Author: Mike Furci (Page 31 of 65)

Osteoarthritis (OA), also known as degenerative arthritis, can be painful and debilitating. It?s caused by the breakdown and eventual loss of cartilage. OA is the most common form of arthritis out of over 100 different types, and affects nearly 27 million people. With one third of people over 65 being diagnosed with OA, tradition treatments, as with western medicine in general, address only the symptoms. More and more people, in an effort to try and prevent as well as treat the disease, are turning to alternative methods.

Natural eggshell membrane (NEM) is an alternative dietary supplement that contains hyaluronic acid, chondroitin, and glucosamine. NEM was investigated for its effects and safety for pain and stiffness in osteoarthritis of the knee in a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study. Sixty-seven study participants took 500 mg of NEM daily for eight weeks. They were evaluated at 10, 30 and 60 days for joint pain.

After 60 days, 32 percent of the NEM group had more than a 50 percent reduction in pain. Their stiffness also continued to get better, with an average 27 percent reduction compared to the placebo group. By the end of the trial natural eggshell membrane had reduced stiffness by half for the majority of the patients.

In a related study in which researchers evaluated the use of eggshell membrane extract in people who had joint and connective tissue disorders, 39 patients received 500 mg once daily for four weeks. After seven days, patients reported a 27.8% improvement in flexibility. After 30 days, the participants reported a 72.8% reduction in general pain, a 43.7% increase in flexibility, and a 75.9% reduction in pain associated with range of motion. As with the above study of eggshell membrane extract for osteoarthritis, the patients in this study tolerated the supplement well.