I’m 63 years old and have had hip and knee pain associated with osteoarthritis for at least 6 years. Banjo came to my attention because my wife, who has fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue, tried it and it helped her a lot. I’ve always doubted the usefullness of vitamins, supplements, etc. and expressed my doubts to…
I had very bad joint pain and because of that my doctor ran a Lupus test and it came back with a reading of 1/670 so I might have Lupus but I think I also have rheumatoid arthritis since I think my symptoms point more towards that. I didn’t want to do any of the…
Acute inflammation is often beneficial but can also be detrimental to the host, depending on its cause, severity, duration and specific circumstances. For example, acute inflammation is often responsible for much of the permanent damage that occurs as a result of heart attacks and strokes. Acute inflammation can also exacerbate pre-existing conditions, such as by precipitating asthma attacks, migraine headaches or seizures in those suffering from the underlying malady.
Chronic inflammation is always detrimental
Whereas acute inflammation can be either beneficial or detrimental, chronic inflammation always involves detriment to the host.
Osteoarthritis is a chronic, progressive disease characterized by inflammation in and around the joint space. Inflammation eventually results in damage to joint structures, especially the cartilage covering the end of each bone at the joint space.
Because osteoarthritis commonly makes its appearance late in life, it has often been called “wear and tear” arthritis. That term, however, is generally misleading. An actual tear or other damage to a joint component will increase the likelihood of later developing osteoarthritis and will speed the progression of osteoarthritis. But in the absence of such physical damage, moderate exercise is beneficial to the joint, as it reduces inflammation. If osteoarthritis was simply the result of normal use (e.g. “wear and tear”) then additional wear and tear would not be expected to have a beneficial effect.
Dear Dr. Steve; I have now been taking Banjo for about five weeks. As for what Banjo has done for me, the first thing I noticed immediately was it eliminated my headaches.
I also noticed a big increase in energy almost right away. It was like the fatigue just vanished over a period of about 2 or 3 days. And I didn’t have the pain issues I normally would get whenever I would do any project around the house. I found myself…
I just wanted to say that after trying Banjo for the last month I have had an increase in stamina and energy that seemed impossible for the last 15 years when I was diagnosed with what the Rheumatologist called “old fashioned” Rheumatism. Which is now called Fibromyalgia. Also my osteoarthritis is greatly improved and my diabetic neuropathy pain is slowly getting better. I have not had the stabbing pain that I would frequently get with the neuropathy that actually prevented me from sleeping since I started Banjo. It’s great to finally be able to get though the day without…
I have arthritis in just one knee, and generally it only flares up about once every third day of so. The problem is, my wife and I really enjoy ballroom dancing, but for the past several years every time we go dancing I have to sit down after only a short while – so we had all but stopped our dancing.
Six weeks ago you sent me your “Banjo”. The next time my knee pain flared I took one and within a few minutes the pain was gone. That was great of course, but what really surprised me was…
I’ve had arthritic joints since my early 20′s because of a chronic condition. I’ve dealt with the pain & discomfort trying every over the counter anti-inflammatory. I hate medication. I tried Banjo because I figured it couldn’t hurt and I’m always open to a natural remedy. I’ve used them as needed and I was so impressed with the results, I asked my mother if she’d like to try it. Within just 2 days of her using them…
Lemon peel is a rich source of nobiletin, found in this study to inhibit NF-kB. Inhibition of NF-kB was associated with a decrease in: NO production, PGE-2, and COX-2, each of which is an important mediator of pain and inflammation in arthritis.
I have arthritis in my hip and pain in my neck. I have had the pain in my neck for 3 years starting after an operation on my shoulder. The arthritis in my hip was getting worse for years and was getting really bad.
I have a lot of arthritis related pain (like every old nurse) and I’ve suffered from fibromyalgia for the last few years – so I just have a lot of general aches and pains. I started using Banjo and within a couple days I could feel it start to relieve all my pain …
I have had arthritis and fibromyalgia for 6 years. The arthritis is really bad in my knees, ankles and one hip. And since I got in a car accident 5 years ago I have had neck injuries and have not been able to turn my head from side to side ever without it causing pain. I’ve been in a lot of pain every day for all this time and have tried many pain relievers, seen doctors and chiropractors but nothing has helped much, or has only helped a little for a short time.
