Rheumatoid Arthritis – Symptom relief and resources

Acupuncture is a very popular way now to treat and diagnose arthritis. However, it is important to note that acupuncture therapy is used to treat arthritis and not diagnosing it. All around the Asian continent, acupuncture has been used for many years to relieve the symptoms of chronic pain, like arthritis.

In 2001 the University of Maryland School of Medicine put acupuncture to the test. They studied 570 osteoarthritis patients, age 50, who had never had acupuncture, surgery, or steroid injections before. This controlled group got regular sessions of acupuncture. At the end of the first week, the acupuncture group all said they all experienced a surge in mobility. By the end of the study, the participants said they had a 40 percent decrease in pain and another 40 percent increase functions on the knees.

Glamma-linolenic acid (GLA) is great supplement to treat arthritis. The fatty acids in the GLA is an evening primrose oil and in one study of 56 rheumatoid arthritis patients, those taking GLA everyday for a period of 6 months showed signs of less joint pain and stiffness as well as a better grip and strength. Always check the labels of oils to see the amount of GLA in them; usually the dose is 1,800 mg daily. In order to get it, one would need eight 1000 mg capsules of borage oil with each containing 240 mg of GLA. Like the fish oil, GLA can also thin your blood and react to other drugs, so it is very important to consult your doctor before taking this treatment.

According to a new Belgian study, glucosamine and chondroitin help lower the pain as well as improving the functions of the knees in Osteoarthritis (OA) and are very safe. John Klippel, M.D. who is the medical director of the Arthritis Foundation, says glucosamine is so great because it lowers cartilage loss and slows the progression of OA. In one study, glucosamine showed to reduce arthritis knee pain and disability 20% to 25% in patients taking 1,500 milligrams of glucosamine on a daily bases for 3 years. Although, glucosamine and chondroitin are typically used together, Klippel says that there is no proof that they work better together than alone.

Research has indicated that heat therapy is best to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Heat therapy is a good way to lower and sooth arthritis pain as well as preventing stiffness. In addition, heat therapy will not only help you relax, it will also let you loosen the joints and can be very useful before working out or if you are trying to fall asleep.

It is can be very hard to decide which therapy works best to treat arthritis. Therefore if you are debating of whether to use hot or cold therapy to treat your arthritis pain you will usually be better off using a cold therapy to treat this pain. Although many people commonly use heat therapy for arthritis, most people get better results with ice therapy because of the numbing effect of the cold. Cold will give a numbing sensation and will also reduce the pain and muscle spasms in arthritis.

New finding have linked arthritis to not only poor diet or obesity, but instead to the general state of the immune system. A protein in the immune system that causes malfunctions in patients who have arthritis or other inflammatory diseases have been found by researchers. It is believed by doctors that they may clog this protein to limit the need for steroids.

Compare to previous generations, it has been observed by the researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center that there are more cases of arthritis involved with obese baby boomers. As the population ages so does the number of people with arthritis.

Arthritis patients have been using herbal remedies to help ease arthritis pain and inflammation for many years. Modern drugs can be harsh on our bodies, which may shock and weaken our body’s system. Medicinal herbs and herbal remedies help sooth and make our bodies stronger which promotes excellent health and energy. Some herbal recommendations for arthritis include, burdock root, comfrey, horsetail, and stinging nettle.

Burdock Root helps decrease arthritis pain by purifying and cleansing the blood. It is also great for reducing joint swelling and calcification. There are historical records that indicates that people have been using burdock root for centuries internally and externally to treat painful joints.

Lately a lot of people are seeking natural remedies to treat diseases such as arthritis instead of taking prescription medication. Most of the alternatives available can help relief arthritis pain.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin are two of the most popular natural relief for arthritis. These supplements are found in the body naturally and help promoting joint health and improvement. Glucosamine also helps in delaying the progression of the disease and has also been shown to relieve symptoms even after weeks after ending the treatment. Chondroitin acts like a liquid magnet because it attracts water into the cartilage matrix and thus stimulating the production of cartilage. Some studies have shown positive results from the long term use of chondroitin by lowering pain and increasing range of motion.