Our purpose is not to hinder the physiological processes of the organism. Ours is a holistic approach. An approach that encourages the ristoring of the physical balance, by facing the causes as efficiently as possible and by ensuring a fast relief of all the symptoms.
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Osteo-articular problems
Osteo-articular and muscular problems, characterised by more or less intense pain, rigidity and difficulty of movement, represent the most frequent reason for patients consulting their family doctor. In fact, about 30 – 40% of complaints regard acute pain, mostly involving the back, neck, shoulders, and can be the consequence of a trauma or muscle fatigue (often related to a sports or work activity or resulting from bad posture).
It is estimated that 5,5 million people in Italy are affected by chronic-developing osteo-articular and/or muscular diseases. In both cases a high tendency to use anti-inflammatory synthetic medicines has been recorded, involving heavy consequences for patients’ health: the longer the period of intake, the more disastrous the negative impact. Here follows a brief overview of the most common muscular and osteo-articular pathologies.
| PROBLEMS | THE MOST COMMON | SYMPTOMS | DURATION |
| MUSCLES, LIMBS, TENDINS |
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Normally short to medium course of illness. Once the acute phase has been overcome, chronicity can arise if causes and predisposing factors are eliminated. |
| OSTEO-ARTICULAR PROBLEMS |
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Normally long course of illness. In most cases, these pathologies lead to chronicity and functional alternations. |
Among the painful pathologies affecting the musculoskeletal system, characterized by persistent, invalidating pain: lumbar and sciatic pain and carpal tunnel syndrome, extremely painful disorders due to inflammation of the nerves (sciatic nerve and median nerve, respectively).
Arthrosis is a chronic and progressive, degenerative illness affecting mostly individuals aged over 60 – 65. It is characterised by the progressive thinning and deterioration of cartilage covering the articular surfaces of bones. The growing friction between the joint bones causes the formation of osteophytes, i.e. of bone spurs, resulting in pain and progressive rigidity of the articulation.
Arthrosis normally affects joints mostly subject to stress, such as the knees, hips, shoulders, hands, feet and spine. In fact, arthritic damage usually involves areas that are particularly overworked. Pain is accompanied by bone deformation, swelling of the joints and gradual limited capacity of movement.
Treatment of arthrosis with conventional medicine
In case of arthrosis, most medicines administered are non steroidal anti-inflammatories, better known as “NSAIMs” (an acronym standing for Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Medicines). Unfortunately, though, the natural evolution of this disorder is not affected by such medicines. On the contrary, they lead to numerous side-effects. As a matter of act, NSAIMS act by inhibiting the synthesis of chemical mediators called “prostaglandins”: such action is at the origin of both the pharmacological activity as well as of numerous side-effects.
To comprehend just how this is possible it must be borne in mind that prostaglandins carry out multiple organic functions: there are, in fact, “bad” prostaglandins (though it is not technically correct to call them this way) as they cause the insurgence of inflammation, hyperalgesia, fever; there are also “good” prostaglandins, carrying out multiple physiological activities: they promote protection of the stomach from gastric juices, they regulate renal blood flow, uterine contractions, platelet activity, etc.
That being said, it is clear that use of so-called NSAIMs, particularly if protracted over extended periods of time such as in the case of arthrosis, is inevitably connected to several side-effects. Examples thereof are: inhibition of gastric protection, with consequences ranging from simple irritations to lesions, ulcera and gastrointestinal hemorrhage, inhibition of platelet aggregation, renal ischaemia, generic nephropathy and renal failure, etc.
In addition, if it is borne in mind that in most cases this specific problem affects subjects aged over 60 – 65, who often suffer from different health disorders already, it is all the more evident that use of synthetic anti-inflammatories should be avoided as much as possible so as not to overburden the organism’s functionality and prevent the insurgence of side-effected caused by medicines.
This is why it is so important to have a valid alternative available, capable of offering relief to symptoms like pain and rigidity connected to the problem of arthrosis, while being free from side-effects, even when taken for long periods of time.
