ARTHRITIS - ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE RESOURCE DIRECTORY

Arthritis doesn't happen overnight and once understood, can resolve quicker than you realize. The primary problem underlying arthritis is obstruction with painful results. With varying degrees, there is an exhaustion of both the Liver and Kidneys and insufficiency of the physical energy (qi). The blood has become blocked by external cold or hot-damp or drying imbalancing influences. The condition includes:

• cold or hot and painful joints
• difficulty in flexing and extending the joints
• aversion to cold or hot with attraction to the opposite condition
• In some cases the limbs and joints will be aching, numb, painful
• overall physical body feels heavy.
• tongue is pale or the opposite

There are graduating arthritic conditions where the site of pain and deformity are more intense, with heat or cold predominating, however, the primary appraoch is to get the obstruction to move. This is done by changing the internal environment by opposing the wind-cold/hot-damp/dry and altering any external conditions contributing to the obstructions.

Additional attention needs to be given to the general emotional state that may indirectly support the blockage. In particular, many individuals after 40 years (this writer included) have a tendency to extend beyond physical boundaries. Work harder because the job demands it, make more money because of rising expenses and taxes, work longer hours to get ahead, and the list goes on. But what happens is this stress starts to sap the life force, essence or energy from the kidneys and the adrenals. Both kidneys/adrenals participate differently but are crucial for providing the energy and warmth so joints, muscles and connective tissue function properly. Some experts will say the immune sytem is attacking the body. But in reality, when the body doesn't have enough energy, then essential functions become slowed such as cleansing joints of old blood and lymph fluid. These fluids are responsible for many functions but primarily they provide nutrients, lubrication, immunity, etc. If the fluids are not flowing they pool like a swamp, over time with more stagnation then they become dried and thicken. Now the fluids become an obstruction to fresh blood, detoxification, and a breeding ground for mutant tissues and abnormality.

In order to correct this you need to provide serious but healthy removal of the stagnation at the site of pain and joint abnormality as well as the underlying internal organs. The kidneys and adrenals need to be restored. And, even here, we need to be careful because the mind is tricky here. Many times, I will have clients who will say, "Alright, the pain gone, my joints are becoming normal", and they go right back to working harder, pushing and stressing. Then the characteristics start to return. Its very important that people also change within their spirit as well as the body or all the good work of natural medicine can be defeated. The diet needs to be added to the mix too. Nutrition can make or break a successful return to a quality life. For more info on the kidney-adrenal connection as well as diet, click here.

What has been written here is general and everyone has specific cases. This requires additional, personalized help.