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Arthritis treated with Acupuncture
Recently many of my patients have asked me about arthritis, so I have written a short page.
Arthritis is called Bi syndrome in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
There are several types in TCM; the main syndromes are Wind, Cold, Damp, & Heat. There is also skin bi, muscle bi, tendon bi, vessel bi & bone bi which are mostly local & functional ie. lifting, extension & flexion.
- Wind bi is characterized by wandering of the pain mostly in wrists, elbows, knees & ankles. Limited movement, fever & chills are common as your body fights the wind.
- Cold bi has severe pain & may you have cold joints. This pain is fixed & stabbing; alleviated by warmth with no redness.
- Damp bi has more soreness, numbness & heaviness of the joints. Aggravated with damp rainy days and is also fixed in location.
- Heat bi is hot and has a sudden onset. This bi can be in one or several joints with local redness, swelling is responsible for limited movement; the pain can be excruciating.
Fever and thirst also accompany the heat.
Bi is caused by blockage of qi & blood in the meridians & collaterals. Energy is not moving through the passageways correctly. If your body is weakened by sickness or old age; you are more susceptible to an attack from these pathogenic factors - wind, cold, damp or heat.
Bi syndromes can be worsen by where you live, weather and your general health. People in Seattle are more likely to have damp bi.
How do we treat this with Chinese Medicine? A combination of acupuncture, moxibustion & herbs is the usual treatment. This very effective; as seen in older Chinese people that are as spry as a 5 year old.
If you have any questions about arthritis pain or any other pain,
please call me at (719) 598 - 9200.
- Cathy Di Maggio M.S. TCM More Acupuncture Articles >>
