‘We want to help people, to help them live their lives to their fullest potential. Osteoarthritis can be so restrictive and so demoralizing. Let’s see if we can change all that.’ –Arthritis Wonder
The story of Osteoarthritis (OA) is changing. It is no longer a wear-and-tear disease but has now been classified by the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) as a metabolic condition. This dramatic shift in classification isn’t subtle. In fact, it may revolutionize the way that we treat Osteoarthritis. To stop the inflammation and degradation of a joint, Osteoarthritis needs to be treated with a strong anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant. Until now this perfect combination has never existed. But Wogonin, a new topical cream may be just the answer.
Arthritis Wonder is the result of over 8 years of Osteoarthritis research led by Dr. David Kooyman, a noted professor of Physiology & Developmental Biology at Brigham Young University. Dr. Kooyman is also a sufferer of osteoarthritis so like millions of others, he understands the pain and frustration of living with this disease. Armed with his personal experience and scientific know-how, Dr. Kooyman was determined to find a way to stop the progression of OA and hopefully reverse its effects.
From a wear-and-tear disease to a metabolic one
In 2017, the Osteoarthritis Research Society International made the following statement: ‘Presently there are no drugs approved that can prevent, stop, or even restrain progression of OA. Moreover, the available medications that promise to mitigate the pain of OA have a number of risk/benefit considerations.’
This was a fairly blunt but accurate assessment of osteoarthritis at the time. That is because most of the conventional medications (that we still use) have not solved the problem of how to best manage osteoarthritis.
Traditionally, mild osteoarthritis has usually been treated with over-the-counter (OTC) drugs like Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve) or Acetaminophen (Tylenol). But these medications come with many drawbacks such as: kidney damage, liver damage, an increased risk of heart attacks and an erosion of the stomach lining [1].
Meanwhile, drugs like Celebrex or Prednisone that are used to treat severe Osteoarthritis also fall victim to the same problem. Although these agents provide a stronger level of pain relief they also come with their own host of side-effects. Unlike OTC drugs however, the side-effects of these medications can be much more damaging.
Topical analgesics are not much better. These only mask the symptoms of arthritic pain without providing meaningful lasting relief.
None of these treatments are ideal. They all mask the symptoms of Osteoarthritis without addressing the core issue. Recognizing this problem, Dr. Kooyman wanted to find a solution.
Let the research begin
Dr. Kooyman started researching the causes of osteoarthritis and looking at how it functions at a molecular level. During his research, Dr. Kooyman noticed something different -far from being just a wear-and-tear disease, Osteoarthritis was actually functioning like a metabolic disease. The Osteoarthritis Research Society International reached a similar conclusion and recently decided to recognize OA as a metabolic disease.
Other studies have backed up Dr. Kooyman’s observations. OA is actually linked to metabolic processes like diabetes, metabolic syndrome, heart disease, hypertension, Alzheimer’s and obesity. Excited about this new research, Dr. Kooyman wanted to target OA in a different way because a change in our understanding of a disease should also change the way we treat it.
Dr. Kooyman wanted to find the answers to these three important questions:
- How can we stop inflammation in an arthritic joint?
- How can we eliminate the pain in an arthritic joint?
- Can the joint return to a healthy state with zero arthritis?
Stopping inflammation and joint deterioration where it starts
What’s behind the inflammation of OA? If we can understand how to stop inflammation at its source then we can control the way OA behaves. Scientific research has shown that a small group of receptors located at the joints are some of the biggest culprits behind chronic inflammation. These receptors work along the inflammation pathway and their effects ultimately culminate in the joint pain, swelling and stiffness that sufferers experience. By stopping (or reducing) the inflammatory effects of these molecules, pain can be reduced and possibly eliminated.
But inflammation is just one part of the problem. Joint degradation is another. Our bones are cushioned by cartilage which deteriorates over time. Old age, metabolic factors and natural degeneration all play a role in this process.
Getting the joint back to a healthy state with zero inflammation and limited degeneration has always been the ‘Holy Grail’ for those with osteoarthritis and that was the next part of Dr. Kooyman’s journey.
Finding that elusive product
Dr. Kooyman looked at different compounds, pharmaceuticals and antibiotics in search for something that would help solve the problems of joint inflammation and degradation. The result of this research was multiple patents and more findings as to how inflammation in a joint reacts to suppression. Dr. Kooyman’s goal has always been to bring a product to market that can help arthritis sufferers just like himself and the results of his search were promising. It eventually led him to a well-known class of plants called Flavonoids.
First used for medicinal purposes in ancient times, Flavonoids have been around for thousands of years but they have re-emerged once again because of their beneficial health effects. They’re now considered an indispensable component in a variety of pharmaceutical, medicinal and cosmetic applications. This is attributed to their anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties.
Wogonin is a type of flavonoid that originates from the medicinal herb Scutellaria baicalensis. It is an extremely potent anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant. These two traits are what makes Wogonin a perfect candidate for the treatment of osteoarthritis.
Using Wogonin as a cornerstone, Dr. Kooyman formulated Arthritis Wonder, a supplement that is specifically designed to help treat the source symptoms of OA. Arthritis Wonder includes Wogonin as a non-active ingredient with research still being performed to quantify its effectiveness.
Arthritis Wonder is a patent pending formula and the research continues as Dr. Kooyman proves how effective it is and how it can change the lives of those that use it.
References
1) Mayo Clinic. Can arthritis pain medications be harmful? April Chang-Miller, M.D. July 2017.