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A Closer Look at Rheumatoid Arthritis and Psoriasis

by Dr. David Williams

Published 02/03/09

Every year doctors in this country write close to 70 million prescriptions for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Examples include: aspirin, Anaprox, Arthropan, Ascriptin, Bufferin, Butazolidin, Tolectin, Naprosyn, Feldene, Indocin, Dolobid, Ecotrin, Empirin, Motrin, Advil, Nuprin, Rufin, Medipren, Midol, and numerous others.

Additionally, millions of people are now taking over-the-counter versions on their own, mainly to alleviate pain and other symptoms associated with osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis.

Although NSAIDs can help relieve pain, they also can cause gastrointestinal ulcers. It has been estimated that the use of NSAIDs directly causes as many as 200,000 cases of gastrointestinal bleeding. Of these, 10,000-20,000 ultimately result in death of the patient. (Chem Marketing Rep Jan. 2, 1989.)

One University of California Medical Center study showed that the cost of treating an uncomplicated, NSAID-induced bleeding ulcer was $15,000. The cost skyrocketed to $86,000 in those patients who had other concurrent active medical problems! (Fam Pract News 93;16.) Based on the above estimates, the yearly cost for treating NSAID-associated ulcers easily runs into the hundreds of millions of dollars.

And ulcers are only part of the problem. Treating rheumatoid arthritis with NSAIDs may temporarily eliminate the symptoms, but it does nothing to cure the problem. In fact, research shows NSAIDs actually contribute to the continuance of the disease!

Small intestine inflammation occurs in three-quarters of patients using NSAIDs on a long-term basis. This is accompanied by a loss of blood and protein, further contributing to the ill-health of the rheumatic patient. [Lancet 87;2:(8561):711-4.]

There is another alternative.

Several side benefits emerged from the Cuban cancer study on shark cartilage (Cartilade). Not only was it an effective cancer treatment, but at the higher dosages (approximately 60 grams per day) doctors discovered that in many cases both rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis were eliminated.

These findings have now also been confirmed in this country. Positive reports from numerous rheumatoid arthritis patients are beginning to surface-one Florida doctor found that by using the same shark cartilage product, his nurse was able to completely clear up her decades-old psoriasis condition. It was completely resolved in less than a week!