Arthritis, a leading cause of disability in people above 55, is a combination of conditions primarily related to damage of the joints of the body. There are seven primary forms of arthritis:

* 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.