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Does Chinese Medicine treat Osteoarthritis?

Inflammation is a natural response by the body to tissue injury, irritation, or damage. Arthritis refers to inflammation of one or more joints. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. The most common signs and symptoms are pain, swelling, stiffness, decreased range of motion, and/or increased stiffness. Some cases can lead to joint damage and deformity. Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to arthritis as a “BI-Syndrom” (pronounced Bee). It is a Chinese term that refers to pain, soreness, or numbness caused by a lack of energy (pronounced Chee) and blood in your body channels. This is often thought to be caused by the ingress of cold or wind from the outside. People with arthritis often claim that their bodies are a barometer for weather changes. Their bodies can sense when there is a storm, cold or rain coming.

Body Changes

Our bodies are also affected by the weather, which is often amplified when it changes. Our bodies can become stiffer and more sensitive to changes in the weather. We may feel like we have a heavy burden on our bodies. Many arthritis sufferers also experience a deficiency in body energy, Qi. This can manifest as fatigue or depression. Chinese Medicine uses a system to organize the symptoms of arthritis to determine the main influence. Wind, damp, cold and heat. To determine the root cause of the problem, it is important to consider the constitution.

  • To reduce the effects of external influences to relieve symptoms
  • To support the whole body. Pain management can be achieved through nutrition, acupuncture, and Chinese herbal medicine.

To make your life easier, it is important to know your metabolic type and understand which foods can irritate your arthritis. To help with long-term prevention, Chinese herbal medicines are tailored to each patient. Acupuncture can help with pain relief and joint mobility. Avoid exposure to cold, wind, and damp. Avoid exercising outdoors in cold or damp weather. It is not recommended to live in a damp or wet environment. People are more likely to develop arthritis symptoms if they do too much exercise, have repetitive/overuse injuries, or have been in an accident. Everyone should take an active part in the prevention and maintenance of arthritis. This is especially true since the cold of winter slows down the body and causes more obstruction (BI) in joints. Many dietary recommendations, herbs, vitamins, minerals, and other forms supplementation can be helpful for the joints. A health coach can help you determine which foods and supplements are best for you. You can do non-weight bearing activities such as walking, cycling, or water aerobics. Avoid impact or weight bearing exercises. Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and Yoga are all effective ways to increase the flow of energy and blood throughout the body. Patients suffering from arthritis can also benefit from Traditional Chinese Medicine and Health Coaching.

Related Diseases

May is National Arthritis Month. This month we are promoting awareness about a recent study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding arthritis. It shows a very alarming rise in this disease. Although most people believe that arthritis is a result of aging, it is actually quite common in children. As the first generation of American’s baby boomers, those born between 1946-1964, reach middle age, arthritis and related rheumatic conditions like fibromyalgia and gout are taking up more of our health care dollars. The U.S. CDC recently conducted a study on arthritis that covered six years from 1997 to 2003. It found a 25 percent increase of Americans suffering from painful arthritis and related rheumatic diseases. 46 million Americans (or 1 in 5) suffer from arthritis, compared to 36.8 million six decades ago.

These conditions cost approximately 3 percent of the gross national product, at $81 billion. This spending increase is being led by the baby boomers. According to the study’s researchers, arthritis and other rheumatic conditions increased in people with other health problems like diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. This group saw a 28 percent increase, from 31.8 million people to 40.8 millions, compared with a 6 percent increase in healthy people (5 million to 5.3million).

Obesity

Obesity and overweight are two of the main factors that increase your risk of developing arthritis or other related conditions. An increased body mass index will increase your risk of developing osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative joint disorder. It is caused by normal movement. Osteoarthritis that occurs in a joint this year will eventually lead to a joint replacement many years later. The pressure of gravity causes damage to the joints, and surrounding tissues. Rheumatoid is a different kind of arthritis. It is an autoimmune condition that occurs when the body’s immune system misunderstands the synovium (cell liner inside the joint). If untreated, the disfigurement of the affected joint can become severe over time.

Arthritis is not a single condition. There are around 100 types of arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. Arthritis literally translates to “joint inflammation”, while the term “itis” actually refers to inflammation. Arthritis can cause pain and inflammation in any part of the body. Rheumatism can cause debilitating and even life-threatening complications and can also affect other parts of your body, such as muscles, bones, or internal organs. During the six-year study period, drug treatment options increased sharply (24%). However, other costs like hospital stays fell, so the actual per-person spending remained unchanged. Researchers concluded that arthritis was the main reason for the increased treatment costs.

Arthritis Treatment

How does this compare to rising costs for arthritis treatment? It is clear that the only way to control arthritis is to educate and motivate people to be healthier. While it is clear that arthritis incidence increases with age, almost three-quarters of all arthritis sufferers are younger than 65. The aging process cannot be stopped. You can make your life easier by making healthier choices. One option is to get enough exercise to improve joint mobility for arthritis sufferers. It won’t be enough. Chronically dry and dehydrated joints can make it very difficult to move freely. It is important to modify and improve the diet. A higher intake of omega-3 fatty acid and other nutrients from whole foods will increase the chances of a successful remission. F. Batmanghelidj’s book, “How to Deal with Back Pain and Rheumatoid joint Pain”, is an inexpensive self-help guide anyone can read to learn more water’s incredible role in relieving pain naturally. This short paperback book will show you that joint pain is just a sign that your body is leaking water to your joints.

 

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