Drinking Green Tea could be therapeutic in the treatment and alleviation of the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Researchers at the University of Michigan Health System say a new study shows that Green Tea may block the cell signaling pathways that regulate levels of two immune system molecules, IL-6 and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which cause bone erosion and inflammation in the joints of people with RA.

It’s a compound in Green Tea, called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) that researchers believe may inhibit joint destruction in Rheumatoid Arthritis sufferers and could one day be derived synthetically for use as a treatment in RA.

Green tea compound may be a therapy for people with rheumatoid arthritis, University of Michigan study finds

Transcendental Meditation can reduce the incidence of factors that can lead to heart failure and even lessen the severity of congestive heart failure.

In conjunction with the usual health care, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania gave participants in a study either TM education or traditional health education. The participants were 23 African American men and women, average age 64, who were recently hospitalized with New York Heart Association class II or III congestive heart failure. African Americans have twice the mortality rate from congestive heart failure as white Americans.

The group practicing TM showed greater improvements in the six-minute walk test at three months and six months and continued to experience improvements in quality of life and depression. They also required fewer hospitalizations.

Transcendental Meditation likely works to improve heart function by reducing sympathetic nervous system activation associated with stress.

Another recent study showed that older adults don’t ask their doctors about complimentary or alternative medicine for treatment of their conditions. According to the above research, it seems they may be missing some simple techniques that could greatly improve quality of life.

Transcendental Meditation for the Heart