Rheumatism is a very imprecise term used to describe various chronic muscular aches and pains. It can include fibrositis and lumbago and may be referred to as “myalgia”, which just means pain in the muscles. Arthritis simply means an inflammation of a joint, although as there are various types of arthritis requiring rather different treatment it is important to be sure of the exact diagnosis.

Osteoarthritis is generally due to “wear and tear” — youthful injuries to joints that have never fully healed or obesity putting excessive strain on the weight-bearing joints.Typically in osteoarthritis the protective cartilage surrounding the bones of a joint becomes damaged and wears away, causing the bones to rub together and become deformed. Joints often creak, become stiff and painful, while movement is often limited.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a more serious and potentially crippling disease that always requires professional treatment. It is an inflammatory problem and may be hereditary.The cause is often unknown but it affects joints symmetrically, commonly attacking both hands, both knees or both sides of the jaw. Inflammation leads to destruction of cartilage and eventually bone, with severe bone deformity.

Arthritis can also occur in children and may be of the inflammatory rheumatoid variety or a more complex syndrome. Juvenile arthritis also needs professional medical treatment.

Herbal BeautyChronic arthritis may be related to food intolerance and eliminating possible allergens — especially dairy products, wheat, gluten, beef or pork — can prove extremely helpful. Many arthritics also find that refined carbohydrates (e.g. products made from white sugar and white flour), citrus fruits, tomatoes and excessive amounts of red meat increase symptoms, while recent research suggests that generally reducing animal fats in the diet can bring relief

There is also some evidence that arthritic problems of sudden onset could be triggered by a bacterial infection or possibly a virus, so it can be worth adding echinacea, garlic or shiitake mushrooms to the diet to help the immune system.

Localised osteoarthritic problems can respond to topical, long-term treatment. Comfrey, for example, helps to repair the damage from old injuries and rubbing a little comfrey cream into the joint each night can, over a period of many months, bring relief.

As an alternative to the orthodox painkillers and anti-inflammatories, try hot herbal massage oils and poultices. Essential oil of rosemary (10 drops to 10 ml of carrier oil) makes an ideal lotion for “rheumatic” twinges. If used as soon as symptoms appear, it can generally stop those nagging aches developing to the stage when painkillers would usually be needed. Equally effective are hot infused oils made from chili, ginger, horseradish and pepper (or a combination of all of them), which will encourage blood flow to the area and warm cold joints. These oils should be used in moderation as they can cause skin blistering in some people.

Longer-term herbal treatment usually involves the use of cleansing herbs to remove any chemical toxins lingering in the tissues. Diuretics, digestive stimulants, circulatory stimulants and laxatives can all be helpful in treating chronic conditions. Relevant plants include birch, borage, burdock, celery, cucumber, grapes, meadowsweet, pears, pineapples, rosemary, watercress and yellow dock, which can be added to the menu or taken in teas. Anti-inflammatories, such as devil’s claw, can also help, while many people successfully use feverfew for arthritis, although it can have side effects.

There are also suggestions that congenital rheumatic conditions (especially RA) may be due to the body’s inability to manufacture gamma-linolenic acid, so supplements of evening primrose or borage oil can be worth trying. Extra calcium may also be helpful, especially among post-menopausal women.

In Ayurvedic medicine, joint pain is a :haracteristic of vata — air or wind — and arthritis is termed amavata or toxic air. It s associated with injury or with weak digestive fire leading to a build-up of: oxins which are eventually carried to the oints. Arthritis can be further classified by :he three Ayurvedic humours (air, water Ind fire): the pitta or fire type is what we mould term rheumatoid arthritis, where he pain is relieved by cold compresses ather than rubefacients; kapha-type nvolves more joint swelling and oedema Ind is worse in damp weather; while vata-type is more cold and dry in character.The cold-damp variety (the sort most likely to be seen in a cold, damp climate) is treated much as Galen would have recommended with hot, dry herbs like mustard and ginger, while patients are recommended to avoid damp and heavy foods — a category which in Ayurveda includes meats, cereals, nuts and milk.

In traditional Chinese medicine, arthritic or rheumatic aches and pains are termed Bi syndrome and are blamed on attack by external evils. These evils may have been successful because the energy protecting the body — the Wei Qi — is weak (hence the usefulness of immune-stimulants and anti-bacterials in therapy). Several variants of Bi can be identified, including “wind” (hence the shifting nature of the arthritic twinges afflicting different joints at different times), “cold and damp”, which is comparable to osteoarthritis with joint swellings, and “hot Bi”, which is a more apt description of rheumatoid arthritis.

Traditional therapies thus see an apparently localised condition like osteoarthritis as an ailment of the whole person and treat it by correcting the surfeit of cold, damp humours.

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)
Muscular Aches and Pains such as Arthritis, Backache: First choice in Herbal Remedies (Rheumatism and Arthritis)