Alternatives Help Aching Joints

By Kyle Roderick
ThirdAge Staff

According to the Arthritis Foundation, 43 million Americans suffer from arthritis.

"While there is no cure for most kinds of arthritis," ThirdAge arthritis expert Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., says, "there are various alternative remedies which may help you manage pain and discomfort while increasing your energy and quality of life."

Perhaps the most surprising alternative remedy for arthritis involves prayer. A study published in the December issue of the Southern Medical Journal by Dale Matthews, M.D., author of "The Faith Factor", found improvement in rheumatoid arthritis patients who received a three-day religious intervention. After receiving six hours of education and six hours of direct-contact prayer by lay volunteers from a local healing ministry, patients averaged a 68 percent reduction in swollen joints and a 66 percent reduction in joint tenderness.

Two Chinese approaches also may alleviate arthritis symptoms. According to the 1997 National Institutes of Health Consensus Statement on Acupuncture, acupuncture, either alone or in combination with Western medical practices, may be an effective treatment for osteoarthritis.

Acupuncture is based on the traditional Chinese concept of qi (pronounced chee), which, loosely defined, means energy. Acupuncturists believe that all diseases and disorders result from interruptions to the flow of qi.

To restore balance and health, ultra-thin sterilized needles are inserted painlessly at specific bodily locations. By stimulating these points, acupuncturists aim to promote optimal energy flow and aid the body's natural healing and immune responses. To find a licensed acupuncturist near you, check the American Association of Oriental Medicine.

The ancient Chinese practice of tai chi is cited by the Arthritis Foundation as a potential arthritis remedy. Described as meditation in motion, the exercises take the joints through a full range of motion without stressing them.

The Arthritis Foundation reports a study concluded that the weight-bearing aspects of the exercise may help promote bone growth and strengthen connective tissue.

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