| The effectiveness of herbal remedies for arthritis | | | | it has been used for centuries with Chinese |
| sufferers varies from person to person, so you may | | | | manipulative techniques. |
| need to experiment a bit. Try one of the following | | | | To treat hand and finger pain, the practitioner may |
| treatments. | | | | focus on Small Intestine 7 (located on the forearm) and |
| Take a combination tincture of meadowsweet, willow | | | | the Shang Pa Hsieh sites that lie between the fingers. |
| bark, black cohosh, prickly ash, celery seed, and nettle | | | | Additional points may be added, depending on where in |
| to help temper arthritis symptoms. To make the blend, | | | | the hand the arthritis is located. More than six different |
| mix equal amounts of the tinctures; take 1 teaspoonful | | | | acupoints are stimulated in the treatment of hip pain, |
| of the mixture 3 times daily. The blend is safe and can | | | | and up to 12 points may be manipulated to alleviate |
| be taken for a period of time. | | | | arthritis related knee pain. |
| Use yucca and devil's claw to reduce inflammation. | | | | Acupressure To lessen the severity of arthritis |
| Other herbs to try include licorice, alfalfa, turmeric, | | | | symptoms, a practitioner may use acupressure on |
| ginger, skullcap, and ginseng. | | | | points that correspond to the liver, gallbladder, kidneys, |
| Rub a tincture of lobelia and cramp bark over the sore | | | | bladder, stomach, and the governing vessel. The |
| areas to decrease muscle tension. | | | | practitioner also may massage the points that |
| Take a combination of 2 parts of willow bark, 1 part of | | | | correspond to the affected area to relieve pain and |
| black cohosh, and 1 part of nettle to ease aches and | | | | inflammation. |
| pains. | | | | Chinese Herbal Therapy Chinese herbalists consider |
| Rub cayenne over the affected joints to lessen pain. | | | | osteoarthritis to be a y inrelated "external damp" illness, |
| Herbal products are available in health food stores and | | | | and treat the disease by concocting a remedy that will |
| in some pharmacies and supermarkets. Follow | | | | nourish yin and dispel the damp wind while it alleviates |
| package for specific directions. | | | | swollen, painful joints. |
| Homeopathy | | | | Asarum Sieboldi may be helpful in relieving joint pain; |
| Osteoarthritis may respond to homeopathic treatment. | | | | take 3 to 4 grams daily. Foxnut has analgesic |
| However, the selection of a remedy-more than one is | | | | properties and is used to reduce pain and inflammation. |
| available-depends on your symptoms and the stage of | | | | It can be taken in pill form (9 to 15 grams per day) or |
| the condition. Don't try treating this disorder yourself. | | | | as a 10-to 20-gram daily decoction. polygonatum |
| See a homeopathic professional. | | | | cirrhifolium is said to not only cure arthritis, but to |
| Hydrotherapy | | | | combat premature aging. |
| Warm, moist heat packs used for 10 to 20 minutes | | | | If the pain shifts from one joint to another, Corydalis |
| every 4 hours can bring Welcome relief from stiffness | | | | Tuber Forumula may be helpful. For fixed pain |
| and deep pain. Exercises performed in heated water | | | | accompanied by heavy, swollen joints, try Tu-Huo and |
| and swimming have also been effective. Drink distilled | | | | Loranthus Formula or Stephania and Astragalus |
| water to help absorb and eliminate mineral salts and | | | | Combination (by mail order). Most of these remedies |
| other waste products throughout the skin. | | | | can be found in health food stores. |
| Traditional Chinese Medicine | | | | Yoga and Meditation |
| Acupuncture According to the WHO, acupuncture is a | | | | Exercise plays an important role in improving circulation |
| vital addition to the arthritis fighting arsenal. | | | | and helping the body eliminate waste. Yoga poses |
| Acupuncture can be used to help restore the body's | | | | improve flexibility, yet place little stress on joints. Focus |
| energy balance, and it can also help lessen the pain | | | | on gentle poses, such as the Tree, Triangle, Forward |
| and inflammation that commonly occur in the hands, | | | | Bend, Spinal Twist, Boat, Bow, Camel, Cow, Locust, |
| hips, knees, and spinal joints of osteoarthritis patients. | | | | Moon Salutation, Chest-Knee, Maha Mudra, and Half |
| Many doctors now use acupuncture in conjunction with | | | | Bridge. |
| chiropractic techniques when treating osteoarthritis, and | | | | |