Glucosamine as Good as Tylenol for Osteoarthritis Pain

By Dr. Ray Sahelian, MD

Acetaminophen - the generic name for Tylenol - is an effective way to reduce joint pain from arthritis. But acetaminophen can cause harm to the liver, even at doses of one gram a day. So I do not think it is a good drug to take long term for a chronic condition like osteoarthritis. Instead, consider supplementing with glucosamine sulfate.

Researchers in Madrid, Spain compared the effect of glucosamine sulfate versus acetaminophen on the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis during a six-month course of treatment. Patients were randomly assigned to receive oral glucosamine sulfate (1,500 mg once daily), acetaminophen (3 grams a day), or a placebo. The findings of this study indicate that, in the long run, glucosamine sulfate is at least as effective as acetaminophen for knee osteoarthritis symptoms.

You can find glucosamine supplements in most health food stores. Combining glucosamine with chondroitin and other nutrients or herbs may be more beneficial than taking it by itself. So look for supplements that include CMO, curcumin, or boswellia - all of which play a role in joint health.

It's Fun to Know: Salamander Limb Regeneration

When a salamander loses a leg, it can re-grow a perfect replacement within a couple of months.

How? When a leg is cut off, blood vessels in the stump close up immediately to stop bleeding. Then new skin cells grow over the injury. A few days later, the same type of cells that grew the salamander's legs when it was an embryo are activated, and the replacement begins to form.

University of California researchers are studying this phenomenon in hopes of transferring the regenerative ability to humans.

(Source: Scientific American)

Word to the Wise: Brummagem

Something that's "brummagem" (BRUM-uh-jum) is cheap and showy or counterfeit. The word came about as an alteration of Birmingham (England), from the counterfeit silver coins produced in that city in the 17th century.

Example (as used by Betty McCollister in the Humanist): "But demanding that publishers replace their brummagem wares with books which embody [Madeline] Kunin's 'high standards of excellence' would be a promising - and cost-free - way to begin."

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These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #2336, 04-22-08], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.