Holistic Cures for Arthritis

Holistic cures treat the whole person. The theory is that health involves the physical body, the mind and the spirit. Holistic practitioners work directly with patients to determine the best course of treatment. Holistic cures often involve lifestyle and belief changes before, during and after treatment. You can use holistic cures to treat the pain and inflammation associated with arthritis.

Arthritis Type

• Approximately 50 million people suffer from arthritis in the United States. About 20 million have symptoms severe enough to require medical attention from a physician. Arthritis may be genetic or it can be caused by injury, infection or wear and tear. Some people with arthritis experience intense pain while others experience very little or no pain.

  The first step in selecting a cure is determining what type of arthritis you have. There are over 100 types of arthritis. The most common forms are rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and gout. Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects people over the age of 40, with women being twice as likely as men to get the disease. It can affect the hands, arms, legs and feet. It causes intense pain, fatigue and interferes with a person's ability to sleep. Osteoarthritis is due to the loss of bone tissue and is the most common form of arthritis among older individuals. Gout is usually diagnosed in men over the age of 40. With gout, levels of uric acid become elevated and form crystals. The body's immune system sees the crystals as foreign invaders and attacks which leads to pain and inflammation. Before beginning a treatment you should consult your family doctor or holistic practitioner for a specific arthritis diagnosis.

Holistic Cures

• Acupuncture is used to treat many forms of arthritis. Acupuncture triggers the release of endorphins. These endorphins block pain signals from the brain. Clinical trials conducted on the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating arthritis have produced conflicting results. The John Hopkins Arthritis Center reported there is some evidence acupuncture may help relieve pain, but researchers warn more research is still needed.
  The goal of hydrotherapy is to rid the body of toxins that cause inflammation. Hydrotherapy treatment methods differ according to arthritis type. For pain associated with osteoarthritis, use moist heat packs followed with a heating pad. The heating pad should be used every 4 hours for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Soaking in a hot tub is also effective. Cold and wet compresses are recommended for pain that is very sharp or very intense. Colonics, drinking plenty of distilled water, and hot and cold showers during the day, are also beneficial in hydrotherapy treatments.
  If you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, homeopathy may help relieve your pain and inflammation. Homeopathy treats arthritis by using the very substances that may cause the pain and inflammation. The substances are severely diluted before being used as the treatment.
  As in the case of acupuncture, the benefits of homeopathy have yet to be proven. Two clinical trials were conducted on the effectiveness of homeopathy. The results indicate there was no significant difference between the patients given a placebo and the patients who received the real treatment. However, there was evidence to suggest the treatment lessened the symptoms associated with the condition.