If I could cure my Rheumatoid Arthritis by doing just about anything, I would. Most people I know with RA, or another inflammatory autoimmune condition, would do the same. Whether someone is newly diagnosed or an “experienced” chronic illness recipient like me, they’ve probably had at least a few moments of desperation to try anything to make it all go away. I’ve received a lot of unwarranted advice to stop doing A, B, and C, and try X, Y, and Z, so when I came across yet another guarantee (or your money back) to reverse my arthritis and be cured in 21 days, I rolled my eyes. Just 3 weeks?? Imagine giving up having to go to regular infusions and taking daily meds at home just for doing whatever that was for 3 weeks and be cured. Why not try it? “You have nothing to lose” as the video states. Except $51.31 with tax, of course, and I’ll add respect and patience to that list of losses.
Here is my review of “Arthritis-Strategy” aka “Beat Arthritis: Step By Step Arthritis Strategy” by Shelly Manning and published by Blue Heron Health News. If you watch the video that advertises this product, you’ll see that a few key statements made:
“The issue is that until today your arthritis has not been your fault.”
Correct, it’s not my fault that I have arthritis. Wait a second, what do you mean until today?? Now it’s my fault? I kept listening…
“Because, now you know there is a strategy you can follow to completely cure your arthritis in less than 21 days.”
Oh, so if I use this strategy in the product, I can completely cure my own arthritis in LESS than 21 days? Now it’s less than 3 weeks! Yippee!
“So you have 100% proof it will work.”
As I listen, I learn that the person who says she is Shelly Manning has given me 100% proof it will work, although I don’t recall hearing what this proof is.
“Now you alone hold the responsibility for your arthritis.”
I ALONE am RESPONSIBLE for my arthritis? This is A LOT to carry. I mean, this is super heavy!! Way to blame the victim for the crime. My diagnosis was not my fault and neither is yours.
“If you decide to suffer the pain longer or take the simple steps to completely reverse your arthritis within 21 days.”
“If you decide to suffer the pain longer or take the simple steps to completely reverse your arthritis within 21 days”? Gosh, do I decide to suffer this autoimmune condition (that apparently I’m responsible for having and failing to treat) or do I follow “simple steps” to completely reverse my arthritis all within 21 days??? Tough choice. What else could I do but give these “simple steps” a try?
To avoid any potential copyright infringement, I cannot share the specific information from the e-book I purchased. The quotes on my blog are from a video advertisement for the product, not from the book the video advertises.
The author shares through the video about a mysterious woman who gave her a special tea came from southern China and the author says that there is little to no prevalence of arthritis there. I was curious about whether there was very little RA in China, so in my research I found this: “It is estimated that there are approximately 5 million RA patients in China. The average age of disease onset is 45 years and it peaks around age 50. The disease is more prevalent in females than males with a ratio of 4:1.[1] RA is more prevalent in northern China and in the southern part of the country.”
What I can reveal though is that the “simple steps” are far from simple. They indicate MAJOR life changes to diet, exercise, and vitamin supplements that are the basis for the steps. They are shared with the assumption that the reader is overweight, although there are many people with arthritis who are underweight and do not need to be told to lose weight. The information in the product contradicts itself at times, for example, sharing that a magic tea had reversed the author’s arthritis, then also sharing later that no supplement or medicine will cure your arthritis. I can only surmise the tea contained opium or some other pain-reducing ingredient offering temporary relief.
There is a recommendation in the product to consume 6 grams of omega-3 fatty acids daily. While omega-3 fatty acids are helpful, according to the Cleveland Clinic, you should “talk to your healthcare provider if you have 3 grams or more of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet each day. High levels of these essential fatty acids can cause bleeding.”
The 21-day plan is not a cohesive plan to follow for 21 days. It’s really a list of lifestyle changes to make and suggestions to find food triggers for inflammation spread out over 21 points of information. One point, for example, is to find out what type of arthritis you have, while another later on in the list is to calculate your BMI because, according to the author, every extra pound increases your chances for OA and RA. Other recommendations from this book include getting daily exercise, eating a balanced diet, and getting complementary therapy such as acupuncture, massage, or reflexology, for example. After reading the book twice as is suggested by the author, I am left with the conclusion that this 21-day plan did not reverse my arthritis. It did not cure my osteoarthritis (OA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA). There are decent lifestyle recommendations made to eat well and exercise to feel better, and I won’t argue with that. If one is overweight, losing weight has great health benefits. Eating well and eliminating or minimizing triggers for inflammation can help us feel better and have less pain. THEY WILL NOT CURE US OF RA THOUGH. Where I have the greatest issue though is the empty promise of a cure and the blaming people for their arthritis. Do you hear of people blaming someone of getting a terrible disease such as cancer? Do you hear people say, “Can you believe Mary gave herself breast cancer?” OF COURSE NOT! No one says that. It’s wrong ethically and factually. So is this. Don’t blame people for getting any type of arthritis or any type of medical condition, autoimmune or not, inflammatory or not.
Stop telling people you can reverse their arthritis! Meanwhile, I’ll keep up with the major lifestyle changes I began long before opening that book, so that I can continue to feel better and have less pain. I’ll also keep working with my doctor on my treatment plan and maintain my hope for an actual cure one day.
Oh, and yes, I requested a refund…hope it takes less than 21 days to get it.