7 Ways To Alleviate Arthritis

7 Ways To Alleviate Arthritis

Arthritis is a condition characterized by painful inflammation and stiffness in the joints. According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 52.5 million U.S. adults suffer from either arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, fibromyalgia, or lupus¹. If you have arthritis, you should try the following tips to alleviate your symptoms.

#1) Maintain a Healthy Weight

The first step in reducing the pain and inflammation of arthritis is to manage your weight. Individuals who are overweight will experience more arthritis flareups, and with worsening symptoms. The excess weight places pressure against the already inflamed joints, causing additional pain and stiffness.

#2) Take a Joint Supplement

Whether your arthritis is minor or severe, you should get into the habit of taking a daily joint supplement. Glucosamine and chondroitin are powerful compounds which have been proven to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis. These two compounds are building blocks of cartilage, and taking a supplement containing them will protect strengthen your own body's cartilage while subsequently protecting your joints.

#3) Exercise

It's difficult to stay active when the slightest movements cause sharp pain shooting through your joints. However, you must learn to cope with the pain so your arthritis symptoms will subside. Studies have shown that regular, low-impact exercise (e.g. walking or swimming) will reduce the pain and stiffness associated with arthritis.

#4) Meditate

You might be surprised to learn that meditation can alleviate arthritis pain and discomfort. The National Institute of Health (NIH) even published an article on its website, citing meditation as being an effective form of treatment for people with joint pain.

#5) Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for good health, but they are particularly beneficial for people suffering from arthritis. Omega-3s strengthen and protect the joints, which in turn alleviates the symptoms of arthritis. Wild-caught fish is an excellent source of omega 3s, as well as extra-virgin olive oil.

#6) Massage Therapy

While most people seek massage therapy for its stress-reducing benefits, it's also known to help fight arthritis. Massaging the joints affected by arthritis reduces swelling, stiffness and even pain, giving the individual greater freedom of movement.

#7) Acupuncture

Even acupuncture can help to alleviate the pain and discomfort of arthritis. This centuries-old practice involves the placement of fine needles to restore the body's flow of energy (Qi) and stimulate its self-healing mechanism. When performed by a licensed acupuncturist, it can strengthen the joints and ward off arthritis.

Give me a call today to learn how you can get back on track to better health!

Bishara Wilson, L.Ac., MSTOM, C.SMA

New York Sports Acupuncture

(888) 375-5444

www.newyorksportsacupuncture.com

1. http://1.usa.gov/1awEzzE

Relieve Your Arthritis With Acupuncture

Relieve Your Arthritis With Acupuncture

Arthritis is a painful and oftentimes debilitating condition that's characterized by inflammation within one or more joints. According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 2 people will develop osteoarthritis of the knee by the age of 85. It's important to note, however, that there are several different types of arthritis, with osteoarthritis being just one. Other common types include rheumatoid arthritis, gout, septic arthritis, Still's disease, and ankylosing spondylitis.

While most people living with moderate-to-severe arthritis resort to prescription medication to mask their symptoms, a safer and more effective form of treatment may come in the form of a 2,000-plus-year-old Chinese practice called acupuncture. Numerous studies have found acupuncture to offer relief of many different types of arthritis. And best of all, it doesn't come with the adverse side effects associated with arthritis medication.

Acupuncture and Arthritis: How It Works

Acupuncture is based on the belief that our bodies have an essential life/energy force (referred to as Qi). This force flows through the body, traveling along 20 channels (referred to as meridians). Normally, Qi flows unrestricted, keeping the individual healthy while warding off disease and illness. However, there are times when the Qi will become stagnant, blocked or dislodged from its normal position, leaving the individual susceptible to illness.

By placing thin needles directly under the skin, a licensed acupuncturists can stimulate the flow of Qi, correcting blockages and other abnormalities. Furthermore, acupuncture aids in regulating the nervous system, which in turn produces the natural pain-relieving chemicals called endorphins.

Studies Reaffirm Acupuncture For Arthritis

A group of German researchers conducted a study on 304,674 patients suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee. Researchers split the patients into two groups, one of which received traditional routine care, while the other received 15 sessions of acupuncture. Researchers concluded that patients who had received acupuncture experienced better knee function, less pain, and an overall better quality of life than their counterparts.

Another study – this one originating out of China – found that both acupuncture and electroacupuncture were effective at reduce pain, inflammation and tenderness in parts of the body by arthritis. Granted, this was a small study with just 36 patients, but it's just one more study attesting to the healing power of acupuncture.

Give me a call today to learn how you can get back on track to better health!

Bishara Wilson, L.Ac., MSTOM, C.SMA

New York Sports Acupuncture

(888) 375-5444

www.newyorksportsacupuncture.com

How Acupuncture Can Safely Help With Allergies and Asthma

How Acupuncture Can Safely Help With Allergies and Asthma

Do you suffer from allergies or asthma? If so, you aren't alone. It's estimated that more than 26 million Americans have the chronic inflammatory disease asthma, and more than 50 million Americans have nasal allergies. While most people resort to harsh prescription drugs to treat these conditions, a safer and more effective solution may lie in the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) acupuncture.

Some people might turn your head at the thought of treating asthma by placing small needles under your skin. However, this ancient practice is believed to be effective in the treatment of numerous respiratory disorders, including asthma. The World Health Organization (WHO) even listed asthma as being “a condition for which the therapeutic effect of acupuncture has been shown but for which further proof is needed.” This doesn't necessarily mean that acupuncture will cure your asthma, but it can help alleviate the symptoms and reduce the frequency of flareups.

Acupuncture involves the placement of fine needles in specific points of the body, known as acupuncture points. The idea behind this practice is that placing the needles in these areas will restore the body's flow of energy (Qi). When Qi becomes stagnant, it leaves the individual susceptible to disease and illness, which is why it's important to keep it moving throughout the body. Professional acupuncturists often treat asthma by using acupuncture points found in the Lung, Stomach and Kidney meridians.

Of course, acupuncture may also help those who suffer from allergies. Allergies are the result of the immune system's wrongful identification of what it believes to be a foreign invader. When you are exposed to an allergen, for instance, your immune system may view the substance or pathogen as being a foreign invader, at which point it responds by manifesting symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, etc.

By restoring the body's Qi, the immune system is given a helpful boost of energy that allows it to properly identify what's a foreign invader and what's not.  Whether your allergies are minor or severe, you should consider seeking the services of an acupuncturist. It's a safe and painless process that can reinvigorate your body and mind, alleviating the symptoms of both allergies and asthma. A study published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine found acupuncture to offer greater relief of allergies when compared to both antihistamines and sham acupuncture.

Give me a call today to learn how you can get back on track to better health!

Bishara Wilson, L.Ac., MSTOM, C.SMA

New York Sports Acupuncture

(888) 375-5444

www.newyorksportsacupuncture.com