Arthritis affects more than four million Canadians and hundreds of millions of people across the globe. Approximately 50 % of people older than 65 live with arthritis, but it can affect people of all ages, even young children. Arthritis should not be thought of as a condition that develops only in old age.
Although symptoms of arthritis vary in each person, people with arthritis find that the condition will interfere with daily activities at some point. Due to the pain and stiffness, patients may have trouble getting out of bed, writing, sewing, buttoning clothes, dressing, walking, and climbing stairs, for example. But this is not always the case. Some days are better than others and the severity of symptoms can change from day to day. Sometimes living with the loss of function and movement is more difficult than the pain of arthritis.
In Chinese medicine, arthritis is called a "Bi" or "stagnation and stasis" condition. We categorize "Bi" conditions according to their symptomatic characteristics such as location, intensity of pain, amount of heat or inflammation and amount of swelling and disability. For example, arthritic pain that moves from joint to joint is called "Xing Bi" or moving arthritis.
Both external and internal factors can cause arthritis. External causes include invasion by pathogenic factors such as wind, cold or dampness that obstruct the normal flow of Qi and blood, thereby resulting in swelling, stiffness, numbness and pain of the joints and soft tissues. Internal causes include emotional stress weakening the defensive ability of one's immune system and depletion of the Kidney/vitality system resulting in degeneration of one's bones, tendons and cartilage.
Treating arthritis in Chinese medicine focuses on ridding the body of the invading pathogens, restoring normal circulation and flow of blood and Qi, promoting emotional harmony and fortifying the Kidney/Vitality system. Effective treatments include acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal and dietary therapy, exercise therapy, cupping and massage.
Herbal therapy is useful in reducing inflammation, nourishing joints and soft tissues and improving one's energy. It may also be a useful replacement for anti-inflammatory drugs that some people find upsetting to their stomach. Besides relieving arthritic symptoms, it is as important to nourish and prevent the onset of arthritis. There is good news for arthritis sufferer unable to access acupuncture treatments.
