Has it become very challenging for you to play the piano or use a kitchenaid hand mixer? Do your hands often go through pain and stiffness? Then you could be suffering from hand arthritis. But fret not. With the help of the doctor and following a treatment course, you can resume having a normal life in no time.

Arthritis is a disease involving the cartilage of bone joints. It can be caused by a lot of factors, including trauma and heredity. While there are so many types of the disease, the most common is osteoarthritis or degenerative arthritis. It’s related to aging and the normal wear and tear of cartilages.

Other than the hands, the disease usually occurs in large weight-bearing joints. Such may include the knees, hips, back, and shoulders. Hand arthritis often results to pain and inflammation. Because of these, hand use and movement becomes very limited. It’s not uncommon to hear grinding or clicking sound when moving the fingers. Bony knobs may also appear in the end and middle finger joints.

A doctor will take your health history, as well as do a physical examination to diagnose arthritis. Structural changes in your hands’ joints may be revealed by an x-ray. Blood testing is important for diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis, a form of autoimmune disease. The degree of the disease will tell the types of treatment the doctor is likely to recommend.

There are topical arthritis creams for relieving the common signs and symptoms. Your doctor may also prescribe oral Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, or NSAIDs, for pain and inflammation. However, there are also those which are administered through injections. Splints are sometimes applied to provide a stable resting position for the hands. But in extreme cases, surgery may have to be performed.

Application of liniment or anything similar is effective for relieving minor signs and symptoms. The same is true with applying a cold compress on your hands. Hand exercises are helpful in maintaining normal hand or finger functions. You may spread your fingers apart, have each of your fingers touch the tip of the thumb, or make a fist. Such practices enable efficient using of a keyboard, flipping of switches beneath the custom LCD of a device, or other similar activities at work.

With proper activity modification and following the doctor’s orders, hand arthritis need not get in the way of your daily living. Soon enough you can resume your passion in life, be it using a Canon digital SLR camera or gripping a tennis racket. Having arthritis of the hand need not cause you lifelong pain and joint immobility.

Tags: Arthritis, pain, pain management

ACHIEVE THE BEST – SUPERIOR SPORT PERFORMANCE! INJURED: ACCELERATE RECUPERATION!

Based on Traditional Chinese herbs and medicine and American nutrition the following foods were selected for their known enhancement of sports performance. Martial artists, monks and adept sages have advanced the practice of life-extension, spirituality and revitalizing practices over the countless centuries.These strategies are very effective because I have added them in exercise regimen of martial arts.

SUPER FOODS FOR SUPERIOR ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE 

 

ENERGY & STAMINA FOODS
Whole grains (sprouted wheat – hard red winter wheat, Amaranth, Barley, pearled, Buckwheat (kasha), Bulgar, Oats, whole kernel, Rice, brown, Rice, wild, Rye, whole kernel, Quinoa, Wheat, whole kernel, All Bran with Extra Fiber, Bran Buds, Fiber One, Kashi, Go Lean, Shredded Wheat, Shredded Wheat and Bran, Buckwheat Groats, Oat Bran, Old Fashioned Oatmeal, Steel-Cut Oats), Acai berry, Bananas, Black sesame seeds, Black soybeans, Chestnuts, Citrus peel, Chia seed, chicken, herring, Mulberries, mussel, Raspberries, Strawbeeries, shrimp, lamb, sunflower seed, sweet potato, water cress, winter squash, almonds, Ghee, Nettle leaves, Micro algae, Goat milk, Placenta, Royal jelly, Salmon, Trout, Bee pollen, Doddler seeds, Walnuts, Wheat grass

STRENGTH FOODS
If you want to turn out to be strong, eat carbohydrates before your workout and eat plenty of protein afterwards. Regular quantities of insulin aids muscle growth, and consuming carbohydrates raises your blood sugar, which, sequentially, results in your pancreas to excrete insulin. Taking in large amounts of protein after a workout helps muscles to recover faster from hard exercise, so you can do more hard work and grow larger and stronger muscles (Journal of Physiology, Volume 573, 2006).

