ARTHRITIS

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is a joint disorder featuring inflammation. A joint is an area of the body where two different bones meet. Joint functions to move the body parts connected by their bones. Arthritis is frequently accompanied by pain, ache, stiffness and swelling in affected joints. As such, it is also classified as a rheumatic arthritis.

Common types of arthirits

The most widely diagnosed forms of arthritis are as follows:

• Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, and is caused by degeneration of the joint cartilage. This degeneration process usually occurs with age, but can be accelerated by overuse, injury or obesity, which increases stress on the joints.
• Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease whereby the immune system attacks the joints of the body.
• Gout is a type of metabolic arthritis caused by the accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joint. It often occurs in the big toe joint and can cause intense joint pain, swelling, stiffness and redness.

How does TCM view arthirits

TCM examines your external symptoms to diagnose the health conditions of your internal organs or musculoskeletal system. Specifically, it sees your body as an integrated whole where all parts are both linked and interdependent. Consequently, illnesses, pain or other health issues arise when your body’s balance is disrupted.

According to Chinese medicine theory, invading wind, heat, cold or dampness causes a blockage of qi flows. Consequently, when deprived of Qi and proper blood circulation, your joints become stiff and start to hurt. The invasion of these foreign elements happens when your body’s constitution and qi are insufficient to repel them.

Based on the invading element, TCM seeks to restore harmony of the forces within your body. In doing so, it is believed that Qi and blood will once again circulate freely, thereby enabling the protection against invading elements.

Categories of arthritis in TCM

Arthritis can be classified into the following types:

Zuo Bi – the afflicted joint in question will become heavy and numb, with pain increasing on damp days.

Re Bi – swelling, tenderness and sharp pain will be experienced at the afflicted joint

Xing Bi – unlike the previous two cases, Xing Bi involves a wandering pain that affects several joints.

Tong Bi – severe pain is suffered at one or more joints, with pain increasing during cold or inactivity.

Liver and kidney deficiency – Chronic lingering pain, weakness in the 4 limbs, heavy and aching joints, noticeable numbness, weak physique.

Depending on the diagnosed category of arthritis, TCM physiciant will prescribe different treatments.

TCM treatment for arthritis

Arthritis can be treated using various TCM methods such as acupuncture, cupping, tuina and herbal medication (oral or applied). The aim of these treatment methods is to eliminate pathogenic factors and promote the normal circulation of Qi and blood in the body and/or affected area.

Acupuncture/acupressure/Chinese herbs

Acupuncture:  One of several nondrug pain treatments for arthritis, acupuncture is often used in the treatment of arthritis. In the case of acupuncture, needles are placed at key points along your meridians, thereby opening up their channels, allowing blood and qi to flow.

Acupressure:  Acupressure achieves similar results, it uses gentle but deep hand pressure instead of needles to manipulate acupoints and the energy channels associated with them. It is an non-invasive technique that relies on the skilled application of force through a practitioner’s fingers, using kneading, stretching and hand pressure to achieve results.

Chinese herbs:  Some common herbs used include Turmeric (姜黄), Lycopodium Japonicum Thunb. (伸筋草), Achyranthes bidentata Blume. (牛膝), Eucommia Bark (杜仲) and Paeonia tacti lora Pall. (白芍).

How to prevent arthritis

Here are some tips for prevention of arthritis and pain management.

• Avoid cold food and drinks. These affect the Qi and blood circulation of the body and can cause dampness to accumulate in the body, thus worsening the symptoms of arthritis.
• Keep joints warm (except in the case of arthralgia due to heat) to prevent poor Qi and blood circulation.
• Engage in appropriate exercise to strengthen the muscles around the joints. Swimming may be less stressful on the joints. Qi Gong exercises( Tai Qi Quan) provides gentle motions and stretching that help to remove blockages in your body. Additionally, it helps relieve arthritis by delivering warm to the affected joint.

Shanghai Medical Clinic for all your TCM needs

Shanghai medical clinic was founded in 1997 as a pure Chinese medical clinic in Dubai. We offer Chinese medical treatment for various pain management with acupuncture, Tuina massage and Chinese herbal medicine. Our medical team is comprised of Chinese medical physicians with more than 20 years experiences and skillful acupuncturists.

We provide you with a relaxing environment for TCM treatment. All Chinese herbs we used are Di Dao(authentic source) at a fair price that undergo stringent checks to ensure that they are safe for consumption or usage. Please contact us or book an appoitment if you want to learn more about Chinese medicine treatment for arthritis.