rthritis is a condition characterized by the degeneration of joints over time causing pain, stiffness, inflammation, and limitation of movement. When a joint is inflamed it may be swollen, tender, warm to the touch or red.
Surrounding each joint is a protective capsule holding a lubricating fluid to aid in motion. Cartilage, a slippery smooth substance, covers most joints to assure an even, fluid motion of the joint. With joint arthritis, the cartilage may be damaged, narrowed and lost by a degenerative process or by inflammation making movement painful.
Arthritis is a general term that refers to any of various conditions with similar symptoms. The most common forms are Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis and Fibromyalgia.
Osteoarthritis develops when cartilage wears out and bone rubs against bone. Cartilage contains fluid and elastic tissue, and reduces friction as the joint moves. Most often the weight-bearing joints, such as the hips, knees and spine, are affected by osteoarthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis affects the joints of the fingers, wrists, arms and legs and swelling, pain, deformity and stiffness are typically present. Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis may also affect the heart, lungs and eyes of some patients and can cause an overall feeling of sickness and fatigue as well as weight loss and fever.
Not only joints are affected with this disease. Muscles, tendons and tissues surrounding joints may become inflamed and reduce your mobility. You may feel a squishy sensation when you push down on a joint. This is fluid in the joint capsule and it can cause pressure on the cartilage that is surrounding and protecting the bones.
Fibromyalgia is characterized by pain as the most common symptom. Almost every person with fibromyalgia complains of extreme, widespread pain. Unlike osteoarthritis, the pain and stiffness associated with fibromyalgia can be felt all over the body and is defined as deep, sharp or throbbing. Other symptoms include fatigue, morning stiffness, depression, and anxiety.
According to medical authorities, there is no cure for Arthritis and the causes are unknown. However, many contributing factors are recognized. These all have to do with trauma or stress to affected areas. Typical of these are excessive weight bearing (excessive body weight or continual heavy lifting), sports injuries that have not healed properly, repetitive stress injury (rsi) and severe emotional or mental stress.
Treatments include pain management (with steroidal drugs, non-steroidal medicines such as iboprofen, alternative medicines such as MSM, shark cartilage etc.), rest and relaxation including meditation and massage, light exercise programs, alternative therapies such as acupuncture, rolfing, etc., and often more drastic measures such as surgery and joint replacement.
SM is a naturally occurring nutritional sulfur compound found in most plants. It is the fourth most abundant mineral found in the human body with the highest concentrations in the skin, hair, nails and joints. The levels of MSM in the body decrease with age, resulting in increased physical and psychological stress, tissue breakdown, fatigue and an increased susceptibility to disease.
For centuries, mankind has soaked in sulfur-rich mineral hot springs to help heal a variety of ailments. MSM, one of nature's richest sources of sulphur, is a powerful natural anti-inflammatory, providing relief from the pain, swelling and tenderness in arthritic joints and reducing muscle and joint pain.
MSM provides the following pain relief and anti-inflammatory benefits:
MSM can be taken orally in capsule or tablet form, or applied topically in a cream. Because creams are soluble at the site of the pain, they can deliver active ingredients into the blood stream better and faster than tablets or capsules. Unlike corticosteroid or NSAID treatments, good quality natural creams containing MSM go to the heart of the problem, treating the disease at its source rather than just masking the symptoms. Creams also often contain many other therapeutic ingredients in addition to MSM. Use a cream that has a high concentration of MSM, contains other quality ingredients, and one that is all-natural, such as Pain-eez with MSM.
ain-eez is not your ordinary MSM cream. It has been specially formulated for treating joint and deep tissue pain, stiffness and cramps. It is massaged deeply into affected areas until completely absorbed. A high concentration (10%) of MSM (methyl sulfonyl methane) was added for the unique benefits it offers because of its high sulfur content. And, like our other creams, it contains only 100% natural ingredients, with no artificial frangrances, chemical preservatives, synthetic dyes or other synthetics added. In addition, no animal by-products are used and the creams and lotions are sulfate free (no sodium laureth sulfate, which may cause premature aging of the skin after prolonged use).
Ingredients: Pain-eez with MSM starts with a base cream made with purified water containing dissolved MSM, and rose hydrosol (rose floral water) and natural emulsifier waxes made from coconut and palm oils. To this we add shea butter and a special blend of herbal and essential oils including sassafras, camphor, pine needle, clove, myrrh and menthol, selected for their healing properties. This is blended with coconut and peanut oils according to a very effective recipe for arthritic and rheumatic pain.
Devil's claw: Devil's claw is an African plant whose turberous roots are used in traditional medicine for centuries as a pain-reliever and to reduce inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, rheumatism, and lower back pain. European research during the late 1990s indicated that devil's claw relieved arthritis and joint pain conditions. The herb also helped with soft muscle pain such as tendinitis. Venus Pain-eez with MSM contains a proprietory infused herb oil blend of devil's claw (with peanut oil, olive oil and sweet almond oil).
Arnica: In countries where Arnica is indigenous, it has long been a popular and effective remedy for the topical treatment of bruises, sprains and inflamation, reducing pain and swelling. It relieves irritations from trauma arthritis and muscle or cartilage pain. It also reduces pain from stiffened, cramped muscles. Venus Pain-eez with MSM contains a proprietory infused herb oil blend of arnica flowers.
How to use it: Massage gently into areas of joint and deep tissue pain until completely absorbed. Apply liberally two or three times a day for maximum benefit. Do not use on mucous membranes. If any cream gets into the eyes or mucous membranes rinse with clear water. Discontiue use if irritation ocurrs. This treatment cream is not to be used as a substitute for proper medical care and treatment. It is recommended that you consult with your health care provider before using this product. For external use only.
Our consultant herbalist comments"There are several great things about Venus Naturals' Pain-eez (Venus MSM Cream) that make it useful to me in herbal practice, however it is mostly its overall healing properties to tissues and its anti-inflammatory properties that I rely on in skin conditions and many aches and pains, eg. rheumatic inflammation and traumas without bleeding or broken skin.
"I have enjoyed playing a minor role in helping the manufacturer meticulously acquire the finest ingredients and work his recipe to a unique perfection. Using a white cream base, the product is less greasy than many traditional salves and ointments, yet the ingredients are in substantial quantity, and the thoughtful composition utilizes both the reconstructive aspects of MSM plus the pain-relieving properties for arthrits. It is produced in small batches by a small company, which is to me often a hallmark feature of the finest cutting-edge herbal and natural products, however the cream is not gritty, and over a period of a couple years I have not seen any significant batch variation.
"I sell it to many types of customers, including other healers, eg. naturopaths, and the response has always been favourable to at least some degree. It compares very well price wise with similar products, and has a good record for customers seeking repeated purchases. If it is not in stock and I am looking for it, I am often able as a herbalist to find or make a quick substitution, however it immediately sends me to the phonebook to buy more, because I really have not found anything quite like Venus Naturals' Pain-eez (Venus MSM Cream)."
Roger Lewis, Master Herbalist, Thuna Herbals
