Osteoarthritis is the consequence of the gradual wearing out of the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones, causing damage. The joints eventually become inflamed, swell and become painful, and usually affects older people. It may also develop as a result of an injury or overuse of joints and generally affects only a few joints – usually the major weight-bearing joints of the hips, knees and spine. Obesity increases the chances of developing this type of arthritis since extra weight causes unnecessary strain on joints, particularly the knee-joints. Although there is no cure for arthritis, there are ways of limiting the damage to your joints and improving your quality of life. Extensive research, notably over the past decade, has revealed that antioxidants such as the proanthocyanidin complex, PROCYDIN’s main ingredient, greatly benefit people suffering from arthritis for the following reasons:
• They have powerful anti-inflammatory properties and also protect against free radical damage.
• They have strong immune-strengthening properties and enable the body more effectively to fight the inflammation caused by arthritis.
• They stimulate collagen renewal - collagen occurs in cartilage – improving flexibility of the joints

Please click the link below for testimonials from real people who have benefited.

Winna Hopley
Sport was always Winna Hopley’s passion in life and nobody was surprised when, even at a young age, she excelled in it. She became South African long jump champion in grade 11 and played netball for Boland for four years. Unfortunately, her love for sport also took its toll. "My knees started playing up while I was still at school but at that stage it wasn’t all that critical," says Winna.

However, after leaving school her knee problem worsened. Her right knee, the leg she used to propel herself when jumping, was her main concern. At the age of 20 she was diagnosed with severe osteoarthritis. According to the orthopaedic surgeon, who was in his sixties at the time, she was the youngest patient he had ever treated for this condition.

The surgeon explained that she had a genetic defect in her knee – the ligaments across the knee weren’t properly positioned and did not provide the necessary support. This was exacerbated by her sport activities and she needed an operation on her right knee. "The operation not only put an end to my sporting career, it also left me with a constant burning pain, much like having pins and needles in my knee. I struggled to walk down stairs and had to support myself with the railing to prevent my knee from collapsing under me,” says Winna.

During winters she would be able to predict rain two to three days in advance as the pain in her knees intensified. She also developed rheumatoid arthritis in her fingers. Early in 2001 Winna read an article about PROCYDIN and decided to try it. "What attracted me was that it was a natural product with a proven record of being safe. I prefer natural products and try to avoid medication where possible, as I know it can have side effects. For that reason I refused, right from the start, to have cortisone treatment," says Winna.

She couldn’t initially detect any change. However, the pain in her hands and knees gradually subsided and disappeared after about three months. Her knees also started to feel stronger. Today Winna is able to walk confidently up and down stairs joined a gym and at age 38 even started playing golf and now boasts a handicap of 11! “I play for the Strand Golf Club’s first league team for ladies. It’s wonderful to be able to go to the gym as well. I’m convinced the cartilage in my knees has started regenerating itself but I am careful not to put too much strain on them,” says Winna
She firmly believes that PROCYDIN has made the difference.

Clive Crawley
Clive Crawley’s name is firmly established in the history of road running in South Africa. Not only does he hold the record for completing the most Comrades marathons - a total of 42 in a running career spanning 45 years - he is still going strong and partaking in strenuous events. He has also run countless other ultra marathons, Iron Man competitions, cycle and canoe races, completing the Dusi Cano Marathon on 11 occasions, and has climbed some of the highest mountains in Africa, South America and the Himalayas.

In 2000, however, disaster struck. Clive suffered a painful knee injury and was diagnosed with chronic osteoarthritis in the joint of his big toe. His joints became so painful that he could no longer run. Years of pounding the tarmac had taken their toll and even cycling had become an effort. This was a huge blow to someone who loved sport and the outdoors.

"I have spent the best part of 60 years engaged in strenuous sporting activities and have run over 140 000 km, all this time suffering only a few minor injuries. Suddenly, I was faced with the prospect of having to give it all up," says Clive. He became despondent, was in constant pain and had given up all hope of running again. In desperation he even underwent surgery to his foot, which, unfortunately, was unsuccessful. While sourcing natural products for their new health shop, Clive’s wife Trish, came across an antioxidant supplement that seemed to have many health-enhancing properties such as stimulating collagen renewal. Realising that it could make a difference to Clive’s situation, she immediately ordered the product, which happened to be PROCYDIN.

Clive began taking two to three capsules a day with remarkable results! The pain started subsiding and he slowly regained the use of his knees. After six months his knees and foot were almost back to normal and he was able to run again. Today, he is practically free of pain in his foot and once again jogs or cycles most mornings. He subsequently completed a 110-km cycle race and also again competed in the Argus cycle race.

