Arthritis is Latin for joint inflammation. When most Americans say that they have arthritis, they are typically referring to osteoarthritis, a condition characterized by the degeneration of the cartilage that cushions where bones meet in joints. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in the United States, and the leading cause of chronic disability. While 80% of Americans will show evidence of osteoarthritis by age 65, only 60% will exhibit symptoms. This should give hope to those suffering with the disease, that with proper treatment they may be able to reduce or eliminate symptoms.
Symptoms – The chief symptom of arthritis is acute, sharp or achy pain. It is also associated with stiffness, and loss of joint mobility. As the disease progresses, it can severely limit activity, which can contribute to frustration and depression. Loss of mobility also makes it harder to maintain cardiovascular health, which is necessary for proper functioning of the body.
Causes – Osteoarthritis most often arises from joint trauma, either due to repetitive use, or from injury. There is also compelling evidence of a genetic component.
Conventional Treatment – Generally, the treatment of osteoarthritis is aimed at minimizing pain, as the condition is considered irreversible. Dietary supplementation, especially with glucosamine and chondroitin, has shown some success in slowing joint degeneration. Most commonly, arthritis sufferers use over the counter pain medication to minimize the symptoms. While these drugs are effective at reducing pain and inflammation, their long term use has been associated with a number of serious medical conditions. With the exception of aspirin, the long term use of these drugs is associated with a doubling in the risk of heart failure in patients without a history of cardiac disease. They have a range of common digestive side-effects, ranging from indigestion, to gastrointestinal bleeding, and diarrhea. For more severe cases, narcotic pain-killers like oxycodone may be used.
Alternative medical treatment – Acupuncture has been used for centuries to treat the pain associated with arthritis. Acupuncturists also use internal and external herbal preparations to treat the condition. External herbal liniments can be purchased by the general public to self-treat their arthritis.
Liniments consist of an alcohol base, with strong extractions of Chinese herbs dissolved in medicinal doses. Good liniments contain several classes of herbs to not only treat pain, but help to heal injury. In the case of arthritis, chronic injury liniments act to alleviate pain, warm the cold joint, move stagnant energy and blood in the area, and help to expel any metabolic waste stuck in the surrounding tissue.
Using Liniment – There are two main ways that liniments can be used to treat an arthritic joint.
1. The first, is to spray liniment onto the joint, and then to rub it in. When the area becomes dry, more liniment should be sprayed on, followed by more rubbing. This can be continued for several minutes. The warming, stimulating action of rubbing the affected area usually helps to sooth the pain, but more importantly, it drives the liniment into the local circulatory system. In this way the blood can carry it into the affected joint.
2. The second way to treat arthritis with liniment is to first use it to moisten gauze or another absorbent patch, and place this on the affected joint. Plastic wrap should then be placed on top of the gauze, followed by a towel, and then a heating pad. This method causes the local pores to open and literally suck in the liniment. The heat gives comforting warmth to the area, and increases circulation.
Either of these techniques should be repeated at least once a day in order to see reduction in arthritis symptoms.
Consulting a Professional – While liniment is safe and effective to use without a prescription, it’s often best to get the opinion of a licensed acupuncturist before starting a treatment regime. For questions about how to use liniment, or for a referral for a licensed acupuncturist, please don’t hesitate to contact us at Herban Pharmer.
More Info:
1. Wikipedia has a great page on Osteoarthritis. – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteoarthritis
2. To learn more about liniments in general – http://www.herbanpharmer.com/products/liniments/liniments-more-information/
3. To buy our Chronic Injury Liniment, the best liniment to use for osteoarthritis – http://herbanpharmer.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=1
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