Arthritis literally means “joint inflammation.” Any movable joint in the body can be affected. The common syndrome between them is blood stagnation – sharp pain in a fixed site. Heat excess (inflammation) may or may not be a significant symptom.
Most cases of chronic arthritis fall into one of two classifications:
Osteoarthritis: A degenerative condition that occurs when cartilage wears away in a joint over time. It is the most common type of arthritis and usually starts in one joint. Acupuncture can be extremely useful for activating qi and blood, and starting the healing process.
Rheumatoid arthritis: An autoimmune disease that occurs when the immune system attacks the lining of the joints. It often affects multiple joints at once, and may be an aspect of interior excess yang-heat that has invaded organs and other tissues.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is most likely the result of poor mechanics. Many knee and hip problems begin with improper walking, lunging, and/or running techniques. Normally with each footfall, the knee points directly over and in line with the toes, which point straight forward. However, if the foot is turned laterally (everted) or medially (inverted) while stepping, the knee, a very limited joint, will grind down the connective tissue on that side while constructing bone spurs (osteo = bone) on the opposite side, in order to maintain stability.
Every misstep, however, displeases the knee and makes the situation worse. After a while, the hips begin to complain, because the hip joint also depends on a natural, healthy step.
Knee braces with sturdy lateral stiffeners to keep the feet honest, along with daily riding of a bicycle or stationary bike, will encourage and enable the body to regenerate the missing connective tissue while simultaneously removing the stabilizers (bone spurs) on the opposite side.
Improper and unnatural throwing or lifting movements can create the same painful condition in the shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints.
Vertebral arthritis is almost always a form of osteoarthritis that results from years of stooped posture and poor flexibility. The anterior aspect of the joints have experienced destruction of connective tissue, while constructing bone spurs on the posterior aspect for stability.
When not work-related, slumped posture is thought to be related to low self-esteem. A consistent program of acupuncture, myofascial release, and posture retraining can eventually straighten the spine and eliminate pain.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is classified as interior excess yang/heat. In this autoimmune disorder, the wei qi – the immune system – is so busy searching for and attacking its enemies that it mistakenly attacks healthy tissue as well. Yang/heat will easily become trapped in the dog’s-leg channels of joints.
The ensuing firestorm confuses the qi and expands the blood, causing painful stagnation and inflammatory swelling of joints. The same yang/heat can invade and burn any organ or tissue, but will tend to rise into the upper extremities and the head. Swollen, painful finger joints are a common affliction.
Every case of autoimmune disease I’ve come across has convinced me that the #1 risk factor is too much daily activity, beginning with sleep deprivation. I’ve also noticed that these patients tend to live life in the fast lane – to their detriment.
One of the most well-known victims of autoimmune disease was the baseball great Lou Gehrig. In his 14-year career as first baseman for the New York Yankees in the 1930s, he never missed a single game - until he came down with the autoimmune disorder known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive destruction of nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain. Ever since, ALS has been known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.”
In my experience, for rheumatoid arthritis, a febrifugal protocol that neutralizes and drains excess interior heat will elicit best results.
