The Arthritis Cure. - book reviews

*** More than 50,000,000 Americans are afflicted with arthritis, which fundamentally is a degenerative joint disease. Since there are over 140 joints in the body it can strike anywhere. Unless there was an earlier accidental trauma, it usually begins after the age of 40, with women being more susceptible than men.

The authors' main concern is osteoarthritis, which primarily attacks weight-bearing joints. The spine, hips, knees, and feet are the most likely to succumb, although neck and finger joints often are affected as well. Obese persons are more often inflicted than thin ones.

The main problem in osteoarthritis is the state of the cartilage in the joints, which normally is five to eight times more slippery than ice. When healthy, the cartilage blunts trauma and reduces the friction of the bones in their interaction. When diseased or completely worn out, one can hear the bones click against each other and the pain can be excruciating.

The thrust of the book is to help osteoarthritic sufferers by explaining "the medical miracle that can halt, reverse, and may even cure osteoarthritis." That is a major claim, considering that common American medical practice mostly concerns itself with alleviating pain of the disease, believing not much else can be done.

Readers confronted with medical "miracles" and curing the symptoms," whatever that means, frequently become suspicious, bearing in mind the adage that "if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is." However, the authors, in a clearly illustrated and well-written text, command attention with their research and that of others. One of them (Theodosakis) found his arthritic condition remarkably improved after following the regimen, diet, and non-prescriptive medication suggested in this book. Those sufferers whose guideline at this point in the disease is "any port in a storm" will welcome it, but others not so desperate well might follow the authors' instructions, too. Doing so, they may be helped -- considerably!

In clearly defined steps, the authors lead the reader to a program that offers hope for osteoarthritic sufferers. The first of seven steps is to get a thorough checkup from a physician. The remaining suggestions are easy to follow, and the book touts taking the nutritional supplements of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfates, available in most health food stores. The authors claim it almost never is too late to start.

COPYRIGHT 1998 Society for the Advancement of Education
COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group