Re: To All Lupies to Joanne: prednisone substitute

[Guest guest]

Joanne..

I have been on prednisone steadily with no let up since 1985. My

maintenance dose is 10 mg .. but am usually on a higher dose.

I have looked into and tried different routes of medication ..

some worked and I was able to lower my dose of prednisone..

Yucca plant was one of the " substitutes " .

Yucca contains natural steroidal-like saponins that are effective

anti-inflammatories and anti-spasmodics which are known to reduce pain

associated with arthritis.

Unfortunately, it did not affect my asthma. The first time I had a

severe attack of asthma, increasing the yucca dosage did nothing. I

had less joint pain, but the asthma did not decrease. So I had no

alternative but to return to prednisone.

It is an " either or " type of situation .. it is not recommended that

both be taken together in high doses.

But it is an alternative for arthritis-like pain. Native American

Indians have been using it for years (which is how I found out about

the plant.. while doing studies on the lifestyles of Native American

healers).

You can find the yucca plant in most health food stores. It comes in a

powder form or capsules .. dosing instructions are on the bottles.

BEFORE switching over to Yucca .. make sure your doctor KNOWS what you

would like to do. You cannot " just switch over " to yucca, you must

decrease the prednisone gradually while increasing the yucca.

Please please contact your doctor and ask about this therapy before

doing anything. Stopping prednisone without properly weaning yourself

off of it can have devastating affects on your life.. from an increase

in pain to life-threatening heart arrhythmias.

It is nothing to play with .. you will need a nutritionist's help as

well as guidance from your doctor.