What is Arthritis?
Arthritis comes from the Greek word arthro (joint) and itis (inflammation) and is a group of conditions involving damage to the joints of the body. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in people older than 55 years old. There are several forms of Arthritis. The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) is a result of trauma to the joint, infection of the joint, or age. Other forms of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, autoimmune diseases in which the body attacks itself. Septic arthritis is caused by joint infection. Gouty arthritis is caused by deposition of uric acid crystals in the joint, causing inflammation.
From a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, TCM practitioners do not focus on treating the symptoms of disease and conditions such as arthritis, but rather, they work to promote healthy detoxification while restoring balance and harmony within the body and key organs. They try and achieve this goal by encouraging healthy lifestyle changes like supporting a person’s body with diet modifications, herbal supplementation & stress reduction. In TCM, the goal is to provide maximum health support so that the body may better heal itself and maintain optimum health.*
