Probably rather a symptom than a specific organic misconstellation or misfunction: painful, tender joints; stiffness; pain encompassing whole limbs.

In many cases it may be a metabolic problem, originating from a leaky gut.

It may even be an inflammation following sports injuries. Often, it may be a food allergy, causing a rheumatic reaction (rheumatoid arthritis). It may be a lack of building blocks used for protective linings of joints (osteoarthritis). When it's not a problem of wear and tear (mainly osteoarthritis), the problem usually is that some of the body's own inflammatory agents, such as prostaglandins, accummulate and cause inflammation and pain.

Among the possible alternative treatments are foods that have anti-prostaglandin properties, such as ginger. Ginger is probably the anti-arthritis drug with the longest tradition. Ginger has been used to this end for hundreds of years. It's an antagonist to prostaglandins. On a lower level, garlic also helps control prostaglandins. Omega-3 fatty acids as they are found in fish also have been shown to keep inflammation-causing agents at bay. Glucosamine and chondroitin have been shown to be helpful primarily in osteoarthritis.