Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis With Alternative Medicine
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is classified as an auto-immune disease. It is a chronic inflammatory disorder that can cause joint pain and damage throughout the body as the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues. The inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis affects the linings of the joints, which causes painful swelling. As time goes on, it can also lead to bone erosion and deformity of the joints. In severe cases of RA, the internal organs can also be impacted.
There is no known cure for rheumatoid arthritis at this time. Treatments aim to slow the progression of the disease.
Common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include:
Joint Pain
Joint Stiffness
Joint Swelling
Loss of Joint Function
Joint Deformities
Over 54 million adults have been diagnosed with arthritis in the United States. Of these, an estimated 31 million suffer from osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis.
If you are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, you may have considered alternative medicine, especially if more conventional treatments aren’t helping enough, or are causing negative side effects. If you’ve never been to a holistic health practitioner, you may not now where to begin - or how alternative medicine may help.
One important thing to note is to begin your holistic journey with reasonable expectations. There are no overnight fixes, but there are ways that your quality of life can be greatly improved over time. It’s also important to understand that conventional medicine typically only addresses symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and other issues, whereas alternative modalities like Traditional Chinese Medicine and holistic practices aim to address the root cause.
Have you ever wondered why your immune system has decided to attack you, rather than protect you? Did you know that through lifestyle changes and alternative therapies you can help support your immune system in regaining its innate intelligence, while addressing some of the major symptoms for an optimal quality of life?
Acupuncture
Scientific evidence recognizes the efficacy of acupuncture for pain management. When an acupuncture needle is put into the body, it triggers the release of neurotransmitters, as well as the production of certain hormones. This includes endorphins, which are known as the body’s natural pain-killers, and cortisol, which helps control inflammation. Clinical studies have also found that patients who received acupuncture functioned better and felt significantly less pain. In addition to pain management and its anti-inflammatory effects, acupuncture has also been found to regulation immune system function as well as have antioxidative effects on the body which likely explains the positive results in RA patients.
A systematic review of 43 studies over the past 45 years concluded that “acupuncture alone or combined with other treatment modalities is beneficial to the clinical conditions of RA and can improve function and quality of life, and is worth trying.” Contact us today to learn how acupuncture can help your symptoms of RA!
Nutrition
An anti-inflammatory diet rich in nutrients is your best nutritional line of defense against rheumatoid arthritis. We highly recommend eliminating fast foods, highly processed foods, aspartame, MSG, saturated fats, refined carbohydrates, cigarettes, alcohol, bad oils, and sodas. We also recommend eliminating or at least limiting sugar. Enjoy a diet of real, whole foods including will fish, organic and/or grass-fed meat, and fresh organic fruits and vegetables. If you make the effort to change your diet you will reap the benefits, and you will be richly rewarded with vibrant health. There are also herbs and supplements that can help reduce inflammation and promote good health, contact us today to schedule an herbal consult. We also offer health coaching and food therapy.
The Points of Health, Maitland, Florida
