Bragg's organic apple cider vinegar, probiotics, B-complex, calcium, vitamin D, a cupboard full of herbal teas, the unconditional love of a furbaby named Jack, a vegan and mostly organic diet, and as much of a positive attitude as I can possibly have every single day I'm alive!
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Joy125
Posted Friday, October 30, 2009 5:56 PM


 

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Interesting. A dermatologist recommended arnica creme to a friend who frequently gets bruises cuz of meds he is on.

I mentioned it could possibly also relieve joint pain, so he will try it and see if it helps.

Thanks for the post.

________________________________________________________________________

I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition. MARTHA WASHINGTON


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Chris Braile
Posted Friday, October 30, 2009 11:22 PM


 

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No, it doesn't heat up...it feels rather cool, actually. I'd been told not to use the capsaicin-based creams because they can increase inflammation. But since I react badly to all nightshades (capsaicin is found in peppers), I wouldn't use it anyway.

anyway, it was a pleasant surprise and a really nice way to quickly tone down the pain. Like after i've been surfing the net for too long and my index finger gets grouchy LOL.

SAHM/homeschooler Diagnosed 2009 with RA
Diet (no nightshades/gluten), supplements (fish oil, cal/mag, Vit D, Vit C), Chinese herbal medicine (3rd Coast Herb Company), acupuncture, yoga
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SassySyl
Posted Saturday, October 31, 2009 11:37 AM


 

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I have used this for years. In Europe, its been a mainstay in the home to help with bruises and aches and pains. I use it on my painful joints, and it makes me feel a bit better where I can cope.

Warm Thoughts,
Sylv

JRA, OA, PA, and Fibromyalgia

Medication Mix:
Humira 80mg; MTX 30mg; Prednisone 2.5 to 5 mg; Xanax 1 mg; Tylenol extra strength (when needed on very bad days); Darvocet 100mg


A smile is worth a thousand words and a kind word is worth more than a thousand smiles
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Barbara Schwefel
Posted Saturday, October 31, 2009 10:10 PM


 

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Hi all would like to know where and how much this gel is.At this point am willing to try anything and I didn't know that the capsasin actually promotes inflammation.Thank you for posting!!!

A SMILE IS THE LIGHT IN THE WINDOW OF YOUR FACE...IT LETS PEOPLE KNOW YOU'RE HOME.

Author unknown



Diagnosed 08/09 Am currently on Methotrexate,Folic Acid,Nebumetone,And Hydrocodone for pain.
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Chris Braile
Posted Saturday, October 31, 2009 11:04 PM


 

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Arnica gel can be found in pretty much any heath food store....it's a very common natural treatment.

here is a list of the ones they ahve at Vitacost.com (huge online store where I get most of my supplements):

http://www.vitacost.com/productResults.aspx?ss=1&Ntk=products&x=0&y=0&Ntt=arnica%20gel

SAHM/homeschooler Diagnosed 2009 with RA
Diet (no nightshades/gluten), supplements (fish oil, cal/mag, Vit D, Vit C), Chinese herbal medicine (3rd Coast Herb Company), acupuncture, yoga
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Pip
Posted Wednesday, November 04, 2009 1:20 AM


 

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Capsaicin promotes inflammation and then blocks it.


http://sciencelinks.jp/j-east/article/200023/000020002300A0589971.php

http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=3636654

http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=2320988


Kind of like overstimulating the nerves so it is desensitized. It's operative ingrediant is Substance P which is a natural antimicrobial and is the focus of interest in the famous Canadian Diabetes studies where Substance P is reversing diabetes.


Pip

Edited to activate links but it's not working.

Antibiotic Protocol - Minocin, Zithromax, Naproxen (occasionally), 1 mg. Folic Acid.

Supps are Milk Thistle, Black Cohosh, Bromelain, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium, NAC, B12, Hawthorne, CoQ10, MSM, Tumeric, and weaning Melatonin!  PROBIOTICS, PROBIOTICS, PROBIOTICS!!!

Occassionally Nystatin, Diflucan, GSE, Oil of Oregano still sitting on the counter!

Feel free to PM me about the Antibiotic Protocol~

Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.               Hippocrates 

                         
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