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Natural Health
SECOND GENERATION PERNA FOR ARTHRITIS
Dr. Henry Cheng
The Green Lipped Mussel (Perna Canaliculus) from New Zealand has proven its effectiveness for 15 years and remains one of the most time honoured natural arthritis remedies. The flesh of the mussel is made of 9 different glycosaminoglycans (GAG's) and is more effective than a glucosamine or a chondroitin alone. In herbal medicine we believe that the adjunct effect of 9 different ingredients in small amounts is more powerful than a large amount of one single ingredient. In the past 20 years, I have seen Perna worked better than glucosamine alone. The first generation of mussel supplement was made by dry freezing and lyophilizing the flesh of the mussel and was marketed under the name of “Perna Caps®” by VetriScience. These are still highly in demand. The second generation that is now available in Canada (Maori Miracle®) utilizes an extract from the mussel called Glycomarine™ that has anti-inflammatory, Cox-2 inhibitory, chondroprotective and lubricative properties. Thus, not only that it brings about pain killing benefits, it also improves joint structure and mobility. Contrary to drugs, it actually promotes gastro-intestinal mucosal integrity. The glucosamine, chondroitin and hyaluronic acid contents are reinforced by Collagen Type II (patented as Kolla 2®) refined from chicken sternum cartilage. Kolla 2 repairs cartilage and lubricates the joint The third component in Maori Miracle is a fatty acid ester called Cetyl-Myristoleate (Myristin®). This is not only a joint lubricant but also an immune modulator so it is effective also for rheumatoid arthritis which is a systemic auto-immune disease. The fatty acid ester also mediates histamine and leukotrene response hence control the damage by inflammation. The fourth component is a popular herbal pain-killing and anti-inflammatory agent called salicin extracted from White Willow Bark. These 4 components in Maori Miracle form a strong team in the fight against arthritis. The only contraindications are allergies to shell fish and aspirin.
If you want to make this combination even stronger, the 2 elements you can add to this mussel extract are MSM and anti-oxidants. Many successful formulae are made of the 3 classical ingredients: glucosamine, MSM and antioxidants. Anti-oxidants reduce the MSM into active sulfonyl groups which in turn activate the glycosaminoglycan pathway in lubricating and repairing the joint. This cascade of events is being utilized in many successful formulae such as Recovery®. What is missing in Recovery® is a direct pain-killer. So if you compare the formula of Maori Miracle with that of Recovery, you will find that the two products are in fact complementary to each other. I suggest my clients to try either one of the two and add the other one on if necessary.
In case all of the above still do not give you enough relief from your sufferings, you can add a catalyst that activates both the healing process and the anti-inflammatory effect. This would be either in the form of an enzyme or a homeopathic medicine.
Henry Cheng is a medical graduate of the University of London, England and is now Natural Products Consultant in Pharmasave Downtown Cloverdale.
