| Recently, during a conversation with a colleague, I was | | | | own immune system attacks the joints. The |
| reminded that arthritis is one of the top chronic ailments | | | | symptoms can range from swollen, painful, inflamed |
| that plague Americans. Many have tried Western | | | | joints to gross deformities. Here, the synovial tissues |
| medicine without finding relief for their pain. As a result, | | | | become inflamed due to the constant assault of the |
| people are turning to holistic medicine for help. This is | | | | white blood cells, damaging the joint structures. |
| for good reason as modalities such as Chinese | | | | Genetics and the health of the immune system play a |
| medicine, acupuncture, massage, exercise, and | | | | large role in the development and expression of the |
| supplementation can offer a great deal of help for the | | | | symptoms. Other diseases such as Lupus include RA |
| debilitating effects of arthritis. | | | | as part of their symptomology. |
| Arthritis is a general term that literally means "joint | | | | Chinese medicine has a long history of successfully |
| inflammation". Although there are many diseases that | | | | treating most types of arthritis. Through the use of |
| result in arthritis, the most common are Osteo-arthritis | | | | herbs, acupuncture, massage, exercise, and nutritional |
| (OA) and Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Osteo-arthritis is | | | | counseling, the symptoms are relieved the causes are |
| probably best known as the arthritis associated with | | | | eliminated. It is my experience that the cure rate |
| old age. It can range from joints that are mildly stiff and | | | | significantly improves when Chinese medicine is |
| "creaky" to extremely painful joints that don't like to | | | | combined with Western supplements. The correct use |
| move. Osteo-Arthritis is a degenerative condition that | | | | of substances such as glucosamine sulfate, MSM, |
| involves inflammation and the subsequent breakdown | | | | SAMe, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and Western |
| of joint structures like cartilage and synovial tissue. | | | | herbs can do much to promote the healing of the joint |
| Often this condition is worse in areas of old trauma - | | | | tissues. Acupuncture can do a great deal to limit pain |
| which encourages the early treatment and resolution | | | | and increase mobility. |
| of injuries. | | | | If you or a loved one is suffering with arthritis, I highly |
| Rheumatoid arthritis is a little more complicated, but is | | | | encourage a visit to a practitioner of Chinese Medicine. |
| essentially an autoimmune disease where the bodies' | | | | It might be the medicine you have been searching for! |