Speaking at the October 2002 OSWA meeting, Ricki Anderhuber said "Health is common sense."
 
In fact on her card she says - "I have a great belief in the body's ability to heal itself with the help of a good diet, a healthy lifestyle and good common sense."  And that is what she talked about.
 
There are 2 main types of arthritis.
OSTEO ARTHRITIS
occurs from overuse and involves large joints - like hip, back, knees, ankles.  Irritation causes inflammation then pain.  After a period of inactivity, stiffness occurs, which improves with continued movement.  So these people need to keep active.  A popping sound may be heard in joint movement.
 
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
is an auto-immune disease where the body attacks itself.  This usually occurs in the small joints - like nodules on fingers and toes.  The pain is made worse with movement and rest  is needed.  The sound made on joint movement is like crinkling cellophane.
 
POLYARTHRITIS is a combination of both types.
 
Arthritis is more likely to occur in people with blue eyes.  It is  a result of imbalance in the body - poor absorption in the gut, inability to get rid of toxins  (flush the kidneys with water)  or a hormonal imbalance.   It is never just one thing causing arthritis, we need to find the cause and eliminate it.  This usually means changing our diet.
 
DIETARY CONSIDERATIONS
1.  Eliminate problem foods
 ie a)  Nightshade family - potatoes, tomatoes, capsicum, eggplant
     b) Sugar is acid-forming so get rid of sweet foods and drinks incl orange & pineapple.  Lemon may be OK.
     c) Wheat products are also acid forming so avoid.
     d) Red meat is treated with nitrates to make it look red and this aggravates arthritis too.
2.  Oil the joints - 6000mg daily of fish or plant food    oils eg evening primrose oil, linseed oil,    salmon or cod liver oils
3.  Improve digestion - sufficient hydrochloric acid and nutritional unprocessed organic, biodynamic foods

FOODS THAT HELP ARTHRITIS
1.  Sweet potatoes - belong to the yam family   which has anti-inflammatory properties.
2.  Fish - essential fatty acid oils have   anti-inflammatory properties.
3.  Vegetables - most are OK but avoid fruits.
4.  Herbal teas - have alkalising effect eg alpha-  alpha.  Fenugreek has cortisone-like action.
5.  Green juices - eg celery, barley green.  They   increase gut enzymes and aid digestion.
6.  Kelp - seaweed is another green that is high in minerals, particularly iodine - needed for thyroid.  Most people with rheumatoid arthritis have low thyroid function.  People with osteo-arthritis need extra minerals.  Arthritis is less common in seaside people who traditionally have access to kelp and fish in the diet.  People in mountainous country are more likely to be iodine deficient - so have more arthritis and goitre.  In some European countries iodine is added to the water supply, not fluoride and chlorine as we have here in WA. 
7. Chondroitin, glucosamine, shark or bovine cartilage (gelatine) help but avoid copper.
 
DIGESTION is impaired
in arthritis and usually there is not enough stomach acid.  Normally the acidity of stomach digestive juices closes the oesophageal sphincter.  If there is not enough acid the sphincter doesn't get the signal to close - so we get indigestion - and because of low
stomach acid we are also unable to absorb the needed vitamins and minerals from our foods.
 
HERBS FOR ARTHRITIS
Willowbark and Meadowsweet are salicylates that are anti-inflammatory without the side effects of aspirin.
 
Evening primrose, starflower, feverfew, devil's claw and rutin have anti-inflammatory properties too.
 
Wild yam, licorice, fenugreek and black cohosh have a cortisone-like action.
 
St John's Wort (hypericum) is particularly good for nerve-based arthritic pain.
 

QUICK TEST for STOMACH ACID    When indigestion occurs, sip a teasp of lemon juice or drink a tablsp of apple cider vinegar in warm water.      1. If this fixes the indigestion you have low stomach acid (works because acid closes the oesophageal sphincture.)  You need to take digestive enzymes that contain hydrochloric acid before  a meal - or lemon juice or apple cider vinegar to help you digest your foods.    2.  If lemon makes it worse, you either have oesophageal ulcers from long-term acid burning (so eat foods that don't aggravate) or you do need an antacid to reduce stomach acidity.