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Researchers have identified a drug target that may alleviate joint degeneration associated with osteoarthritis, a debilitating condition that afflicts as many as 30 million people in the United States alone. Pain relievers and lifestyle changes, such as exercise and reduced excess weight, have long been the therapies most commonly used to treat the joint stiffness and pain caused by degenerative disease, but there is a pressing need for therapies that can prevent joint breakdown that occurs in osteoarthritis. It is known that specialized proteins known as sodium channels found in cell membranes produce electrical impulses in "excitable" cells within muscles,...

Indeed, research confirms people who use cannabis are four times more likely to develop chronic psychosis, or schizophrenia, compared to people who don’t. For people who smoke every day or use higher potency products, the risk is up to six times higher. One study found eliminating marijuana use in adolescents would reduce global rates of schizophrenia by 10%. Doctors and lawmakers in California want cannabis producers to warn consumers of this and other health risks on their package labels and in advertising, similar to requirements for cigarettes. They also want sellers to distribute health brochures to first-time customers outlining the...

Pain where the jaw hinges to the skull is both common and difficult to treat. Killing off aged cells might be the secret to healing it. Age worsens joint deterioration in many parts of the body. Scientists aren't sure why, but in many cases this deterioration seems related to old, damaged cells that refuse to die. Normally, cells in our body are constantly renewing themselves. Most cells that get damaged or begin to turn cancerous are removed by our immune system to make way for fresh, young, healthy cells. But sometimes these cells stick around. Called senescent cells, they are...

Licensed marijuana stores in Washington state can offer free joints to promote on-site COVID-19 vaccine clinics, officials said Monday. The state Liquor and Cannabis Board is calling the effort the “Joints for Jabs” program. The board says licensed adult-use marijuana retail shops can give away a single pre-rolled joint to anyone over 21 who gets a shot at an on-site vaccine clinic held by July 12. The board has already allowed breweries, wineries and restaurants to offer free drinks in exchange for proof of vaccination — though alcohol-serving establishments have not had to host a clinic on-site to give out...

When compromised, the cartilage in our joints can't keep the bones from painfully grinding togetherlightsource/Depositphotos VIEW 1 IMAGES Once it's been injured, the protective cartilage in our knees and other joints heals very slowly – if at all. A new injectable gel, however, could both reinforce the tissue after it's been damaged, and encourage new cartilage to grow over top of it. Currently being developed by scientists at the University of Pennsylvania, the hydrogel contains a modified form of a gooey substance known as hyaluronic acid, which is produced naturally by the body's connective tissue. In recent years, the acid...

“I’m still on the raisins and love this home remedy. Not only did it completely rid my knees of RA [rheumatoid arthritis] but now the RA is gone from my left shoulder….amazing."

Colin Powell says the Occupy Wall Street protests are “as American as apple pie,” and political leaders need to do more than just “scream” at the demonstrators. “Demonstrating like this is as American as apple pie. We’ve been marching up and down and demonstrating throughout our history,” the former secretary of state said on CNN Thursday night. Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1111/68154.html#ixzz1dSRguDJ2

New research suggests that glucosamine and chondroitin, two supplements regularly prescribed to help patients with knee and hip osteoarthritis manage joint pain, produce "no clinically relevant effect". The number of prescriptions issued for glucosamine and chondroitin has increased rapidly over the last ten years, with the treatments also available over the counter. However, studies on the efficacy of glucosamine and chondroitin have produced mixed results, prompting Professor Peter Juni and a team of researchers at the University of Bern in Switzerland to launch their own investigation. After looking at ten previously-published trials, Professor Juni and the team concluded that glucosamine...

Greater stresses on joints than running barefoot or walking in high-heeled shoes observedNew York, NY, January 4, 2010 – Knee osteoarthritis (OA) accounts for more disability in the elderly than any other disease. Running, although it has proven cardiovascular and other health benefits, can increase stresses on the joints of the leg. In a study published in the December 2009 issue of PM&R: The journal of injury, function and rehabilitation, researchers compared the effects on knee, hip and ankle joint motions of running barefoot versus running in modern running shoes. They concluded that running shoes exerted more stress on these...

Can a dietary supplement pick up the pieces? Glucosamine, often recommended for joint pain, is one of the most popular supplements on the market. And considering the health concerns recently associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, I thought it would be worth looking into whether glucosamine lives up to the hype.Background: Glucosamine and chondroitin are often combined together and used to treat osteoarthritis (OA), which occurs when the cartilage covering the end of the bone near the joint breaks down. OA affects the knees, backs, hips, hands and feet of more than 21 million people over age 45. And, according to...

Tar from cannabis cigarettes has 50% more cancer causing chemicals than a cigarette, and smokers inhale deeper and hold their breath longer, the charity warns in a report on Britain's most popular illegal drug, says the charity.

Date: Posted 9/6/2002 Flexible Joints Associated With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Researchers Find Researchers at Johns Hopkins Children's Center report that children and teens with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are three and a half times more likely to have hyperflexible joints than their healthy counterparts. The findings, reported in the September issue of The Journal of Pediatrics, contradict widely shared clinical observations that people with CFS have normal physical examinations. CFS is an often disabling constellation of fatigue- and pain-related symptoms that can interfere with daily life and cause long absences from school. "This study suggests either that hypermobility itself is...