Arthritis

As we get older, our aches and pains increase and our bodies naturally change. These pains are often referred to as arthritis. We go to the doctor and try and get some answers, we are sent for some scans, they reveal arthritic changes in our joints, they prescribe some painkillers, tell you to take some fish-oil and send you on your way. Fantastic, but what is arthritis? What about your joints are changing? And why does it hurt? How do I prevent that pain from getting worse and am I ever going to be happy during the colder months ever again?

Arthritis presents in the body in two forms, osteo and rheumatoid. Osteoarthritis is defined as “degeneration of the joint capsule and the underlying bone” whereas rheumatoid arthritis is “a chronic progressive disease causing inflammation in the joints and resulting in painful deformity and immobility.” Osteoarthritis affects more of the bigger joints such as the hips and shoulders, where larger bones make up a lot of the joint and rheumatoid arthritis affects some of the smaller joints such as fingers and toes, wrists and ankles.

Arthritis is effectively a change in the joints composition. Joints are designed to hold our bones together and give us mobility however, as we age they become less mobile and they become overworked resulting in us using them less and less. When this happens, we develop arthritic changes, particularly rheumatoid arthritis. If you can imagine our joints as a well oiled machine, arthritis is the result of an old machine that has put on quite a few miles. When our body doesn’t move the way we want it to, this causes pain. Our brain is trying to protect us from serious injury so therefore, it restricts our muscles movements. This added inflammation also causes extra pressure on our joints causing them to ache at rest.

In Chinese Medicine, we often refer to arthritis as “damp bi syndrome” which means obstruction syndrome. This is because the arthritic changes in the joint is causing some swelling and blockages in that area restricting the Qi and blood flow through this area. Dampness in Chinese Medicine is something we can not physically see, however, something we talk about all the time. Dampness is similar to glue or the old school clag. It prevents things from moving in the body and can be very difficult to get rid of and persistent to treatments. It presents as heaviness, swelling, fluid retention, nausea, digestive discomfort and many other presentations. In terms of arthritis, we view dampness and the swelling and heaviness that can occur in the joint. This is often treated with acupuncture to help remove the local inflammation and Moxibustion.

Moxibustion is a dried herb, Ai Ye/mugwort, that is combined into a stick like structure that is then burnt to produce heat which we point towards the body. This heat penetrates the skin and enters the meridians, muscles and joints. The properties of the herb is to increase blood circulation and to warm the channels. The heat helps the body to remove the inflammation and create better circulation in the joints, especially during the colder months.

Arthritis can be a difficult condition to manage as there are physical changes in the body that are occurring and treatments can be limited. This does not mean that you have to live with the pain or no longer to the activities you once loved to, it means that you have to learn how to manage the inflammation and pain with alternative therapies such as acupuncture and moxibustion so that you can get the most out of everyday life. You can not alter the physical changes but you can alter the pain response.

• Dr. Nicholas Watson.