| Homeopathic Help for People Experiencing | | | | homeopath will consider not only a detailed description |
| Rheumatoid Arthritis | | | | of the physical RA symptoms, but the overall mental |
| Homeopathy has a great capacity to impact people in | | | | and emotional disposition and character, as well. |
| profound ways who experience rheumatoid arthritis. | | | | The following homeopathic remedies, and their specific |
| This is the first article in a series that will address | | | | indicators, can be considered for people experiencing |
| disorders of musculoskeletal system. In future articles, I | | | | RA: |
| will publish information related to tendinitis and bursitis, | | | | Causticum: Stiffness of the joint that is so severe, it |
| degenerative arthritis, back pain/sciatica, and | | | | feels as if the joint is paralyzed. Generally worse from |
| fibromyalgia; as they all have unique symptoms and | | | | cold, dry weather. Better in rainy weather. Affects the |
| require their own treatment plans. | | | | fingers predominantly. |
| Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, inflammatory | | | | Rhus Toxicodendron: The main homeopathic remedy |
| disorder primarily of the synovial joints, but can also | | | | considered from rheumatism with pain and stiffness. |
| affect other systemic organs. RA affects over 2 | | | | The pain and stiffness causes the person to shift and |
| million Americans, with women being 3 times more | | | | stretch. Worse in the morning upon rising; in the cold, |
| susceptible than men. | | | | damp, rainy weather; storms; and sitting for long |
| The Arthritis Foundation states this disease progresses | | | | periods of time (such as in a movie or a car ride). |
| through three stages: | | | | They feel better from heat, hot bathing, or showers; |
| 1) First is swelling of the synovial lining, causing pain, | | | | and continued, gentle motion. |
| warmth, stiffness, redness and swelling around the | | | | Arnica: Great soreness all over. Even the bed feels |
| joint. | | | | too hard. They feel bruised or beaten. Worse from |
| 2) Second is the rapid division and growth of cells, | | | | being jarred or touched; they fear being touched. Pains |
| which causes the synovium to thicken. | | | | are usually symmetrical. |
| 3) In the third stage, the inflamed cells release | | | | Aurum Metallicum: Rheumatism with stiffness or |
| enzymes that may digest bone and cartilage, often | | | | spasms of the chest wall. This is an important remedy |
| causing the involved joint to lose its shape and | | | | to consider for people who also have ankylosing |
| alignment, more pain, and loss of movement. | | | | spondylitis. Generally worse at night. |
| Eventually, if left untreated, RA has the capacity to | | | | Ledum: Swelling, coldness and pallor (sometimes |
| destroy cartilage, deform joints, and destroy adjacent | | | | blueness) in the affected joint. Worse from heat. In |
| bones. And because it is a systemic disease it can | | | | general, the pains ascend during the course of the |
| affect the entire body. RA can cause generalized | | | | illness to more proximal joints. |
| inflammation in the cardiac muscle, in blood vessels, | | | | Pulsatilla: Wandering arthritis; changeable symptoms |
| and within layers of the skin. The exact cause of RA | | | | and pains. Worse in the evening and with heat. Better |
| is unknown, but it is considered an autoimmune | | | | from the cold; uncovering the joint; cold applications; |
| disorder (the body attacks itself). Genetic | | | | and in the open air. |
| predispositions, or viral infections are thought to | | | | Homeopathic treatment will best assist people |
| increase risks of RA. | | | | experiencing RA from constitutional, long-term care |
| People experiencing rheumatoid arthritis can be best | | | | and, as mentioned, in the earlier stages of the illness. |
| helped the earlier it is caught, especially before | | | | Even if medications have already begun, homeopathic |
| excessive suppression has taken place from | | | | treatment can help boost vitality and strengthen the |
| conventional methods of treatment. In homeopathy, | | | | healing intelligence of the body enough where the |
| health is viewed as a condition of the entire individual, | | | | allopathic medications can eventually be discontinued |
| rather than in terms of isolated symptoms from | | | | altogether. |
| specific locations of the body. In this way, a | | | | |