NATURAL APPROACH TO RELIEVE ARTHRITIS PAIN

by Lorenzo T. Phan, DOM, AP

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, arthritis affects about one in four adults in the United States. That’s 54 million men and women. It is a leading cause of work disability, with annual costs for medical care and lost earnings of $303.5 billion. It is clearly a problem, both medically and financially.

The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which is a degenerative joint condition that results in pain, inflammation, swelling, stiffness, redness and immobility. Another type is rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition with symptoms that include inflammation, pain, swelling, warmth, stiffness and restriction of motion. In the late stage, severe joint deformity and permanent disability may occur.

Arthritis affects the mind as well as the sufferer’s quality of living. The pain can be unrelenting, which, in turn, can lead to anxiety, depression, fatigue and loss of sleep. Research states that receiving acupuncture therapy, engaging in moderate exercise, and eating a healthy diet greatly help patients decrease symptoms. Acupuncture stimulates specific acupoints optimizing the body’s ability to heal, resulting in blood vessel dilation, endorphin release, nerve supply improvement, a decrease in swelling, pain relief, and increased range of motion. Early treatment is the best solution to prevent progression.

The National Institutes of Health recommends acupuncture therapy for arthritic pain because of its effectiveness and safety compared to many drugs and medical procedures. For more information, consult a doctor of oriental medicine and acupuncture physician that has experience in treating chronic arthritis.

Lorenzo T. Phan is a doctor of oriental medicine and acupuncture physician, as well as the owner of the Acupuncture & Skin Care Clinic, located at 725 W. Granada Blvd., Ste. 15, in Ormond Beach. He is a graduate of the University of Hawaii, with a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry, and completed four years of post-graduate training in acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapy at the American College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, in Houston. For more information or for a free consultation, call 386-615-1203. See ad, below.