Banjo has given me back control of my body. I control my movements now. The stiff, painful aches no longer dictate my every move.
Cartilage destruction is a hallmark feature of osteoarthritis. It is associated with elevated production of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13). In addition, it is reported in the study briefly summarized below that the ability of cartilage to heal is severely limited in the presence of bFGF.
MMP-13 was found to be elevated in large part due to over-activation of NF-kB. This may in part account for the observation that cartilage healing is severely limited when joints are inflammed, but may progress rapidly once joint inflammation is relieved.
Ginger root extract was found to reduce inflammation in this study of cartilage cells in a pig model of arthritis.
Nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2) were both reduced within 24 hours after application of ginger root extract. Both are key pro-inflammatory agents thought to be important in the pain and inflammation of arthritis.
It is suggested that ginger root extract may play an important role in the future treatment of arthritis.
Ginger shown to reduce COX2 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) – probably via inhibition of NF-kB.
Arthritis is characterized by joint inflammation that causes pain and results in cartilage destruction.
TNF-alpha plays a key role in the course and progression of arthritis. It is both a product and an activator of NF-kB. It is probably by means of this NF-kB activating effect that it leads to an increase in other pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as destructive enzymes – all of which means that TNF-alpha plays a central role in arthritis.
In the study summarized below, ginger was found to decrease the level of TNF-alpha while also reducing the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines and destructive enzymes.
A decrease in the level of activated NF-kB was also observed, which is the most likely mechanism by which ginger exerts its beneficial effects in arthritis.
Turmeric (curcumin) and resveratrol found to act synergistically in the treatment of arthritis.
This is an essential publication because it demonstrates that by combining different natural inhibitors of NF-kB, a greater anti-inflammatory effect may be achieved than is possible with either agent alone. The study further suggests that this might be especially true when the different agents act to inhibit NF-kB through different mechanisms.
By implication, the observed synergy will not be limited to the specific combination studied (curcumin + resveratrol.)
Banjo combines a number of different natural NF-kB inhibitors, each of which may act through a slightly different mechanism in the inhibition of NF-kB. While many of the individual agents might provide some benefit, Banjo is expected to provide a substantially greater benefit than any single agent. That possibility is confirmed by the study briefly summarized below.
NF-kB is the master switch controlling response to exercise.
This is really quite interesting. Somehow, moderate exercise – through the transmission of physical forces in your joints – leads to the inhibition of NF-kB. The result is a decrease in inflammation.
However, if instead of being subject to the mechanical stress of moderate exercise, your joints are instead subject to a higher magnitude of physical forces – those physical forces transmitted to the joint (e.g. knee) activate NF-kB.
NF-kB is truly the Master switch of inflammation. It’s even mediating inflammation or anti-inflammation effects in response to physical forces on the knee.
Active inflammatory processes were found to be ongoing in the subchondral bone (the bone underneath the collagen) of those with osteoarthritis.
The suggestion is offered that this ‘deeper’ inflammation may be responsible for some substantial portion of cartilage damage witnessed in osteoarthritis.
In general, genetics play a weak role in the development of osteoarthritis.
The strongest genetic association is with FRZB – also known as “frizzled-related-protein-3″ – which is associated with hip osteoarthritis in women. Why might that be?
FRZB is an antagonist to (counter balances) the effects of the WNT pathway.
When there is a slight mutation at the gene coding for FRZB, the FRZB that the body produces is slightly defective – it does not do quite so good a job at inhibiting or counter-balancing WNT. Therefore, whatever WNT does – when FRZB is defective, WNT will do more of it. Got that?
What does WNT do? One thing it does is activate NF-kB.
So defective FRZB => more WNT activity => more NF-kB activity => hip osteoarthritis in women.
I have no idea why the hip – or why women.