Nature can help you in the case of arthrosis
A natural and effective approach
In order to counter, day by day, inflammation, pain and rigidity characterizing the problem of arthrosis, thereby avoiding to have to resort to synthetic anti-inflammatory medicines, or at least limit the quantity of their intake, nature can finally be of valuable help, thanks to an exclusive formulation based on a selection of plant ingredients with markedly anti-inflammatory properties.
First and foremost among these is BIOSTERINE®, a unique and innovative phytocompound, consisting in 80% Ocimum sanctum (Holy Basil) extract and 20% Salvia officinalis extract, characterized by an extremely high titration in Rosmarinic Acid (40%), obtained through a particular extraction process developed by Prodeco Pharma.
BIOSTERINE® and arthrosis
BIOSTERINE® not only combines the recognized, anti-inflammatory properties of phytocomplexes contained in Holy Basil and Salvia Officinalis, but actually amplifies and reinforces them, thanks to the high concentration of Rosmarinic Acid. Numerous studies have, in fact, confirmed the extraordinary properties of Rosmarinic Acid as an anti-inflammatory, investigating its potential mechanisms of action.
Rosmarinic Acid’s ability to inhibit inflammatory processes linked to the “complement system” (part of the immune system involved in the inflammatory process) is well-known; besides this specific mechanism of action, considered to be primarily responsible for the anti-inflammatory action of Rosmarinic Acid, it also acts by regulating cyclooxygenase, modulating the synthesis of inflammatory prostaglandins (it has been pointed out the Rosmarinic acid contained in Ocimum sanctum exerts a 58% inhibiting action on cyclooxygenase).
The inflammatory efficacy of Ocimum sanctum extracts has turned out to be comparable with that of ibuprofen, of naproxen and of acetylsalicylic acid, yet without any side effects: the presence, in the phytocomplex, of other active constituents, in fact, enables the harmonization and modulation of the inflammatory action, with the typical harmful effects reported on synthetic medicines. This discovery confirms traditionally used Ocimum sanctum as a safe, reliable and effective anti-inflammatory.
The action of rosmarinic acid is also exerted through inhibition of hyaluronidase, an enzyme that is responsible for the degradation of hyaluronic acid, essential for the integrity of connective tissues, in particular cartilages. These properties in particular confer rosmarinic acid with a protective role on tissues, mostly joint tissues, and combines well with its anti-inflammatory properties.
Due to the above-mentioned considerations, in association with specific plant extracts, BIOSTERINE® therefore represents the cornerstone of
a natural approach to eliminate inflammation and pain, day by day, alleviating typical symptoms related to arthrosis, yet without any side-effects, even when taken for long periods of time.
Nature can help you with…
BIOSTERINE®: as already highlighted, with its powerful health properties as an anti-inflammatory, BIOSTERINE® represents the starting point of our approach. Taken systemically, BIOSTERINE® exerts a marked anti-inflammatory action and reduces phlogosis of tissues affected. Its association with other specific, natural principles, make it possible to reach even more remarkable results.
Boswellia extract possesses recognised anti-inflammatory properties and is particularly effective in painful pathologies affecting the musculo-skeletal apparatus. Its activity is attributable to the presence, in its phytocomplex, of particular compounds called boswellic acids. Numerous clinical studies have confirmed its efficacy, comparable to synthetic medicines, yet without causing any side-effects whatsoever.
The idea of including in the formulation both the dry extract with high titration in boswellic acids (75%) as well as the powder of the whole plant has proven to be a successful one. In fact, this association enables to have, on the one hand, adequate supply of “nobler” forms of active constituents (boswellic acids), ensuring efficacy; on the other it makes it possible to have the entire phytocomplex, for a synergistic and, at the same time, “smoother” effect on the organism, thereby ensuring that the produce will be totally free from side-effects also in the long run.
Turmeric: turmeric is used in phytotherapy for the treatment of several pathologies involving inflammations, including ostheoarthritis. Its anti-inflammatory action is attributable in particular to the presence of particular substances called curcuminoids. Research has pointed out that the efficacy of turmeric extract is linked to its activity on several physiological mechanisms involved in the inflammatory process.
