Mainstream medicine tends to dismiss alternative
remedies for arthritis in favour of drug therapy and established
treatments. This article discusses some of the alternative therapies
available. Do they work or not?
There are many forms of arthritis and it can affect sufferers in
different ways and to greater or lesser degrees. One factor is common,
however: pain - usually joint pain that can be unremitting and at times
severe.
Conventional drug therapy can and does provide a great deal of relief
from the joint pain associated with both osteo and rheumatoid arthritis
but these drugs can also have unwanted side-effects. Too, many people
are wary or uncomfortable at the idea of taking significant amounts of
synthetic drugs and turn to what, for want of a better phrase, are
termed 'alternative medicines'.
These alternatives cover a whole spectrum of ingredients and regimes,
from acupuncture to Yoga. Here are some details on just a few of them:
Acupuncture. This ancient practice often calls images to the mind of a
person riddled with hundreds of needles like a pincushion, yet normally
no more than a dozen are used at any one time. How acupuncture works to
alleviate pain is not fully understood, though many theories on the
subject are based on sound scientific facts.
Bee Venom Therapy. Also known as Apitherapy, BVT concerns the
application of honeybee through live bee stings. It is thought that the
healing potency of this method relies on the stimulation of the release
of cortisol from the adrenal glands.
Cortisol is a natural human hormone that has anti-inflammatory
properties and in addition jump-starts the immune system to produce a
healing response. It also spurs the production of endorphins, the
body's natural painkiller.
Magnetic Therapy. The debate about the effectiveness of magnetic
therapy for the treatment of arthritic pain rages on and shows no signs
of abating. There seems to be little or no scientific evidence that
either confirms or denies, in an absolute sense, the effectiveness of
magnetic therapy.
Magnetic therapy is not new - far from it. The Ancient Greeks knew of
the lodestone and claimed it had healing properties. The Chinese have
used magnetic therapies for literally thousands of years. It would seem
that if the magnet is indeed of no use in pain relief it is a most
enduring medical myth!
Glucosamine. This substance is found in high concentrations in the
joints and the theory is that it stimulates essential cartilage
formation for joint repair. It has been seen to have beneficial effects
on inflammation and arthritic conditions, whilst medical studies
indicate that Glucosamine is effective in relieving pain and increasing
joint mobility. It is now classed as a dietary supplement.
Yoga. Although to date only a handful of scientific studies have been
conducted on the benefits of Yoga to arthritis sufferers (despite any
rumour or hearsay), it looks like more are either currently underway or
about to begin. Existing studies do indicate an improvement of physical
function and reduction in joint pain. However, the most positive aspect
of Yoga therapy appears, according to the reports, to be the
improvement to the quality of life of the sufferer.
So what should an arthritis sufferer do? On the one hand - accepted
medical treatment. On the other - alternative treatment that may or may
not be effective. It unfortunately falls to the individual to decide,
though it should be remembered that a life spent in almost constant
pain can cloud judgement. This author advises that before making any
change, small or radical, to any medical regime, the advice of a
medical professional or arthritis specialist should be sought.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/
joint-pain-and-arthritis-do-alternative-therapies-provide-real-
relief-86532.html About the Author
Steve Dempster writes articles for the web and is
also a ghostwriter. For more helpful information on arthritis treatment
and mobility issues, see the Electric
Mobility World website. |
