Using Acupuncture To Treat Arthritis
The human body has many joints or areas where two different bones meet. Arthritis is a disease that affects these joints and causes pain and inflammation.
There are professional medical practitioners apart from acupuncture specialists, who believe that arthritis patients do not need to rely on pain killers and steroids to relieve the pain. It is believed that relief from pain can be sought through acupuncture, an alternative traditional Chinese medicine that brings pain relief.
People seeking a better understanding of acupuncture for arthritis need to understand that arthritis is not considered a single disease in the medical world. It is the term given to over one hundred different medical conditions with osteoarthritis being the most common form of arthritis found to affect the elderly. There are other forms of arthritis that may affect people at any age.
According to Chinese doctors that existed around the sixteenth century, arthritis was believed to be the result of energy imbalances in the body. Acupuncture is believed to stimulate the major meridian points in the body to help correct imbalances and resist illness. Acupuncture works to release endorphins or chemicals in the body that block pain messages from being transmitted to the brain.
Before we go any further, it is important that people understand that acupuncture cannot be considered some kind of magic cure that will treat all kinds of illnesses. It is useful in treating pain and acupuncture for arthritis has been shown to be quite effective treatment for many individuals. Apart from arthritis, acupuncture has been known to treat headaches, cramps, back pain, neck pain, muscle pain, facial pain, obesity, drug addiction and colitis conditions among other problems.
Acupuncture also helps to improve the way the immune system in the human body functions, making it more active in defending the body against illness.
The primary benefit in using acupuncture to treat arthritis lies in the fact that acupuncture provides a way to minimize pain without the patient having to rely on drugs to do so. Drugs as we know often have negative side effects or lose their efficacy and the dosage needs to be increased. With acupuncture, there are no side effects and the treatment can easily be adjusted to match the patient’s response to the treatment.
In the U.S., there are approximately 6,500 licensed acupuncturists and about 3,000 medical doctors who perform acupuncture treatments. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes a variety of illnesses that can be treated with acupuncture including chronic pain. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the needles used in acupuncture treatment by categorizing them as medical devices.
It’s been shown in scientific studies that acupuncture is an effective treatment for arthritis helping to provide pain relief to patients suffering the excruciating pain associated with arthritis. However, it is essential to note that acupuncture when combined with the right diet and a healthy lifestyle provides greater and more effective relief from the pain.
Another essential that needs to be understood is that there is no across the board cure for chronic pain brought about by arthritis. A treatment plan based on individual requirements is necessary for effective treatment. For example, a treatment plan may involve combined drug therapy and non-drug therapy.
In closing, please note that acupuncture has proven to be especially effective in helping to relieve pain associated with arthritis such as osteoarthritis of the knees as well as rheumatoid arthritis pain.
Infrared Heat Therapy for Arthritis Pain
Infrared heat lamp therapy is something we all experience in the form of sunlight. While we can all see the visible light, the heat that you feel when you are out in the sun and your skin is warmed comes from the infrared light rays. This far infrared heat coming from the sun is not dangerous to your skin as the ultraviolet light rays are. Infrared light has been shown to be beneficial to health which is why many people are interested in infrared heat lamp therapy.
With infrared heat therapy, an infrared heat therapy lamp emits infrared radiant heat which is absorbed directly into the body. The infrared heat activates and ionizes water molecules in the body and helps to increase blood circulation, stimulates the production of collagen, and rid the body of toxins as well as many other health and beauty benefits. With traditional heat therapy, such as moxibustion, the heat stays near the surface of the skin, unable to penetrate deeply.
Because heat therapy penetrates deep into muscle tissue it is often used for pain relief. Arthritis sufferers can greatly benefit from heat therapy as it decreases the stiffness in the joints. Athletes can also benefit by using it on sore muscles, inflammations, and to reduce muscle spasms. In addition to relieving pain, it also increases muscle and joint flexibility.
There are many different sources when it comes to infrared heat therapy. You have the options of using a heat therapy lamp, which come in many different sizes and shapes. Some stand alone and others can be used in hand. An infrared floor lamp is ideal as you can adjust the lamp setting and relax as the heat is absorbed by your body without having to hold the lamp to direct the heat. This model, available on Amazon has a perfect 5 star customer satisfaction rating. There are also heat therapy body wraps particularly for the back and shoulders, which wrap around the body as well as wrist pads that wrap around the wrist for deep heating treatment.
Infrared heat therapy has been in use for a long time and is commonly recommended by physicians in many countries. Just a half hour or less of your time can help you enjoy many different health benefits. It is a perfect form of therapy for all types of people, whether they have disabilities or are able bodied. Pain relief, beauty benefits, flexibility, and weight loss control are just a few of the many health benefits to be had from using infrared heat therapy.
Causes of Joint Pain
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 30 percent of all adults living in the United States have experienced some sort of joint pain. For most of those affected (about 18 percent), the problem joint was a knee. Shoulders, fingers and hips each affected 10 percent of respondents.
All reported experiencing pain, aching or stiffness—ailments that affect everything from mobility to ability to work to quality of sleep to being able to hold a steady job.
Joint pain is a chronic health concern in the United States, and as the nation’s population ages, it is a problem that only promises to grow in scope. As people age, their bodies become more susceptible to diseases that affect joints, every day activities are more likely to cause pain and exercise take a greater toll on the body—all of which result in increased medical costs, lost wages and a lot of pain and suffering.
