Hi Jane,
 > AF> > Insulin doesn't CURE diabeties, either, but it sure helps out with 
the
 > AF> > problems this can cause!
 > AF> Because you yourself are a sufferer it is understandable that you
 > AF> place a greater accent on relief rather than on a cure..and even
 > AF> more understandable when an ailment such as osteoarthritis is not
 > AF> curable. Nevertheless, this is not the way to go for the future,
 > AF> more effort (i.e. research funds) need to be pumped into prevention
 > AF> and hence cure (prevention is the only cure) and thus into the
 > AF> causes of diseases and ailments.
 > Pontificate away, Alan.  It's very easy when you don't have the problem.
 Well I do't have the problem because I am actively doing all I can
 to prevent me getting it. This is not to say I haven't had serious
 health problems in the past. The worst one I had was unknown and
 thus incurable as far as all the docs and university clinics and
 specialist clinics I visited were concerned. Every couple of months
 or so the sweat glands on the palms of my hands and the soles of my
 feet would cease to function..with resultant sweat build-up under
 the skin which looked like it had small bubbles under it. The rash
 was so itchy (extremely deep itchy) that I would unconsciously
 scratch the bubbles open during my sleep with my finger and toenails.
 The only medication which brought any relief (although only for
 the intake period and a couple of weeks after) was a strong dose
 of cortisone tablets coupled with a cortisone cream). The scratched
 open bubbles inflamed very easily and were very infectious. They
 not only stopped me from being able to walk (try walking on soles
 that are more scabs and open wounds than skin) and even close
 my hands properly, I also easily got inflamed eyes and could
 neither work nor go out in public. To cut a long and miserable
 story short, I decided to visit a naturopath who first of all
 took a faeces sample and sent it off to a lab for examination.
 The result was that my faeces was more or less bacteria-free
 and hence the bacterial flora almost destroyed (not least due
 to the antibiotics that I had been prescribed to deal with the
 inflammations. The treatment which cured me was:
 1. A two-week fast on nothing but water.
 2. A totally vegetarian diet for at least two months (I've been
    on it every since the treatment started ten years ago)
 3. Drops (tasted like pond water) containing nothing but various
    strains of live bacteria commonly found in the intestines
    (I have since found out that live yoghurt innoculated
    with lactobacillus acidophilus is also effective...if you
    can stand about two months of ill winds before it really
    takes effect).
 It not only cured this complaint but also improved my skin, my
 wellbeing and health in general.
 > I can tell you that the Glucosamine is helping.
 So what is it supposed to do...and why?
 Alan
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