This
website does not provide specific medical advice and the information provided
should not be used as a substitute for seeking medical advice from a registered
health practitioner.
Prescription: Dazhui (GV 14) and Zusanli (ST 86 ). Upper limbs: Jianyu (LI 15),
Shousanli (LI 10), Quchi(LI 11), Waiguan (TE 15), Hegu (LI 4), Yangxi (LI 5),
Yangchi (TE 4), Wangu (SI 4) and Baxie (EX-UE 9). Lower limbs: Huantiao (GB
.30), Juliao (GB 29), Liangqiu (ST 34), Xiyan (EX-LE 5), Yanglingquan (GB 34),
Ququan (LR 8), Xuanzhong (GB 89), Kunlun (BL
60), Jiexi (ST 41) and Bafeng (EX-LE 10). Neck: Cer-vical Jiaji (EX-B 2) and
Fengchi (GB 20).
Modification: For migratory pain, Fengchi (GB 20), Xuehai (SP 10) and Geshu (BL 17) are added;
for heavi-ness of limbs, Yinlingquan (SP 9) is added; for fever, Hegu (LI 4) and
Quchi (LI 11 ) are added; for prolonged duration, Guanyuan (CV 4), Shenshu (BL
23), Pishu (BL 20) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) are
added.
Performance. Guanyuan (CV 4), Shenshu (BL 23) and Pishu (BL 20) are needled with
reinforcing needling technique and combined with moxibustion. The other
acupoints are needled with reducing needling technique. Moxibustion can be
applied to the location of pain. Local area with evident swelling can be
punctured to let out blood.
What do you
need to know about rheumatoid arthritis
What is meant by Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a very commonly found form of arthritis. It is a disease that gets worsened over a period
of time and leads to painful swelling and permanent damage in the joints of the
body particularly the fingers, wrists, feet and ankle. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease i.e. a disease in
which the body’s immune system damages its own tissues. The injured tissues
cause reddening, swelling and pain in the particular area. Apart from inflammatory joints,
this disease can even hit one’s internal organs such as lungs, eyes and heart.
It is therefore a systemic ailment that often produces excruciating intolerable
pain.
People prone to Rheumatoid Arthritis
Women especially between 20 to 60 years of age are more
susceptible to develop Rheumatoid arthritis due to the innumerable hormonal
alterations in their body because of various reasons. However, young and the
old, anyone can be afflicted by this autoimmune systemic disease.
Symptoms and Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Pain, irritation, stiffness, extreme weariness after doing
day’s work and even swelling of joints, mark the onset of arthritis. If the
situation deteriorates gradually, it is definitely Rheumatoid arthritis.
Contrary to gradual development, in some cases the disease
might just hit within few seconds with inflammation and fever.
The stiffness of joints and tiredness because of Rheumatoid
arthritis is extreme and hampers the individual’s daily activities. The problem
may trouble more during winter season.
A burning pain in the joints (left or right hand, cartilage
and bone etc.) that prolongs for six weeks or more at a stretch indicates
Rheumatoid Arthritis. But if the pain travels to individual’s sacroiliac joints
of lower back or to the upper spine, the disease is other than this one
Factors that invoke the disease
No strict causes for Rheumatoid Arthritis have been
discovered as yet. But investigations and experience have revealed many some
constantly occurring or usual factors that have led to its development.
The individual with a family history of Rheumatoid Arthritis
is greatly liable to be afflicted by it. But particularly what infested thing
gets passed on from affected ancestors to the patient still needs to be
explored.
Acute stress is supposed to be another reason behind
Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Different viruses such as mononucleosis can cause Rheumatoid
Arthritis. Other than this, infections like strep throat lead to the ailment.
Prevention and Cures
Diagnosis commences with some crucial tests. These tests
determine the severity or the stage of rheumatoid arthritis for the individual.
Once rheumatoid arthritis is confirmed, anti-rheumatic drugs are prescribed.
Anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen etc. are prescribed initially and more often to
those who are suffering from mild form of the disease. But when the case gets
worse, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs or DMARDs are given.
Corticosteroids like prednisone, narcotics; chemotherapy drugs for instance
Cytoxan; anti-organ rejection medicines such as cyclosporine are examples of
DMARDs. Arava, Enbrel or Etanercept and Methotrexate are by and large recommended
medicines to patients of Rheumatoid arthritis. But as many other antibiotics,
these drugs too have numerous side-effects which should be borne in mind before
advising them. Besides medicines patients even find therapies like acupressure
and acupuncture quite relieving. In many cases of Rheumatoid
arthritis, patients also desire to go for a surgery
Rheumatoid
Arthritis Treatment: Alternatives And Medication
Rheumatoid arthritis treatment
is a necessary yet complex process. There are many aspects that need to be
taken into consideration in this fight against your own body. The first step is
to see your doctor. There are several forms of arthritis, one of them being
rheumatoid, that can lead to more serious complications including the inability
to use your joint to its full function. What is important to know is that there
are many rheumatoid arthritis treatment plans that can work for you and improve
your overall well being, minimize your pain as well as slow the progression of
the arthritis.
