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ARTHRIT
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Arthritis Help
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
There is growing evidence that alternative care methods
such as diet, acupuncture acupressure, massages, homeopathy,
chiropractics, herbs and meditation can help relieve and
possibly eliminate arthritis symptoms. This chapter may help
you gain some relief from arthritis pain. These techniques
are not intended for severe arthritis or to replace qualified
health care. Ask your doctor or health professional of
choice before giving yourself these treatments.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hands And Fingers
To reduce swelling and lessen pain in hands and fingers,
soak in a bucket of comfortably cold water for 10-15 minutes.
Please note: Press points in the steps below for 3 seconds
each.
These techniques may alleviate mild to moderate arthritic
pain:
Step 1
Massage each finger from base to tip with thumb and
forefinger using light to firm pressure, depending on how
tender the area is.
Step 2
Rub the joints of each finger. Rub palms, back of hands, and
the wrist and forearm to the base of elbow.
Step 3
Press points on both sides of each finger, starting at finger
base.
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
For the Arms
Step 1
Massage across the underside of the wrists with slow kneading
motions, working from thumb side to the little fingers.
Step 2
Press and massage around the bony part of the elbow.
Step 3
Press the point at the spot where the shoulderbone ends on
each shoulder.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For the Back
With thumbs, simultaneously press every half-inch on each
side of the vertebrae starting at the base of your spine,
pressing all those you can easily reach for four seconds
each. Ask a family member or friend is available to massage
the hard to reach places, or see the "Tennis Ball"
technique in "Loossen Up" from the main menu.
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
For the Ankles
Press the points in the hollows on both sides of the
ankles, behind and a little below the anklebones.
.............................................................
For the Knee
Press and massage in a circle around the kneecap.
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
For the Feet
Step 1
Work all the reflexology points to the spine (ones along
arch-edges of feet). Press each point firmly with your
thumbs for 2 seconds.
Step 2
Rub the entire foot surface.
Step 3
Beginning at the base of the toes, press points on either
side firmly, and rub in between the joints.
Step 4
Make a fist and rub the soles with a vigorous, kneading
motion.
Step 5
Using the flat part of the thumbs, press firmly and glide
from the Achilles tendon, working the calves up to the knees.
Ask your doctor or practitioner to give you exercises
that will most directly affect the arthritic places in your
body. Research has found that range of motion exercises are
the most effective for relieving arthritic pain. GENTLE
stretching is absolutely necessary at least three times a
week to regain and retain mobility.
A bi-weekly session with a massage practitioner who
specializes in range of motion and joint movements can also
help you become more mobile and flexible. Acupuncture can
also lessen arthritic pain and relax stiff joints. Magnesium
has been said to relax stiff joints, too. Additionally, con-
sider helping your body to heal itself with added vitamins
and minerals. Blue green algae contains most vitamins and
minerals in a nearly perfect combination!
.............................................................
For Arthritic Joints
Put six ice cubes in zip-lock bag and apply above and
below the joint for twenty minutes at a time. according to
Germantown Medical Center researchers, ice water cools down
pain.
Consider possible emotional causes for your arthritis and
any other chronic pain or condition you might be suffering
from. It has been said that maintaining a flexible attitude
can counteract the rigidity of arthritis. In turn, being
flexible will help keep the immune system function more
effectively.
Blair Justice, Ph.D., believes that rheumatoid arthritis
is caused by an overreaction of the immune system whereby the
body starts attacking itself. This reaction is triggered by
deficient supressor cells - the cells that fight off arth-
ritis and other diseases. For more information, call the
Arthritis Foundation Hotline at 1-800-722-7383.
Please note: It has been discovered that arthritis and
related diseases are widespread where diets are high in fats,
sugars, refined foods and meat. Whereas these same diseases
rarely occur in cultures that have a plant-based diet.
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Recommended Exercises
Walking, stretching, swimming and any kind of pool
exercise or creative dance movement, Yoga, Tai Chi and
bicycling are known to be beneficial for arthritic joints.
Out of all these activities, swimming is said to be the most
beneficial and comfortable. It allows for freedom of move-
ment and puts less stress on the joints because nearly all of
the body weight is supported by water. Hydrotherapy is highly
effective for joint pain relief, also. Various studies have
revealed that an accepting, flexible attitude can help
relieve arthritis pain.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please - if you have not already, send your dollar now to
help pay me for my time and effort spent on the research,
computing and the editing of this "Dollarware" file to:
Linne Bailey
Box 1030
Ashland Or 97520
Thanks so much!
.............................................................
End Of Chapter