Bitter foods/herbs, Raw or lightly cooked Vegetables, sprouts, Vegetables (leafy greens, carrots, radishes, mushrooms), fruits, grains, legumes, fresh flax oil, stevia sweetener, Salmon, Spinach, Almonds, Cranberries, Wheat Germ, Beans, Extra Lean Ground Beef, Eggs, Tomatoes, Oatmeal, Bee Pollen, .

Natural steroid food: Asparagus, Avocado, Bananas, Celery, Raw Oysters, Pine Nuts (the edible seeds of pine trees), Figs, Almonds and nuts in general, Eggs, Basil (Sweet basil), Liver, Salmon & Other Fish, Damiana (or Turnera diffusa), Wild Yam.

CONCENTRATION & FOCUS
fish, fish oil, spirulina, whole grains (Brown rice, Maize, Oats, Buckwheat, Millet, Quinoa, Amaranth, Wheat, Sweet rice, Spelt), legumes and their sprouts (mung bean sprouts, soy bean sprouts, tofu, tempeh, peas, Adzuki Beans, Black Beans, Black-eyed peas, Broad Beans (Fava Beans), Butter Beans, Calico Beans, Cannellini Beans, Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans), Edamame, Great Northern Beans, Italian Beans, Kidney Beans, Lentils, Lima Beans, Mung Beans, Navy Beans, Pinto Beans, Soy Beans, including black soy beans, Split Peas
White beans), seeds, fresh nuts, dark green veggies and microalgae. Flax seed, pumpkin seed, chia seed, borage seed, black currant seed and primrose seed oils

EMOTIONAL STRENGTH FOODS
Whole grains (whole wheat, brown rice, oats), Ganoderm, Poria, lettuce, cucumber, barley gruel, oat groat tea, Fruit (apples, mullberries, lemons), dill, basil, rose hips, Ghee (clarified butter), cabbage, fresh wheat germ, wild blue greem algae, apple cider vinegar

FOODS TO AVOID
Sugar, or foods with added sugars, Processed grains, or foods containing them (except as listed on the Grains List e.g. packaged cereals, and whole grain cereals, are generally processed, confirm), polished grains (which don’t say “whole” in front of all grains on the label) or foods enclosed in them, “Wheat” or “wheat flour” not including the word “whole” is frequently a code word for “white” (consists of white rice, “Flour” listed unaccompanied is always white flour), Potatoes, Cakes, cookies, muffins, etc. Crackers, unless whole grain, Cereals, unless whole grain and at least 8 grams of fiber per serving, Chips, Ice cream, Jams and Jellies, Maple Syrup, Regular Soda and other sweetened beverages, Juices, Oils except for extra virgin olive oil, nut oils, and canola oil, Mayonnaise, Creamy salad dressings, Butter, Magarine, Dairy products that are not fat-free, including cheese, cream cheese, milk, etc.Fatty meats such as suasage or bacon. Everything with hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated fats in it.

Traditional Chinese herbs & formulas have helped thousands of athletes through the centuries; try our formulas for top performance.

For training purposes, herbal herbs provide for strength, speed and emotional well-being, essential for superior performance.

Tags: athletics, chinese herbs, chinese medicine, concentration, endurance, exercize, focus, food therapy, herbal herbs, herbs, natural steroids, Nutrition, pain, speed, sports nutrition, stamina, strength, traditional chinese medicine

JOINT INFLAMMATION is a very painful, with multiple sets of conditions (100), progressively leading to joint damage, deformity and loss of mobility. Swelling of extremity joints is the hallmark of the syndrome. Chronic pain, disability and death are unfortunate results.

Joint inflammation has an estimated prevalence of 1 to 2%. Prevalence increases with age, approaching 5% in women over age 55. The average annual incidence in the United States is about 70 per 100,000 annually. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs two to three times more in women than in men. Although rheumatoid arthritis may present at any age, patients most commonly are first affected in the third to sixth decades.

Joint inflammation, collectively affect nearly 46 million adults and 300,000 children in the U.S. It is not selective. The situation can happen to the best of us. All arthritic conditions impact the musculoskeletal system and specifically the joints – where two or more bones meet.

Joint inflammation problems include:

• pain
• stiffness
• damage to joint cartilage (the tough, smooth tissue that covers the ends of the bones, enabling them to glide against one another) and surrounding structures.

 

HOW DO WE GET JOINT INFLAMMATION?

