In treating rheumatoid arthritis, you can do it the logical way, or the far more dangerous way

Got to be a better way

Let’s say you’re having a little trouble with the brakes on your car. Your mechanic says he can do the work, but it might not fix the problem. Also, it might ruin your transmission. Oh, and it will cost several thousand dollars.

You would probably wonder if there’s a better way.

I hope that’s what rheumatoid arthritis patients will wonder when they hear the details of a new RA drug.

In short, it’s a horror show.

And yes, there is a better way.

Putting a dangerous cart before the horse

The drug is called Xeljanz. And right out of the chute it’s a world of trouble.

The FDA approved Xeljanz last month. And it arrives complete with a black box warning.

I believe this is unusual for a drug to hit the market with a black box. A drug usually earns that dreaded box after it’s blindsided numerous unsuspecting patients.

But as always, the box is well deserved. In tests, Xeljanz was associated with increased risk of serious infections, including tuberculosis, cancers and lymphoma.

Yes. I would say those infections qualify as “serious.” Good call, FDA!

Obviously, you don’t want to begin RA treatment with a terrifying drug. That’s why the FDA recommends Xeljanz for patients who have found other RA drugs ineffective. So it’s a last-ditch effort.

And if all of that weren’t repellent enough, there’s the cost of the drug. A one-month supply runs about $2,000.

That’s right. Three zeros. $500 per week. But the shocker is that this is LESS than you’d spend on other RA drugs.

Staggering, isn’t it?

Now for the better way…

As I’ve mentioned many times, Dr. Jonathan Wright is one of the great innovators in natural medicine. And his approach to RA is the opposite of the M.D. who simply relies on powerful, expensive drugs.

Dr. Wright begins by looking for food allergies. He believes that elimination and desensitization of food allergies can improve every case of RA.

Milk and dairy are the most common culprits. But there may be multiple allergens at work. He recommends that every RA patient seek out a doctor who is knowledgeable about food allergies. The results, he says, are often dramatic.

In step two, doctors should look for stomach malfunction. Low levels of hydrochloric acid and pepsin are common in RA patients. This requires gastric analysis, followed by hydrochloric acid and pepsin replacement.

Finally, omega-3 fatty acids will improve just about any condition that involves inflammation. Dr. Wright recommends one tablespoon of cod liver oil with 400 I.U. of vitamin E (as mixed tocopherols) twice daily.

The tragedy is that the entire medical field doesn’t work this way. Think of all the RA patients helped by Dr. Wright who will never need to resort to the desperate measure called Xeljanz.

Dr. Wright is one of the true alternative medicine pioneers. He’s the first recipient of the Linus Pauling Award for Lifetime Achievement in Natural Medicine. You can find out more about Dr. Wright and his Nutrition & Healing newsletter here.

Sources:
“New Pill For Rheumatoid Arthritis Gets FDA Nod” Scott Hensley, NPR, 11/7/12, npr.org

“FDA approves Xeljanz for rheumatoid arthritis” FDA News Release, 11/6/12, fda.gov

“Natural treatments for rheumatoid arthritis” Dr. Jonathan Wright, 10/10/12, wrightnewsletter.com