Standard Treatment Options For Arthritis
It is essential for you to seek out the help of your doctor. He or she will
design a course of action to help treat your condition. Most of the time, this
will include several types of medications. One of the first medications you will
take includes a pain relief formula. Because arthritis is an inflammation of
the joint's lining, medications can help to lessen the swelling that happens
there. It will take a few tries to get the right dosage down, but pain relief
can be found. In addition to this, your doctor is also likely to give you a
medication that will slow the progression of arthritis. By telling your body to
stop attacking itself, the medication can slow down how fast arthritis
envelopes your joint completely. This is critical as the progression can cause
devastating results if left untreated. The combination of medications is
vitally important.
Alternatives Are Out There, Too
By either using these alternative methods in combination with the rheumatoid
arthritis treatment that your doctor described or doing them alone, they can be
helpful in relieving some or all of the pain associated with arthritis. Some of
these treatments include massage, nutritional supplementation which usually
includes the compounds of glucosamine and chondroitin, as well as homeopathy.
In addition to these, acupuncture, wearing copper jewelry and magnets have been
shown to help stimulate the healing within the body, including helping to
relieve the pain caused by arthritis inflammation.
Should you consider these alternative therapies for the treatment of your
arthritis? Some doctors do not believe that they can provide you with the help
you need while others do. The ultimate decision will be yours to make but many
find that these therapies can be expensive and may only provide a certain level
of benefit to your overall health. On the other hand, there are some that
believe that things like acupuncture really can stimulate the healing in your
body including helping you to improve your overall experience with arthritis.
If you are not sure, talk to your doctor and do more research about each
option.
The most important thing for you to do in regards to rheumatoid arthritis
treatment is to seek out the help of a qualified doctor or even a specialist in
the field. From here, develop a plan that is all inclusive and tells you
everything that you need to know to better your daily experience with
arthritis.
A shooting
pain in the knee. A burning sensation in the hand. Before you know it, you have
rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid
arthritis is a chronic inflammation of the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is an
autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks normal tissues as if they
were invading antibodies. Rheumatoid arthritis also causes inflammation of the
tissues around the joints and other organs of the body. The hands and feet are
the most affected areas of rheumatoid arthritis although it can also affect any
joint lined by a membrane. Rheumatoid arthritis is referred to as a systematic
illness and sometimes called rheumatoid disease.
Rheumatoid
arthritis manifests itself over a period of a few months. However, for some,
the disease appears overnight. Accelerated onset of rheumatoid arthritis does
not mean the individual is at greater risk of the progression of the disease.
Rheumatoid arthritis can lasts for years without symptoms. But rheumatoid
arthritis is an illness that progresses and has the potential to cause joint
destrution and functional disability. Usually, patients suffer cycles from
severe to light symptoms. In terms of statistics, rheumatoid arthritis is three
times more common in women than in men. It also besets people of all races
equally. Rheumatoid arthritis can begin at any age but most often start in the
early forties.
What
causes rheumatoid arthritis? The truth is, its cause is still unknown. Viruses,
bacteria, and fungi have long been suspected but none has been proven to be the
cause. The cause of rheumatoid arthritis has been the focus of different
research activities. There are some scientists who believe that the tendency to
develop rheumatoid arthritis may be genetically inherited while others believe
that certain factors in the environment might elicit the immune system to
attack the body's own tissue components. This attack results to the
inflammation in various organs such as lungs or eyes.
Researchers
have also found that environmental factors may also play a role in the cause of
rheumatoid arthritis. In fact, scientists reported that smoking tobacco
increases risk in the development of rheumatoid arthritis.
The
symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis depend on the degree of tissue inflammation.
Rheumatoid arthritis is said to be active if the body tissues are inflammed.
When the tissue inflammation subsides, rheumatoid arthritis is said to be in
remission. Remissions may happen spontaneously or with treatment and can last
for weeks, months, even years. During active rheumatoid arthritis, symptoms are
felt. Symptoms may include fatigue, lack of appetite, low grade fever, and
muscles and joint aches. Muscles and joint stiffness are usually felt during
mornings and after a period of inactivity. During relapses (from inactivity to
activity) of rheumatoid arthritis, joints become red, swollen, painful, and
tender. This happens because the tissue lining of the joints become inflamed
which results in the excess production of joint fluids.
