Lasting relief from joint problems
MADAM Lim’s right knee started giving her troubles in her 60s. An avid gardener, she realised that she could no longer tend to her garden or squat. Her friends introduced her to various types of joints supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin.
Although these seemed to help in the beginning, her knee problem kept coming back. Having arrived at the point of giving up, Madam Lim wondered whether she had to resort to joint replacement surgery.
She is among 60% of the world population suffering from osteoarthritis (OA) – a degenerative joint disease. OA is the most common type of arthritis and accounts for about 90% of primary hip replacement surgeries and 99% of primary knee replacement surgeries, according to the National Joint Registry for England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man’s 14th Annual Report 2017.
Below are some myths about OA, as well as the facts:
OA is an inevitable part of the ageing process
Fact: OA affects only certain individuals. Although you’re more at risk of developing it as you age, people without OA do have healthy, functioning joints well beyond their 80s.
OA is not a serious health problem
Fact: OA can cause permanent joint damage, leading to physical disability. It can greatly affect quality of life.
OA affects men and women indiscriminately
Fact: Certain factors predisposes a person of developing OA, such as being a woman, having a family history of OA and having sustained a joint injury.
It is now known that the wear and tear of cartilage is not the only contributing factor to joint degeneration. It is also driven by a biochemical imbalance of joint-ageing enzymes known as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPS). In certain at-risk groups, it is the overexpression of MMPS that cause joints to break down faster than they can rebuild, leading to the worsening of OA symptoms.
Natural remedy
First introduced in the 1970s, Biolane is an active New Zealand green-lipped mussel extract with more than 40 years of research history. It is a natural joint-ageing enzyme inhibitor that specifically targets the destructive MMPS within joints. Through its ability to counter the damaging effects of MMPS, Biolane can complement other joint therapies at various stages.
It should be noted that joint recovery takes time since this restorative process involves tackling the root of the problem. Seventy per cent of patients with moderate to severe arthritis experienced significant improvements in their joint condition after taking two Biolane capsules twice daily for at least three months, according to findings published in the July 2000 issue of Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients.
Biolane is not a painkiller substitute. Patients who are on long-term painkillers for their joint problems may still need to continue with their pills before the benefits of Biolane kick in. Once patients experience recovery in their joint capabilities, they may find themselves able to be less reliant on painkillers.
In 2005, the Australian Centre for Complementary Research and Education awarded Biolane the Ideal Anti-arthritic Agent accolade. Biolane is used by medical practitioners in more than 25 countries worldwide, including Malaysia.
Back to gardening
Madam Lim’s daughter persuaded her to take Biolane per the pharmacist’s advice to keep taking it for at least three months. A little over three months later, Madam Lim discovered she could walk without her knees aching, even managing to walk up and down the stairs without problems. After a while, she was once again able to tend to her garden.
This article is brought to you by the Nuvaceuticals Division of Nuvanta Sdn Bhd.
For more information, call 03-5636 3758/1300 881 712 or e-mail pharmacist@ nuvanta.com