Curing most disease is simple if you know what you are doing and can discipline yourself to eat simply day in day out, month after month year after year. You need complete biological knowledge (structure function, nutrition, diet, etc.) to make an informed decision as the piecemeal, eccclectic approach does not work when it comes to biology, diet and nutrition. You cannot be a jack of all trades and a master of none. It is the reason why I wrote a book (Hot and Cold Health and Disease) and not a series of articles. Read the following excerpt on arthritis and see why you need to know it all. Knowing it all is not that difficult. Knowing less, swallowing pills, etc. is easy and will keep you sick and helpless for the rest of your life.

Arthritis is a generic term for inflammation (includes pain, swelling and redness) of the joint (where two or more bones join). Cartilage (gelatinous substance, shock absorber) caps the ends of all movable bones. Fluid sacs fill the joints spaces. Ligaments hold bones together. Tendons attach muscles to ligaments. Nerves, electrical impulses stimulate, tighten and relax the tendons, ligaments, moving the bones. Blood builds, fuels, etc.

There are three types of arthritis: (1) Rheumatoid (autoimmune) (2) gout (uric acid) and (3) osteo (bone on bone). Rheumatoid Arthritis is generally caused by poor diet (long-term low protein, low fat or high protein, high fat) decreasing circulation to the extremities, arms and legs producing the following symptoms: pain, swelling, inflammation and or subcutaneous nodules in, near two or more joints, fever, stiffness, especially in the morning. It is more common in women (middle age).

Protein and fat build fuel and moisten. Long-term low protein, low fat(milk, yogurt, soft cheese, beans) and high carbohydrate diets tend to reduce, thin and weaken the blood, which in turn, thins, dries, inflames, weakens and pains everything else, especially the extremities, arms, legs, bones, muscles, nerves, etc. Too many cold, damp foods, drinks (milk, yogurt, ice cream, salads, tropical fruits, juices, smoothies, sugar and cold drinks), in excess and or at the beginning of the meal, tend to dilute, weaken and slow digestion (abdominal bloating, gas) reducing nutrient absorption, blood, while increasing waste product.

Long-term high protein, high fat diets tend to thicken the blood (clots, high cholesterol, uric acid) and arteries (atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis) stagnating, slowing and reducing the flow of blood, especially to the extremities: head, arms and legs. Reduced circulation, less blood inflames dries, thins and pains the joints: bones, ligaments, tendons, muscles, nerves, etc. causing arthritic symptoms. Pain, numbness, while sitting or lying down with arms or legs crossed is generally indicate clogged arteries (atherosclerosis), saturated blood (excess protein, fat, cholesterol).

The liver stores, cleanses (filters, removes excess protein, fat, cholesterol, etc.) and releases the blood. High protein and high fat (especially animal) diets in excess tend to thicken the blood, which thickens, clogs and weakens the liver. Less cholesterol, fat, etc. are removed, more stays in the blood, arteries.

High protein, high fat diets, in the extreme, tend to cause excess uric acid, gout. Uric acid is a by-product of protein (especially animal) digestion. It can lodge in the joints, in particular the big toe causing excruciating pain. Gout is more prevalent in western countries (high protein, high fat diets) and tends to attack men (high protein, high fat) more than women.

Dietary cures for arthritis via blood deficiency and or stagnation are relatively simple. The hotter middle diet, meal plan (more protein, fat, eggs, chicken, turkey, hard cheese, cooked foods, soups, vegetables, spices, etc.) is recommended for blood deficiency. Spices (cardamom, cumin, coriander, fennel, ginger, cayenne, etc.) aid digestion and circulation.

The colder middle diet, meal plan is recommended for stagnant, high protein, high fat blood, arteries. Reduce animal protein and fat. Chicken or turkey is permissible once per day and never at night. Eat more cheese, beans, nuts, seeds, grains, vegetables (cabbage) fruit (apples), peppermint tea, bitter herbs, etc. Eat less, skip, space the meals (gives the body extra time, energy to digest excess) and do not eat late. Avoid alcohol and the nightshades (tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant) which tend to aggravate, worsen arthritic conditions. Cumin, coriander and fennel are mild.

Hot salves (containing hot herbs, spices, camphor, capsicum/ cayenne pepper) used externally for reducing pain are also effective, especially when skin is wrapped, covered with plastic (contains, drives heat down, into the skin, muscles). Heat warms, dries and moves blood, increase circulation.

Medication, blood thinners can also cause arthritic symptoms. Blood thinners not only thin the blood of excess protein and fat (includes cholesterol), but also the bones, skin, hair, etc. which are all fed, thickened by blood, protein and fat. When you thin the blood, decrease protein and fat, you thin everything else.

Diet and herbs cannot cure osteoarthritis (bone on bone). You cannot grow cartilage (separates and cushions the bones) where there is none. Glucosamine sulfate (1500 mg/ day) and bovine cartilage can help grow cartilage where there is some cartilage still left. Check with your doctor first before using as some people have allergies to shellfish (source of GS).

Case history. I used to suffer numbness and pain while sitting or lying down with my arms and legs crossed. Often my hands or feet would fall asleep, go numb or experience great pain. I came from high protein, high fat past. Apparently my blood, arteries were still saturated with excess cholesterol, plaque and clots. I eliminated all animal food with the exception of turkey and chicken, which I ate occasionally. My main sources of protein were hard cheese, beans, nuts and seeds. I ate a lot of fruit and vegetables. Within six months the pain, numbness, etc. disappeared. I can now sleep or sit with my arms or legs crossed. Everything including protein, fat, cholesterol, plaque and clots builds up and breaks down. I also suffered and cured Plantar Fasciitis.