The bioecologic approach to arthritis control is the safest available method of treatment because it does not introduce drugs into the body that Professor A. H. Corwin, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at John Hopkins University, refers to as “selective poisons.” But the self-help system that used to determine which allergens produce your arthritic response may place some stress on some individuals. If you have a serious medical problem other than your arthritis – if you have heart trouble, diabetes, asthma, epilepsy, or a recent history of serious emotional problems such as severe or suicidal depression or violence or self-destructive behavior – you must protect yourself and others by being tested under the supervision of an ecologically trained physician or clinic.

At the very least, if you have any serious doubts about the overall state of your health, you should consult with and be examined by your physician before beginning the self-tests.

Remember that many doctors are unaware of the effectiveness of our approach and may try to dissuade you from this course of action even after giving you a clean bill of health.

Also remember that many kinds of non-arthritic symptoms often are themselves unrecognized allergic reactions or allergy-like responses, which will disappear along with your arthritis when trigger substances are eliminated.

In any case, use your good common sense. After all, you wouldn’t sign up for a vigorous physical fitness program, no matter how good you believe it might make you feel, if you were still recovering from a heart attack or a broken leg! When in doubt, consult your physician.

Besides common sense, you will need to call on your intelligence and your self-awareness. I am going to ask you to be a detective and to look for clues in your own body. You will need to be alert to reactions as you work your way through the Lifetime Arthritis Relief program. When it is appropriate, ask for help from a friend or relative who cares about you and will check on your condition several times each day to see if you need any assistance and to follow your progress and learn about your observations.

If you are like most people, you will be surprised to learn that you probably already know the cause of your arthritis! It has been my experience that at least three fourths of the patients who come to my office will bring invaluable diagnostic-clue-laden information with them. Some cases are very easy for me; others can be a little “tricky”; and some are difficult and complex.

Patients often reveal their allergies and their addictions. “I’ve never been able to tolerate milk.” “My knees hurt like the devil about two hours after I eat pork.” And one might say, “I love tomatoes so much that I could eat them with every meal.” And sure enough, one has a severe reaction to the dairy-products tests, one has “pork arthritis,” and the other shows extreme sensitivity to tomatoes. “Food X always relieves my headache.” “I start to ache if I skip a meal.” “I feel wonderful if I fast.” “Two ounces of beer and the pain in my knuckles and elbows disappears.” “I can’t stand fresh paint, hair spray, and bus fumes.”

If at first glance the process seems too complicated or arduous, read it over again and think about it, because it really is easy. Remind yourself that a few weeks of effort are a very small price to pay for many years of good health and freedom from pain and possible crippling. Once the food-allergic arthritic person’s body is thoroughly free of the effects of the specific group of offending foods (after a period of food elimination that gives you a much-needed biologic rest from allergy stress), you, like most other food-sensitive patients, will find that you can tolerate many of them in the near future without suffering reactions.

Your comfort and health are now to a great degree in your own hands. One advantage of the bioecologic approach to arthritis and other allergic-ecologic disorders is that it gives you – the one who was always on the scene in the arthritic body (rather than a doctor or a pharmacist) – the full-time, major responsibility for improving your own health and well-being in a conservative, drug-free way.

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Individuals with RA require more rest than they did before they developed the condition. Adequate rest takes many forms, including physical, emotional, and local rest.

Getting adequate sleep is imperative because sleep provides a healing factor for the body and the mind. We recommend ten hours of sleep daily, particularly during periods when the arthritis has flared up. You may prefer to sleep eight hours at night and take two one-hour naps during the day. If getting adequate sleep proves difficult, ask your doctor to recommend or prescribe pain or sleeping medications to help you.

We can sometimes rest physically and emotionally at the same time – this happens when we sleep, for example. Taking a fifteen- or twenty-minute break in the morning and afternoon can also make an incredible difference in productivity. Learning and performing stress reduction and relaxation techniques during tense times may be particularly beneficial. During these breaks try to relax your mind and body. If you can manage to lie down with your feet elevated, you’ll increase the benefits of the break. Taking these prescribed breaks routinely each day may allow you to avoid the severe exhaustion that occurs when you become overly fatigued.

From time to time it’s a good idea to reflect on the day’s activities. Think about what you did during the day and when you felt most tired. This review exercise will allow you to schedule strategic rest breaks during the day which will help you avoid becoming overtired. If necessary, discuss these recommendations with your employer; he or she will probably agree that this is time well spent. It is to everyone’s benefit for you to retain your energy so you can be as efficient and productive as possible.

Local rest means resting specific parts of the body. Getting local rest will help you protect your joints from undue stress; this can be achieved by wearing splints, which can be fabricated to protect the wrists and hands, and by using techniques designed to reduce joint stress.

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