Do you suffer from arthritis?

Arthritis is characterised by pain and inflammation.

There are several different kinds of arthritis but the 3 most common are rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and gout.

They are all forms of joint distress that result in pain and inflammation.

Case studies show that aromatherapy is one of the most effective treatments for arthritis through helping us eliminate toxic waste, as well as providing considerable relief from pain and increased mobility.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease in which inflammation (pain, heat and swelling) affects the joints and other organs of the body.

The hands, feet and knees are commonly affected. Stiffness in the joints is common, especially in the morning. There is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis but there are ways to manage it.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes pain and inflammation of the joints. Other parts of the body can also be affected. Inflammation causes the joints to become painful and swollen, and movement may be restricted. Stiffness in the joints is common, especially in the morning. The inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis can result in damage to the joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis usually starts in middle life, with onset generally occurring between the ages of 35 to 64. It affects around one per cent of Australia’s population. An estimated 57 per cent of people with rheumatoid arthritis are women.

In the case of rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system targets the lining of the joints, causing inflammation and joint damage. The characteristic swelling happens when the joint produces too much lubricating (synovial) fluid in response to the inflammation.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a condition that affects the joints.

In a normal joint, the ends of the bones are covered by a layer of cartilage. Cartilage helps the joint move smoothly and cushions the ends of the bones. In OA, the cartilage breaks down and becomes thin. This leaves the ends of the bones unprotected, and the joint loses its ability to move smoothly. OA mainly affects people over the age of 45, but it can develop in younger people.

The symptoms of OA vary from person to person. OA tends to come on slowly, over months or even years. The most common symptoms are pain and stiffness of the joints. These feelings are usually worst after resting or not moving the joint for a while. These symptoms may affect your ability to do normal daily activities, such as walking, climbing stairs and opening jars.

In many people there is no clear cause of OA. Research shows there are some things that may put you at more risk of developing OA in certain joints, such as: knees: being overweight, having a previous knee injury, jobs involving kneeling, climbing and squatting, hips: being overweight, having a previous hip injury, jobs involving lifting heavy loads (including farming), hands: having a history of OA in the family.

Gout is characterised by severe pain and swollen joints.

Often there is a burning sensation. Small crystals form in and around the joint, causing inflammation, pain and swelling. These crystals are made of one of the body’s normal waste products, uric acid. Normally the body rids itself of extra uric acid through the kidneys into the urine. However this does not happen fast enough in people with gout. This causes uric acid levels to build up and the crystals to form.

Who is affected by gout?
There are two main groups of people commonly affected by gout: men between the ages of 40 and 50 years; older people taking diuretics (also known as ‘water pills’ or tablets which help the body get rid of water). Gout in pre-menopausal women is rare.

Gout is usually caused by your kidneys not flushing uric acid out of your body quickly enough. Gout runs in families, although not all family members will be affected. There are some lifestyle factors which may increase your risk of developing gout, including: drinking alcohol, dehydration (not drinking enough water), being overweight or overeating, ‘crash’ dieting or fasting,eating certain foods.

BE Relieved is used for the pain and inflammation of arthritis.

Aromatherapy is highly effective in pain management because its ingredients are analgesic, anti-inflammatory and have prostaglandin inhibition properties that provide physiological pain relief. Essential oils work from an holistic viewpoint.  They also deal with the emotions as well as the anxiety.

BE Relieved is probably the most versatile and fast-acting pain relief products on the market today. It is listed with the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) as a medicine for a variety of conditions including arthritisand joint inflammation.

BE Relieved contains essential oils of lavender, marjoram, vetiver, geranium, sweet orange, lemon, neroli, petitgrain, bergamot, lemongrass and cedarwood with the moisturising properties of sweet almond, wheatgerm and macadamia oils.