And while some joint pain is unavoidable—especially that associated with aging or certain types of disease—is unavoidable. Other types can be avoided, especially if their causes are understood.
Here is a list of common joint pain causes and some tips to help you avoid the pain and discomfort that 100 million Americans live with every day.
Tendinitis Joint Pain
Tendinitis is perhaps one of the most common joint pain causes. It occurs when a tendon, which connects muscles to bones, in one of the joints rubs against another tendon or a bone during a repetitious body movement. This causes the tendon to become inflamed, resulting in soreness.
Tendinitis can occur in any joint, but it is most commonly found in the elbow, shoulder and knees—especially in athletes.
To prevent joint pain that occurs as a result of tendinitis, people should stretch extensively before, during and after exercising or participating in sports that include rigorous, repetitive joint movements, such as tennis, golf and throwing a baseball or softball.
Icing the affected joints and resting are effective treatments for this type of joint pain. In severe cases, tendinitis can cause the tendon to rupture and immediate medical treatment is needed.
Muscle Strains and Ligament Sprains
Every day, thousands of Americans suffer muscle strains and ligament sprains. Most occur in ankles while playing sports such as basketball and football or running on uneven ground.
A strain occurs when a muscle is stretched too far. A sprain occurs when a tendon is stretched too far. Both are common causes of joint pain, and both can be prevented in some cases by stretching properly and running on even, clear surfaces. Even so, landing on another basketball player’s foot after grabbing a rebound sometimes happens.
Strains and sprains can be treated with rest, ice, over-the-counter pain medication (for swelling) and rest. In severe cases, it may be necessary to have a medical professional immobilize the affected joint to give it time to heal.
Arthritis Joint Pain
According to the Arthritis Foundation, there are more than 100 types of this disease/condition, and it affects millions of Americans. Put simply, arthritis is joint inflammation. It can cause pain in or immobilize hands, feet, knees, fingers, elbows, shoulders and hips.
In general, arthritis is caused by everyday wear-and-tear on the joints—walking up and down stairs, exercising, typing for long periods of time. Over time, the cartilage in joints deteriorates, causing bones to rub against one another. This results in pain ranging anywhere from debilitating to mild.
While some types of arthritis are not preventable—rheumatoid arthritis, for example, is hereditary—others can be kept at bay by living healthy. That means getting at least eight hours of sleep a night, eating healthy and maintaining a healthy weight.
Treatment can include everything from taking daily over-the-counter pain medication to surgery.
Being Overweight
Many people experience knee and ankle pain for no other reason than they are overweight. Carrying too much weight puts excess pressure on joints, meaning tendons, muscles and bones grind together. This is one of the joint pain causes that results in aching. It can be treated and even prevented, of course, by losing weight.
Disease
The list of diseases that are common causes of joint pain is long. It includes everything from lupus (an autoimmune disease) to rheumatic fever (an inflammatory disease similar to arthritis) to colitis (an inflammatory disease that attacks the bowels).
Symptoms for diseases that cause joint pain are usually distinct and acute. They include chronic diarrhea in the case of colitis to extreme fatigue and headaches in the case of lupus. And when the joints start to burn and ache severely and shoot pain through the body, medical treatment should be sought immediately.
There are literally hundreds of causes of joint pain—from sleeping in positions that don’t agree with the body’s shoulders to very serious disease. People with concerns should consult their doctor.
Natural Treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is classified as an autoimmune disease capable of causing chronic inflammation of various parts of the body including the joints. The disease is not age specific and can affect anyone at any age. Alternating periods of arthritis flare-ups and remissions characterize Rheumatoid arthritis. The cause of the disease remains unknown, and there appears to be no complete cure for RA or rheumatoid arthritis though there are rheumatoid arthritis pain management plans.
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) suggests natural treatments for rheumatoid arthritis which include massage, moist heat, herbs, natural supplements, and acupuncture to treat arthritis pain.
Rheumatoid arthritis has no special diets or cures and the first line of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis for most people is usually prescription medication. Natural treatments such as acupuncture for rheumatoid arthritis may be just as effective in many cases and may be better choices for your health and your finances. Read more to learn about treating rheumatoid arthritis naturally.
Acupuncture for Arthritis
In tracing its roots, we find that acupuncture dates back to the Stone Age and Neolithic man. By pressing certain points in the body or hitting certain parts of the body with sticks, Neolithic man was able to control pain and sometimes make it disappear. The Chinese turned this ancient, basic method of pain control into the fine art of acupuncture.
For the Chinese, acupuncture and qi (life energy) are interlinked. It is important for qi to flow freely through the body for it to be healthy. Acupuncture treatments, which is all about stimulation, maybe performed in different ways to treat arthritis including pressure application through fingers, stones or other methods; insertion of thin needles into specific points on the body; application of electricity; gentle tapping at specific points or cupping (putting small, heated jars over the points to bring the blood and energy to the skin’s surface).
People who suffer from arthritis feel like their joints are on fire. The affected areas become tender, swell and cause enormous discomfort to the sufferer. Patients generally use a combination of arthritis and medication to alleviate the excruciating pain that arthritis brings. Acupuncture however can provide an effective drug free treatment for arthritis pain.
People who suffer from arthritis are generally those in the senior age group, but arthritis can affect anyone at any age. The general consensus among older people is that acupuncture for arthritis does provide pain relief. The majority of elderly people seek acupuncture for arthritis treatments of the knees and for pain and inflammation caused by osteoporosis.
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