Multiple
joints are usually inflamed in symmetrical pattern and the joints of both hands
and wrists are often affected. Simple tasks such as turning the door knob and
opening the jars can be painful. Rheumatoid arthritis can also affect the joint
responsible for the tightening of vocal cords to change the tone of the voice
although rarely. But when this happens, it can cause hoarseness of the voice.
As
mentioned before, rheumatoid arthritis is a systematic disease which can affect
organs and areas of the body other than the joints. Sjorgen's syndrome is the
inflammation of the glands of the eyes and mouth which causes dryness.
Rheumatoid inflammation of the lung lining can cause chest pains because the
lung tissue itself is inflamed and nodules of inflammation also develop within
the lungs. Rheumatoid arthritis can also reduce the number of red blood cells
which can result to anemia and white blood cells which can result to increase
risk of infections. A rare, serious complication of rheumatoid arthritis is
blood vessel inflammation which can impair blood supply to tissues and lead to
death of tissues.
A
rheumatologist is a doctor who specializes in arthritis and other related
diseases. The rheumatologist reviews the history of symptoms, examines the
joints, and the other parts of the body for the inflammation. The diagnosis is
usually based on the pattern of symptoms, the distribution of the inflamed
joints, and the blood and x-rays obtained.
Until
now, there is no known cure for rheumatoid arthritis. Reducing joint
inflammation and pain, maximizing joint function, and preventing joint
destruction is the current goal in treating rheumatoid arthritis. Early medical
intervention has been found to improve outcomes in treatment. Optimal treatment
includes combination of medications, joint strengthening exercises, joint
protection, and patient education. Treatment is customized according to many
factors such as disease activity, types of joints involved, general health,
age, and occupation. But treatment is most successful when there is close
cooperation between the doctor and the patient.
Modification:For evident swelling and
pain, Liangqiu (ST 34), Xuehai (SP 10) and Yinlingquan (SP 9) are added; for
aching and weakness of the waist as well as dizziness and tinnitus, Ganshu (BL
18), Shenshu (BL 23), Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) are
added.
Performance: The proximal acupoints are needled with reducing needling
technique. Ganshu ( BL 18 ), Shenshu (BL 23) and Zusanli (ST 36) are needled
with reinforcing needling technique. Moxibustion can be used and cupping is
applied for reinforcement of the curative
effect.
A lot of natural psoriatic arthritis treatments target either the arthritis
or the psoriasis. We haven't found one product that can do both effectively. If
you do find a product that can control both, please let us know Here is what
one psoriatic arthritis sufferer had to say about this disease:
"I'm in my 50's, but I feel like I am trapped in a 100 year old body with a
20 year old mind".
This person who is on medication will, still feel a great deal of discomfort
and a loss of mobility. My question to these people is what exactly are you
doing to help yourself? And that usually is the problem, not taking care of
yourself.
There is hope and here is is the Top 7 psoriatic arthritis treatments. We
highly recommend discussing these options with your doctor.
For the arthritis pain and discomfort you can find several good brands of
nutritional supplements that are working really well for these patients. Some
ingredients to look for are: boron, magnesium, chondroitin, glucosamine, for
more details visit to www.tours-guide.com MSM, and bromelain. It
is also a good idea to include Omega 3's and selenium. I have also heard
tremendous testimonials on the use of aloe vera especially on the psoriasis.
Herbal Treatments
Knowing what to employ is critical to your success. Here are a a couple of
psoriatic arthritis treatment herbal ingredients. Black Cohosh, Bogbean, Celery
Seeds, Chapparal, Feverfew, Nettle, Saffron, and Yucca. These herbs are strong
relaxants, good treatments of rheumatism, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid
arthritis. They include anti-inflammatory properties, anti-rheumatic,
anti-diuretic or anti-spasmodic and very useful in causes of acne. Some of these
herbs are particularly useful for skin conditions of warts and splotches,
treatment for pain, and they have the ability to take away or reduce uric and
lactic acid build up. A lot of the herbs listed above can be acquired at your
local health food shop.
Diet
The human body is an brilliant machine and if you give it a chance it will
cure itself from the inside out. We are what we consume, so be very careful.
Likely the most efficient diet you can put yourself on is the Elimination Diet.
This diet is a comfortable diet to adopt, however it will require WORK on your
part.
The elimination diet is essentially recording the foods we eat and taking
note of how you react afterwards. Particular foods might make you feel awful and
other food groups will deepen the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis.
Fruits and vegetables can help relieve pain as can certain vitamin groups.
I'm sure you read many times over how important fresh water fish can be to
arthritic patients.
Exercise
When you step-up your heart rate, blood circulates quickly throughout the
body. That way more and more blood can circulate through the established areas
that hurt the most. The blood has a purifying effect which can wash away the
"bad stuff".