Blood obstruction is caused by the influences of drying, hot-damp, and external cold conditions. The condition includes:

• cold or hot and painful joints
• difficulty in flexing and extending the joints
• aversion to cold or hot with attraction to the opposite condition
• In some cases the limbs and joints will be aching, numb, painful
• overall physical body feels heavy.
• tongue is pale or the opposite

   

 There are graduating arthritic conditions where the site of pain and deformity are more intense, with heat or cold predominating, however, the primary appraoch is to get the obstruction to move. Health is re-established by countering imbalanced internal srtates of wind-cold/hot-damp/dry and altering external situations contributing to obstruction. Just as important is the consideration of psycho-spiritual conflicts and their influence on channel blockage.

 

HOW DO WE GET BETTER?

 

JOINT INFLAMMATION: FOOD THERAPY  & HERBAL HERBS

“We are what we eat.” Most of us would agree that most conditions of imbalance are determined by what we put in our mouth. We unkowingly create imbalances by not being aware of how critical this area is, especially in the latter years.When we find out the supplements and foods weakens our essence and immunity then it would behove us to learn our constitution and which food that nourish balance. Below, you can begin to choose foods that deliver balance for this obstructive condition: 

Foods That Benefit & Foods To Avoid

Foods to Counter Joint Pain: Asparagus, Cabbage (poultice & ingestion), Celery, Cod, Cherry, Chives, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Garlic, Ginger, Goats milk, Grape, Kelp, Oranges, Papaya, Pineapple (Bromelain), Pumpkin Seeds, Royal Jelly, Scallions, Sesame oll, Spelt, Spirulina, Soy products, Strawberry, Sprouts (mung, red clover, radish, mustard, lentil, adzuki, garbanzo, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds), Tumeric, Water melon, Barley products, Wheat grass products, Alfalfa products (tablets, tea), Chlorophyll foods, Almonds (5-6 dy.),

Foods to Avoid: Excess meat (some fish is best), Excess protein, Intoxicants (alcohol, coffee, tobacco, marijuana, etc.), refined sugar and other sweets, Oxalic acid foods (rhubarb, cranberry, plum, chard, beet greens, spinach), Solanine foods (Nightshade family veggies: tomato, eggplant, bell pepper, potato, if sensitive), Dairy (cow’s milk & bi-products), Nuts, Nut butters, oil-rich seeds,

“When the heart is calm, pain seems negligible.” — Inner Classic

  HERB FORMULAS FOR PAIN   Formulas are created and rendered, taking into consideration, a person’s constitution, environment, life energy (qi), lifestyle and emotional status to name a few concerns. Traditional Chinese Herbs and medicine focuses on bringing all these areas into balance. The chief focus is to provide a formula that specifically targets the painful site, resolves the underlying imbalance in the body without inciting more physical maladies.

Additionally, the quality of the herbs are not the same. If lesser quality is contained in a formula then the results will not hold up as indicated in research findings. While it may sound impressive to make marketing statements that a formula containing an herb is beneficial it is not enough. The grade of herb is critical. Red Panax Ginseng has been organized into 6 grades where each level delivers a unique response. Quality, alone, can determine whether the formula works or not. A seasoned herbologist does not skimp in this area, while many commercial manufacturing operations prefer profit when dealing with innocent distributers, who sell to wholesalers, retailers and then to you the consumer. This practice in America gives herbology and products a bad name. Employing herbal deficiency practices will gradually wear away customer trust so when true herbologists offer their services the challenge for customers to believe in our craft is hard.

JOINT IMBALANCE doesn’t happen overnight and once understood, can resolve quicker than you realize. According to Traditional Chinese herbs and medicine, the primary problem underlying arthritis is obstruction with painful results. With varying degrees, there is an exhaustion of both the Liver and Kidneys and insufficiency of the physical energy (qi).

Mark Hammer, C.M.H., Master Herbalist,   Longevity Mountain    

 

Tags: alternative, ankle pain, arm pain, Arthritis, Back Pain, chest pain, chronic pain, elbow pain, finger pain, foot pain, headache, knee pain, leg pain, muscle pain, neck pain, pain, rheumatoid arthritis, shoulder pain, stomachache, toe pain, wrist pain