| Aromatherapy | | | | commonly affects the wrists, knees, shoulders, ankles, |
| To help reduce inflammation, try drinking ginger-castor | | | | and elbows-acupuncturists may focus on the heart, |
| oil tea daily at bedtime. | | | | kidney, back of head, and internal secretion points. |
| Chiropractic | | | | They may also target any points that are associated |
| Although chiropractic cannot do a lot to turn back the | | | | with the afflicted joint. |
| clock, it can prevent progression of the disease. | | | | To help quell arthritis-related foot pain, the practitioner |
| Specific chiro practic adjustment (SCA) can help | | | | may manipulate Liver 2, Kidney 3, Bladder 60, Liver 3, |
| patients with rheumatoid arthritis by increasing joint | | | | Stomach 44, and several points on the ear. Arthritic |
| flexibility, decreasing swelling in the joint areas and joint | | | | ankle pain is often treated by inserting needles into |
| capsules, and decreasing fluid accumulation that results | | | | Stomach 41, Bladder 60, Gallbladder 40, and additional |
| from arthritic changes. For example, if the patient's | | | | auricular points. |
| hands are affected, care includes SCA of the | | | | AcupressureFor rheumatism-related ankle pain, a |
| affected joints, moist heat application, and hot water | | | | practitioner will probably target two points: Large |
| soaks with Epsom salts to promote mobility. In some | | | | Intestine 4 (in the webbing of the hand between the |
| cases, care may include paraffin (hot wax) baths. | | | | thumb and forefinger) and Bladder 60 (in the |
| Herbal Therapy | | | | depression behind the outside ankle bone). Several |
| Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis have many | | | | points on the foot and on the ankle itself also may be |
| similarities, including herbal remedies. However, there | | | | targeted. |
| are some subtle variations. For rheumatoid arthritis, | | | | Elbow pain may be relieved by massaging LI 11 |
| take a combination tincture of meadowsweet, willow | | | | (toward the outside of the elbow); knee pain will be |
| bark, black cohosh, prickly ash, celery seed, nettle' wild | | | | helped by manipulating several points on and around |
| yam, and valerian to help temper arthritis symptoms. | | | | the knee itself; shoulder pain is best helped by |
| To make the blend, mix equal amounts of the tinctures; | | | | performing acupressure on several points, including |
| take 1 teaspoonful of the mixture 3 times daily. The | | | | Large Intestine 15 and Gallbladder 21; while wrist pain is |
| blend is safe and can be taken for a period of time. | | | | alleviated by applying pressure to several acupoints on |
| (See also "Osteoarthritis" entry.) | | | | the wrist. In addition, ear acupuncture may be used to |
| Herbal products are available in health food stores and | | | | help further relieve the symptoms of rheumatoid |
| in some pharmacies and supermarkets. Follow | | | | arthritis. |
| package for specific directions. | | | | Generalized joint pain may be relieved by pressing the |
| Traditional Chinese Medicine | | | | two Gallbladder 20 points on the back of the neck. |
| Acupuncture To treat rheumatoid arthritis, which | | | | |