According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, about 1.3 million Americans have rheumatoid arthritis. RA occurs in all races and ethnic groups. Studies show that while the disease often begins in middle age, it is occurring with increased frequency in older people, children and young adults. It’s two to three times more common in women than in men. 

About RA

The second-most common form of arthritis, RA is an inflammatory disease that causes pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of function in the joints. It occurs when the immune system attacks joint tissues, leading to inflammation and eventually joint damage and malformation. In addition to joint swelling and redness, it may make people feel sick, tired and feverish. 

How RA Affects Lives

RA doesn’t affect everyone the same way. For some people, it lasts only a few months to a year, with no noticeable damage. Other people have mild or moderate forms, with periods of worsening symptoms, called flares, and periods during which they feel better, called remissions. Others have a severe form of RA that is active most of the time, lasts for years and leads to serious joint damage and disability.

The effects of RA aren’t just physical. One study showed that more than a quarter of women with RA stopped working within four years after being diagnosed. The disease not only interferes with the joys and responsibilities of family life, but may also affect the decision to have children. People with RA often report heightened depression and anxiety, feelings of helplessness, and low self-esteem. 

How RA Is Diagnosed 

There is no single test for RA, and symptoms differ from person to person. Hence, doctors use a variety of approaches to diagnose RA and rule out other conditions. They begin by taking a medical history, followed by a physical exam, laboratory tests and x-rays.

The goals of treatment are to relieve pain by reducing inflammation and improving joint function. Depending on the severity of the RA, the doctor may recommend a corticosteroid injection into the joint, to ease pain and stiffness. Most doctors will prescribe a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).

The TCM Approach 

Traditional Chinese Medicine has a very different way to treat RA. The goal is not simply to reduce inflammation in the affected area(s), but to treat the whole body. To do this, the TCM practitioner will evaluate the person’s overall health and determine what is causing the RA. The TCM approach to any form of arthritis is that it is caused by one or more external or internal pathogens, such as wind, cold, heat and dampness, which trigger inflammation in the joints.

Depending on the findings of his or her evaluation, the TCM practitioner will use some combination of acupuncture, herbal therapies, moxibustion (mugwort heat therapy), and herbal liniments to reduce joint pain and address accompanying symptoms, such as depression and anxiety. These therapies cannot cure arthritis, but they can reduce or even eliminate arthritis pain, improve joint function and stop further joint damage. The course of treatment varies according to the severity of the disease. 

Cold-Type Arthritis

As we are inching closer to fall and winter, I’ll discuss only the cold type of arthritis, which is characterized by sharp, stabbing pain in a fixed location and coldness in the joint. Typically the patient’s complexion is pale.

In TCM, cold-type arthritis is thought to be caused the co-occurrence of two or three types of pathogenic factors, such as cold and damp together. Herbal therapy and moxibustion can be greatly beneficial for clearing joints, improving circulation and reducing pain. (Acupuncture is the most effective treatment, but progress is sometimes slow.) The pain is also relieved by heat, such as from warming liniment, infrared light, sunshine or a heating pad. 

There are also certain foods that can ease the symptoms of cold-type arthritis in fall and winter. They include ginger, garlic, green onions, pepper, black beans, sesame seeds, chicken, lamb, mustard greens, a small amount of wine (if the individual does not have hypertension), and spicy foods. It’s also good to get 10-20 minutes of fresh air and sunshine daily, and to sleep with socks on. 

What to Avoid 

Anyone with cold-type arthritis should avoid cold or raw foods, unnecessary exposure to cold weather, going barefoot on a cold floor, and taking a shower at night. 

Pamela Purser is an acupuncture physician, a licensed acupuncturist and clinical director and co-owner of Navarre Acupuncture and Wellness, located at 7287 Navarre Pkwy., Navarre, Fl. For more information, visit NavAcuWell.com.

Home Remedies for Arthritis

1 Make tea from cinnamon (1 cinnamon stick in a cup of boiling water) or fresh ginger with scallion. You can add a teaspoon of honey with a pinch of sea salt. 

2  Rub garlic or ginger on the painful areas. Apply moderately, being careful not to burn your skin. 

3 Use moxa with ginger, or a moxa stick, on the painful area. (Ask an acupuncturist for details and instruction.)

4 Drink a small glass of rice wine or red wine in the evening, after dinner.