Clive admits that he was rather dubious at the outset. "But, PROCYDIN has definitely made a difference. Not only has it helped to repair collagen of the cartilage, my arthritis is well under control and I also feel remarkably well and fit. I can only ascribe it to the role powerful antioxidants such as PROCYDIN play in helping to limit free radical damage in the body." Trish, herself a keen sportswoman, also uses PROCYDIN, mainly as a prophylactic before strenuous exercise. She has completed the Comrades and Two Oceans marathons on five occasions as well as numerous other marathons around the country. In April 2001, she completed the London Marathon. "I believe my quick recovery from these gruelling marathons can be attributed to using PROCYDIN,” says Trish. She even takes it on the run. "When I run ultra marathons I take a capsule every hour. It’s great for boosting the immune system and for helping me to maintain peak condition."

Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by a malfunctioning autoimmune system and can affect old and young.
Your risk of developing arthritis increases with age. It affects more women than men and they also contract it at an earlier age. It is the most painful and crippling form of arthritis and often leads to total destruction of joints, deformity and permanent disability. It can affect people of all ages, even children, and many joints of the body may be involved simultaneously. The onset of the disease can be sudden, but it usually develops more slowly. Early warning signs often include morning stiffness, tiredness and painful joints. There is no cure for arthritis but early diagnosis and treatment will limit damage to your joints and improve your quality of life. Although it’s not a medicine, arthritis sufferers can greatly benefit from supplementing their diet with PROCYDIN. Studies have shown that proanthocyanidins, its main ingredient, can protect your body in various ways:

• They help to repair collagen in cartilage, thereby improving flexibility of the joints.
• They help to prevent the production of enzymes that lead to inflammation and bring relief from pain.
• They mop up free radicals before these can do damage to cells and tissues.
• They strengthen the immune system and enable the body more effectively to fight the inflammation caused by arthritis.

Annatjie Terreblanche
It started out of the blue with the painful locking of one of her fingers, a condition known as trigger finger. It wasn’t long before the pain spread to her arms, shoulders and legs and became so severe that Annatjie Terreblanche from Cape Town found it difficult to perform simple tasks, such as unlocking a door, picking up a broom, doing needlework or using a pair of scissors. The doctor confirmed her suspicion ... she was suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. An anti-inflammatory injection would ease the pain for a while but it would come back with a vengeance. "I struggled to write because my fingers were too painful to hold a pen. As a result, I was forced to resign from my work at a bank," says Annatjie.

She also found it increasingly difficult to drive her car because her knees were too painful, and went out less and less. When her pharmacist daughter, noting the positive feedback they received from clients at the pharmacy, suggested to her to try PROCYDIN she did not hesitate. Within a month she detected a difference and three months later her condition had dramatically improved. She was virtually free from pain, could drive her car and even resumed her exercising classes! "Since I never changed my lifestyle or diet, I can only ascribed it to PROCYDIN." It also brought her a renewed sense of freedom. "My life once again has quality," she enthuses.

Sonja Larsen
After 11 operations, one of which was the removal of a kidney, Sonja Larsen, from Messina, was no stranger to pain. She also suffers from diabetes and has had to learn to live with the side effects of it, including abnormally high blood pressure and resultant headaches. Every once in a while her joints would become painful. Since the pain usually disappeared after a while she wasn’t unduly concerned. Her situation, however, changed dramatically about three years ago when she suddenly developed excruciating pains in her joints, sometimes so bad that it would drive her to tears. She could feel her joints were losing their suppleness.

Her condition rapidly deteriorated to the point where it became difficult to walk or perform the simplest of tasks. "I could often not even bath myself and had to ask my husband for assistance," she says. It became increasingly difficult to walk and she was forced to use a walking stick for support. Since she couldn’t lift her legs, climbing stairs became impossible. The doctor diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis. This came as a blow to Sonja. Barely 44 years old and in the prime of her life she suddenly became an invalid. It also meant additional medication over and above that which she was taking for diabetes and blood pressure. "There I was, daily taking a handful of tablets. My pharmacy bill came to about R2 000 per month!"

Then Sonja read an article about the natural food supplement PROCYDIN. It claimed to bring relief to people suffering from diabetes, arthritis, cardiovascular and other autoimmune or lifestyle diseases and she decided to try it. The effect was almost immediate. Within the first month her condition started improving. The aches and pains disappeared, she found it easier to walk and her blood pressure lowered. Today she walks without her walking stick, can climb stairs again and is supple enough to bend down. She seldom experiences pain and has regained her zest for life. Her blood pressure, for years difficult to control even ending up in hospital when doctors struggled to stabilise it, has normalised. Also, her blood sugar levels started declining. Sonja has stopped taking medication and PROCYDIN is the only tablet she takes.

In addition, she noticed that her eyesight has improved. A serious side effect of diabetes is poor blood circulation that can trigger a number of complications such as deteriorating eyesight. This occurs when the blood flow to the tiny blood vessels or capillaries slows down and the retina does not receive sufficient nourishment. "Taking PROCYDIN was the best decision I ever made," says Sonja. She is so enthusiastic about the product that she has convinced her entire family, and even a friend in Scotland, to use it.