Chinese medicine offers a holistic approach to the treatment of many diseases and disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis. It employs natural treatments and herbs to effectively relieve pain and inflammation from arthritis. Among these treatments are acupuncture, herb therapy and acupressure.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient form of Chinese medicine that involves inserting very thin needles into the skin in certain areas of the body to relieve ailments. The specific locations where the needles are placed depend on the condition being treated. Although acupuncture is growing in popularity in the Western world, it is still considered an alternative treatment for the 40-plus diseases it is used to treat in America. Acupuncture, like other therapies for arthritis, may work extremely well for some and not work at all for others. In many cases, those who find the most relief with acupuncture are those who did not respond well to conventional methods.
Herbal Remedies
Chinese medicine makes use of several herbs for the relief of painful rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. Chinese herbal medicine makes distinctions between different forms of arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis is referred to as "hot bi" syndrome. A cocktail of multiple herbs may be prescribed and single herbs may be used as well. Some herbs that are typically employed to treat hot bi syndrome include thunder god vine, duhuo root, gentian root, Chinese clematis root, papaya and peony root.
Acupressure
Acupressure is another form of Chinese medicine with benefits for rheumatoid arthritis sufferers. It is based on the idea that arthritis pain results from a stoppage or blockage of the flow of bodily energy, or "qi," which keeps the body physically healthy. Acupressure involves the use of pressure and massage to relieve pain. It works by relieving tension in areas of the body affected by rheumatoid arthritis and by stimulating blood circulation, thereby increasing the amount of oxygen and nutrients delivered to the area.
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