WHAT IS ARTHRITIS?
Arthritis is a disorder affecting one or more joints of the body. It is characterized as inflammation, pain, and stiffness of the joints. Arthritis can also present as redness, warmth, swelling and decreased range of motion in the affected joint or joints. Onset can be gradual or sudden.
Facts About Arthritis
There are actually over 100 different classifications of arthritis. The two most common forms of arthritis seen clinically are Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that usually occurs with age and affects the fingers, knees and hips. Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that often affects the hands and feet.
Acupuncture For Arthritis
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the main diagnosis for arthritis is called “Bi Syndrome”. Bi syndrome refers to an obstruction causing pain. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, arthritis can present as Heat Bi, Cold Bi, Damp Bi, Wind Bi, Qi and Blood Stagnation Bi, Qi and Blood Deficiency Bi, Liver and Kidney Deficiency Bi or Yin Cold Stagnation Bi. Treatment for arthritis will involve removing the obstruction as well as nourishing any deficiency the patient may have.
Acupuncture Vs Western Medicine
In Western Medicine, there is a wide variety of pharmaceutical medication prescribed for the different arthritic disorders. Most of these pharmaceutical drugs are harmful to the liver and kidney after prolonged use and are accompanied by harmful side effects. In extreme circumstances, surgery is performed however statistics show very minimal success in respects to improved range of motion or pain relief.
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In Traditional Chinese Medicine, we will look for the imbalance that is causing your arthritic condition and the treatment strategy will be to remove the obstruction and tonify any deficiency. Once we can formulate a diagnosis we will administer treatment to help relieve pain and restore any loss in range of motion. Treatments can involve acupuncture, electrical stimulation, cupping, massage, exercises, Chinese Herbs, and dietary changes.
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