Do You Have Arthritis?

One very pervasive condition experienced, especially as we age, is arthritis — pain, stiffness and inflammation of the joints. Some have the genetic tendency to develop this; others had injuries earlier in life that heal, but later tend to become arthritic areas. Some people develop arthritis throughout several joints of their body while some only have it in one.

The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis causes cartilage — the hard, slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones where they form a joint — to break down. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that first targets the lining of the joints, the synovium. Uric acid crystals, infections or underlying disease, such as psoriasis or lupus, can cause other types of arthritis.

Bi Syndrome

As a practitioner of Chinese Medicine in central Vermont, I am treating people with these conditions almost every day using acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. Most commonly I see those with osteoarthritis of the knee, hip, in the spine, or fingers. Chinese Medicine calls pain, stiffness, and inflammation in the joints Bi (“bee”) syndrome. Bi means “painful obstruction”.

The joints are where bones connect with each other in order to allow for proper movement. The components of the joints that enable smooth movement can degrade over time. These changes and resulting symptoms are considered “obstruction” or poor circulation through that area. This may be influenced by your genetic tendency, by how you’ve used the joint over your lifetime, and by the food you’ve given your body to nourish your joints.

How Acupuncture Can Help

By inserting very fine, stainless steel acupuncture needles at the area of pain, there will be relaxation of the surrounding musculature and increase of blood circulation to the joint space. This will help reduce the local inflammation and preserve the structure. We don’t expect to bring the joint back to its state when you were a teenager, but we do expect to reduce the pain level.

Aside from increasing local blood circulation, acupuncture is also understood to decrease pain by increasing the release of chemicals that block pain, called endorphins. The stimulated area sends a message to the central nervous system causing this release. Endorphins, along with other body chemicals that modify nerve impulses, block the message of pain from being delivered to the brain. The increase in blood circulation and release of endorphins is why acupuncture is so helpful for general pain management, including arthritis.

Using Chinese Herbs for Joint Pain

Bi syndrome is further defined for each individual based on what makes the pain, or obstruction, feel better or worse. Does your knee feel better or worse after walking a mile? How about after sitting for an hour? Do your fingers ache more on humid days? Do they feel generally worse in hot or cold weather? Does your hip feel best or worst first thing in the morning? How about at the end of the day? Is the pain stabbing or a dull ache? The answers to these questions guide the herbalist to choose the most effective combination of herbs.

Chinese mugwort is an herb used externally, especially when the arthritic pain is worse in cold or damp weather. This herb, often in the form of a stick, is burned and held over the painful joint. The heat from this specific herb has the ability to effectively stimulate the circulation through the area and alleviate pain. This treatment is called moxibustion and is often used along with acupuncture.  With appropriate instruction, you can use a moxa stick yourself safely at home.

Arthritis is a common condition that can greatly limit your quality of life. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can be effective alternatives to consider when dealing with this type of pain. When you’d like to avoid medication, or find only limited relief from it, or are experiencing side effects, please consider your other options of pain management.