Arthritis Relief with Acupuncture
Most people are familiar with the term arthritis , which may conjure up images of twisted , knobby fingers or achy knees , but did you know there are over 100 different types of arthritis ?
Dr . Randy Martin
For many people , arthritis pain and inflammation cannot be avoided as the body ages . In fact , most people over the age of 50 show some signs of arthritis as joints naturally degenerate over time . Fortunately , arthritis can frequently be managed with acupuncture and Oriental medicine .
Rheumatoid arthritis ( RA ) - a chronic , autoimmune disease in which the body ' s immune system attacks joint tissue . The synovial fluid that encases the joints thickens due to inflammation . This can cause pain and structural deformities . Other symptoms include fatigue and fever .
Osteoarthritis ( OA ) - also called degenerative joint disease . When cartilage , the protective cushioning found between the bones , starts eroding away , symptoms of OA may result . This can cause pain , visible swelling and difficulty moving the afflicted joint .
Psoriatic arthritis - an inflammatory arthritis associated with the skin condition psoriasis , a chronic autoimmune disease in which the body ' s immune system attacks the skin . The most common symptoms include joint swelling , redness , fatigue and pain . Severe cases may result in misshapen joints .
While each type of arthritis has very different causes , risk factors and effects on the body , they often share a common symptom : persistent joint pain . Often the reason symptoms appear or ' flare-up ' is obvious . Dampness pervading the air before a rainstorm , overusing arthritic joints or stress may trigger symptoms . Other times , the exact cause remains a mystery . However , no matter the origin , acupuncture and Oriental medicine can help .
Diagnosis and Treatment of Arthritis with Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
According to Oriental medical theory , arthritis arises when the cyclical flow of Qi ( energy ) in the meridians becomes blocked resulting in pain , soreness , numbness and stiffness . This blockage is called Bi-syndrome and is successfully treated using a combination of treatment modalities . The acupuncture points and herbs that are used depend on whether the underlying cause of the blockage of Qi ( arthritis ) is caused by wind , cold , dampness or damp-heat .
Acupuncture and Oriental medicine aim to treat the specific symptoms that are unique to each individual using a variety of techniques such as acupuncture , bodywork , lifestyle / dietary recommendations and energetic exercises to restore imbalances found in the body . Therefore , if 30 patients are treated with Oriental medicine for joint pain , each of them will receive a unique , customized treatment .
Email today to learn how acupuncture can be incorporated into your treatment plan for arthritis !
drrandymartin @ gmail . com
PAGE 8 O U R V A L L E Y S A N T A C L A R I T A