The role of NO as either beneficial or detrimental in the arthritic joint has long been debated. NO appears to act in a very complex manner. However, the fact that it inhibits NF-kB and therefore serves an anti-inflammatoey roles suggests that NO inhibition may have detrimental effects in osteoarthritis.
CNS regulation of peripheral inflammation, implications in fibromyalgia?
The central nervous system (CNS = brain and spinal cord) can regulate peripheral inflammation, but the pathways and mechanisms by which it does so remain unclear.
The study summarized below investigates the possibility that the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) exerts an anti-inflammatory effect via binding to a specific receptor found primarily on the synovial lining of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis joints.
That possibility is confirmed by observations of reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine activity as a result of such binding.
While the authors suggest that the receptor identified in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis joints might be a potential target for drug development, I am curious if a similar mechanism might explain the connection between observed neurotransmitter abnormalities seen in fibromyalgia and the persistence of peripheral inflammation.
Excess activation of NF-kB leads to osteoclast over-activation and increased bone destruction in arthritis.
Healthy bone metabolism requires a balance between osteoclasts (break down and re-absorb bone) and osteoblasts (make new bone.)
Osteoclasts – the bone destroying cells – are over-active in many disease conditions that include bone destruction (such as osteoarthritis.)
In the study summarized below, it was found that excess NF-kB activation led to osteoclast over-activity.
The authors note that the NF-kB inhibitor parthenolide (a major active component in the herb feverfew) has shown a beneficial therapeutic effect in reducing inflammation induced bone destruction in a mouse model.
It is noted that NF-kB over-activation and associated osteoclast over-activity is also seen in Paget’s disease of bone, and periodontitis.
Inhibiting NF-kB in an affected joint resulted in marked suppression of joint destruction, with a great reduction in inflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinase production from stimulated synovial cells derived from rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Nightly I have a severe joint pain from my knees to my ankle,it is very difficult for me to stand up and walk;,I have been using different pain reliever but it didn’t work up until a friend gave me Banjo…I took 2 tablets a day morning and mid afternoon for one week the result was less pain on my legs.
on my second week of continues use of Banjo the excruciating pain was completely gone. I was able to sleep comfortably every night without the pain bothering me…..
Curt’s shoulder pain had been getting progressively worse over the course of four years. He was unable to lift his arm and the doctors said he needed surgery. He didn’t though…
Every time I wake up in the morning I have this pain on my left foot. They said it is achilles arthritis. And then, one of my relatives told me to use “Banjo.” i tried dissolving 2 tablets with hot water. After taking Banjo for two days the pain was lessened and I can stand and walk as if nothing happened. Banjo really works.
Osteoarthritis has been called “wear and tear” arthritis. But that’s somewhat misleading. Osteoarthritis results not from years of use, but from years of chronic, low grade inflammation.
Yes, mechanical stress (the pounding your knee joint takes every time you walk or run) does cause mild inflammation. But that inflammation would normally resolve quickly and entirely. When it doesn’t – when your body can’t entirely turn off the inflammation – chronic inflammation results.
Chronic, mild inflammation eventually progresses to chronic severe inflammation. Osteoarthritis results when that inflammation begins causing pain.
One reason your body might have trouble turning off the inflammation is “leptin.”
Americans spend approximately $1 billion each year on various forms of glucosamine supplements, primarily for the treatment of osteoarthritis. Is that money well spent, or wasted?
When treated with the NF-kB inhibitor early in the course of knee inflammation, or before it begins, the result is “total prevention” of the “hyperexcitability” of the neurons – taken to be an indication of pain signaling.
Postmenopausal osteoporosis and rheumatoid joint destruction result from increased osteoclast formation and bone resorption that is under the control of NF-kB.
You don’t really need to grind up a seahorse to get relief from arthritis pain. Though it might be one way, it’s probably not the best way and definitely not the easiest way. NF-kB inhibitors are all around us.
Al had knee pain that was only getting worse and would soon limit his mobility. He was starting to have difficulty climbing stairs. But he stopped and actually reversed the gradually worsening pain and stiffness.