By exercising you will also tone up the muscle groups that hold your joints
and step-down your weight which will take away some of the pressure off your
joints. Do not think you have to join a gym to exercise: walking, day-to-day
yard activities and chores are wonderful exercises that increase blow flow. Ever
wonder why winter time is the worst on your arthritis? Body temperate linked to
blow flow might be an answer.
Acupuncture
Another successful option available to you is acupuncture. Some
arthritis patients have had great success. The human body transmits to itself
constantly and the brain can receive messages from vaious parts of the body
called endorphins. Acupuncture can mess with the signals your muscles send to
the brain, which in turn will "block" the pain message they receive.
Topical Creams, Lotions
Psoriatic arthritis is a two pronged disease which means you also need to
deal with psoriasis. Dried skin is a cause of psoriasis which means you should
try very hard to keep your skin moist. Supplying a humidifier in the home during
the winter months (summer months depending on whee you live) are extremely
beneficial. Topical creams containing certain herbs listed below will help you
keep your skin moist.
Many excellent ingredients observed in topical creams and lotions include:
cocoa butter, lanolin cream, mineral oil, petroleum jelly, aloe vera or baby
oil. Carefully learn the ingredients of anything you apply to your scalp and
skin during typical daily cleansing activities. Soaps and anti deodorants to be
specific.
Heat/Cold
Heat increases blood flow to your joints and ice has a numbing effect to
subdue the pain. Many physical therapists trust solely on heat packs and ice
massage before activities and ice afterwards. Don't be concerned to give this a
try before you begin your day.
You just read the top 7 psoriatic arthritis treatments and they render hope
to all of us who hurts from this disease. Hold your chin up, remain patient and
permit your body to mend itself from the inside out.
MS is a diagnosis you simple do not want to get. Acupuncture can help to make
a person suffering from it more comfortable and in control.
MS is a horrible disease of the central nervous system. It attacks a
substance called myelin which sheaths the nerves. There is interference with
messages and signals between the brain and the body. This results in a wide
variety of symptoms depending on the nerves effected. Often the symptoms become
such that the patient becomes confined to a wheel chair due to loss of balance
and motor control. Loss of bladder and bowel control contributes to the
emotional sense of helplessness and depression in the patients. There is no cure
for MS at this time, nor is there any absolute certainty as to its cause.
Interestingly, MS was virtually unknown in China until 30 years ago. Around
that time, cases began to appear in some of the larger cities. Early studies
attributed the cause of the disease to the stress of modern living and the
pollution common in larger cities. A careful review of available clinical
studies and papers concerning Traditional Chinese Medicine's view of the
causation, prognosis, and treatment of MS, reveals that there is still some
disagreement. It is clear, however, Chinese Medicine offers no claims of being
able to cure the disease.
The use of acupuncture in the treatment of MS is geared toward two goals. The
first is to bring as much relief of the symptoms as possible. The second goal is
to enable the patient to be able to manage the disease in a way that allows them
to fully experience the joy and splendor of human existence. There are many
indications that these goals have a good chance of success through a combined
approach of acupuncture, diet restriction, and mild exercise.
Acupuncture treatments for MS have had much success in reducing pain and
decreasing spasticity. Another area of success is improved bladder and bowel
control. The reduction of stress and the improved feeling of well being
contribute to an improvement in quality of life. The acupuncture treatments must
be given frequently in order to maintain the improvements of symptoms, but MS is
known for its cycles of remission. During periods of remission, the frequency of
the acupuncture treatments can be reduced.
The reaction of Western medical practitioners to the use of acupuncture in
the treatment of MS is mixed. Some recognize that acupuncture tends to release
endorphins and peptides that modulate the transmission of sensory information
through the central nervous system. The clinical results of many patients have
shown control of symptoms and stress reduction and a positive outlook are seen
as important to the overall treatment. Many doctors have admitted that, at the
very least, acupuncture does reduce stress and improve the sense of well being.
A very few in the Western medical field stubbornly refuse to admit that
acupuncture can be helpful and cite dangers from infection and the transmission
of HIV through the use of needles. These concerns are extremely minimal in
acupuncture when a qualified and certified acupuncturist is involved.
Get more acupuncture information at AlternativeHealthCompanies.com.
Chinese Xiangnan University released a research about it.their conclusion is
electro-acupuncture can reduce the production of uric acid and promote the
excretion of uric acid and has a better treatment effect. And there are no
harmful effects on renal function. electro- acupuncture is an effective
therapeutic method for treatment of gout with renal insufficiency.
Traditional Chinese medicine suggests acupuncture to help with gout. It makes
some sense: acupuncture should help improving blood circulation and perhaps it
would help dissolve the uric acid crystals that were formed in joints due to
poor circulation to begin with. Do you think so?
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