The Good, Old-Fashioned Arthritis Cure; Knox Gelatin

As far back as the 1940s, people have reported the success their grandparents had in treating arthritis with Knox Gelatin. Although the scientific community has been slow to climb on board, people swear that gelatin relieves their arthritis symptoms far better than commercial medications. Although Knox Gelatin is the one most people have heard of, you can also buy fruit pectin, Certo, and Surejell. And, of course, gelatin is found in that jolly, jiggly treat, Jello.

The word gelatin can be traced back to the Latin "gelatus" meaning stiff or frozen. Gelatin has interested scientists for centuries, and historians think it's likely that Napoleon's starving soldiers tried eating it as a source of nutrients. It didn't actually come a food, however, until the 1890s when the founder of the Knox Gelatin Corporation, Charles Knox, developed it and aggressive promoted it to the public.

What exactly is Knox Gelatin, or any gelatin for that matter? It might seem a little gruesome to find out that gelatin is made by grinding and boiling the bones, hooves, and connective tissues of cows and pigs. After grinding these animal parts, they are treated with chemicals that break down their structure prior to being boiled. During the boiling process, the gelatin comes to the top where workers can skim it from the surface.

Despite the almost-reverence with which gelatin is regarded in the natural remedy community, it has not yet gotten a scientific thumbs up as a viable treatment for arthritis. Researchers have, though, determined that it's possible that two arthritis-related benefits can be gotten from Knox Gelatin.

For starters, scientists know that gelatin contains two amino acids which are also present in the human body. These amino acids are used to make collagen, the substance which connective tissues, such as cartilage, are made of. Cartilage provides the cushioning effect that keeps joints running smoothly and painlessly. Arthritis destroys cartilage allowing bones to rub together and cause pain. Research sponsored by gelatin manufacturers is trying to determine if Knox Gelatin is actually capable of regenerating damaged joints.

In 1998, researchers at Ball State University conducted a study that concluded with the following results: Athletes who took gelatin supplements were found to have greater flexibility in their joints as well as more resilience to pain. In response to the results of this study, a small Nabisco subsidiary joined with Knox Gelatin to produce a product called Knox NutraJoint. There are several nutrients in NutraJoint that are known to reduce joint pain, including vitamin C, calcium, and glucosamine. NutraJoint should be used per the instructions on the package.

Scientists do agree that there are a lot of practical uses for gelatin in the medical community and out. It has been successfully used as a dissolvable compound that the outer capsules of medications are made of. It is also used in the fabrication of medical devices like artificial heart valves and in making the mesh materials doctors use to repair wounds.

Maybe you had a grandmother who swore by the Knox Gelatin treatment for her painful, arthritic joints. Isn't it strange to think that she may have had the right idea all along? You might as well give it a try, because it has no side effects. You just might end up being the second generation in your family that relieved arthritis pain with gelatin.