Turmeric therefore acts on the inflammation with a 360° mechanism, without causing any side-effect. Some of the fundamental mechanisms involved are as follows:
- a) inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 and lipoxygenase enzymes, with a resulting reduced production of prostaglandins and other inflammatory chemical mediators;
- b) inhibition of the release of numerous pro-inflammatory cytokines and interleukins;
- c) inhibition of the production of cell adhesion molecules involved in the early phase of the inflammatory cascade;
- d) inhibition of collagen degradation. The idea of including in the formulation both the dry extract, with high titration in curcuminoids (95%), as well as the powder of the entire plant has been a successful one: in fact, this association ensures maximum efficacy and lack of any side-effect whatsoever.
Hyaluronic Acid: its physiological function is to maintain the right level of hydration in the connective tissue. It moreover acts as a cementing substance and as a kind of shock absorbing molecule, as well as being an efficient lubricant (synovial fluid/joints), preventing damage of the tissues. Its function is therefore fundamental for the health and functionality of the skeletal tissue and of the joints.
For this reason, Hyaluronic Acid has been used since it was first discovered to treat joint disorders. Besides the excellent results obtained following its use in intra-articular infiltrations, it has recently been studied to verify its efficacy for oral intake.
Regarding the formulation, Hyaluronic Acid is therefore used in association with Biosterine®, Boswellia and Turmeric, to complete the anti-inflammatory activity of the product. Another activity of Hyaluronic acid has recently been identified, making it particularly useful within the formulation: as a carrier of active molecules to increase bioavailability, once ingested and hydrated, Hyaluronic Acid forms a bioadhesive matrix bringing the active constituents into the solution and promoting their gradual release, saturating the mucosa and increasing contact time between active constituents and the intestinal mucosa itself.
It therefore ensures complete absorption of all constituents present in the phytocomplexes included (Biosterine®, Boswellia e Curcuma), optimizing their bioavailability and enhancing their efficacy.
The ideal form of intake of such plant ingredients is represented by swallowable tablets.
Inflammation and nutritional lifestyle
Scientific studies and clinical date increasingly highlight the relationship existing between nutritional lifestyle and osteo-articular and/or muscular pathologies, particularly when they tend to become recurring problems or are of a chronic, evolving nature. In fact, certain foodstuffs act on our organism with a “pro-inflammatory” mechanism, contributing not only to trigger but to worsen the painful-inflammatory symptoms characterizing such disorders.
Primarily responsible in this sense are foodstuffs of animal origin, with the exception of fish (which, on the contrary, being rich in polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids, exerts an ant-inflammatory action); meat (in particular red meat) and eggs, instead are rich in arachidonic acid, a precurosor of numerous inflammatory mediators which are produced, in the so-called “inflammatory cascade”, by the activity of cyclo-oxygenase and lipo-oxygenase enzymes.
However, the foodstuff mostly responsible for the insurgence of many inflammatory diseases, whether chronic or acute, is undoubtedly milk, together with all its derivatives. It is now certain that milk favours the increase of intestinal permeability and the introduction, in the bloodstream of proteins – particularly casein, which trigger in the organism an immune stimulation, causing sensitization and a defensive, inflammatory response.
There is countless clinical evidence, as highlighted, for instance, in the book “Il mal di latte” (Milk sick) by Lorenzo Acerra (Marco ed.), mentioning cases in which arthritic patients, or subjects suffering from other kinds of muscular-skeletal problems, have improved their condition following the adoption of a diet that eliminated milk and dairy products; by contrast, reintroducing milk has led to the reappearance of symptoms.
In a natural approach aimed at solving osteo-articular and/or muscular problems, it is impossible not to recommend eliminating milk and its derivatives from the diet, as well as reducing consumption of animal proteins. As a matter of fact, it is important to always remember that it is only by adopting a correct diet that the course of an illness can be changed, reducing the intensity and number of physical ailments present, extending periods of well-being and reducing relapse phases.
