Oh My Aching Bones

I never heard my dad swear but he had two by-phrases he used frequently. One was "horse feathers" and the other was "oh my aching bones." I don't know what prompted the "horse feathers" but I think I know the root of the "oh my aching bones." I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure it had something )or everything) to do with the aging process. I am now 59 years old and sometimes I'm tempted to make such an exclamation.

There are in nature some substances however that are reported to assist in making the aging process less painful.

Glucosamine is an aminosugar. It is made in the body from the simple carbohydrate glucose (sugar) and the amino acid glutamine. Although our bodies generally use glucose to produce energy, the aminosugars found in glucosamine are incorporated into the structure of body tissue. Glucosamine is involved in the formation of cartilage, nails, tendons, skin, eyes, bones, ligaments, and heart valves. It also plays a role in the mucous secretions of the digestive, respiratory, and urinary tracts. Of particular interest is its role in cartilage.

Glucosamine stimulates chondrocytes to produce more collagen and proteoglycans. The more glucosamine there is, the more collagen and proteoglycans there are, and the more water can be absorbed. The end result is healthier cartilage. Because of these properties, glucosamine can help the body help itself repair damaged or eroded cartilage. It works at the cellular level to reinforce our natural "repair" ability.

Many clinical trials have demonstrated that glucosamine results in less pain due to cartilage deterioration and a wider range of movement.

MSM is a biologically active form of the mineral sulfur. Sulfur is the fourth most plentiful mineral in the body and is found in every cell of the body. Sulfur plays a particularly important role in tissue structure. MSM is naturally present in foods and the human body. MSM has been used by veterinarians for more than 15 years, and use by humans goes back some 20 years.

MSM contributes to healthy joints because, as a form of sulfur, it adds to the benefits of glucosamine. It may aid glucosamine in its role in maintaining healthy cartilage as well as in helping to maintain joint flexibility and mobility. Many glucosamine users experience increased benefits when adding MSM to their supplement regimen.

Boswellia serrata (Indian frankincense) has been used for centuries in the Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine to maintain healthy joints. This is still one of its main uses.

Boswellic acids improve blood supply to the joints and maintain the integrity of blood vessels. At least one study has indicated that they may open up collateral blood circulation to provide adequate blood supply to the joints.

Boswellic acids have been known to reduce joint swelling, maintain blood supply to inflamed joints, maintain mobility, and reduce pain due to stiffness in the joints. They also have no side effects.

 What Mother used to say was much more practical and less dramatic than Daddy's exclamations. She used to say, "An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure." Though not original, very practical.

Take care of those joints and you could very possibly avoid hip and knee replacements. And if you are already experiencing pain in your joints you might be able to even reverse the deterioration process. Hey anything is better that the scalpel.