Health Articles - Alternative Arthritis Treatment Options

Think you're too young to get arthritis? Age doesn't matter; one of the most popular misconceptions about arthritis is that it's an old person's disease. Think it only affects the opposite sex? Arthritis is not gender-specific. In fact, arthritis -- a disease characterized by pain, stiffness and sometimes swelling in or around joints -- can affect people of any gender and any age, from young children to the elderly.

Although there are over 100 types of arthritis (such as gout, fibromyalgia and lupus), osteoarthritis is the most common. It's a condition in which there is a breakdown of the plastic-like cartilage on the end of bone joints in the hands, hips, knees and back. Without that protective cushion, bones rub against bones, which ultimately results in pain, swelling and even deformity. The pain and disability caused by arthritis can prevent you from performing everyday activities, and the accompanying fatigue and stress make you vulnerable to other illness.

Unfortunately, no treatment has yet been found that will successfully cure arthritis. Instead, treatment is aimed at reducing pain and discomfort and preventing further disability. Many people turn to alternative remedies to provide relief of symptoms. Here are several of them:

Traditional Chinese medicine Acupuncture has practiced for more than 2500 years, and has been scientifically proven to alleviate pain. According to practitioners, pain and illness result when the energy flow in your body is disrupted. Insertion of acupuncture needles is intended to stimulate points along the energy channels, which balances the flow and restores health.

Acupressure is a technique that is similar to acupuncture but it involves the use of fingertip pressure rather than needles. The practitioner presses on the tender areas to disperse the build-up of lactic acid, which then helps relieve pain.

Flotation therapy Flotation tanks are sometimes used to treat the pain of arthritis. Patients float in a pool filled with Epsom salts. Epsom salts have been documented to relieve pain, in part, by stimulating production of endorphins (the "feel good" substances produced in the brain).

Heat treatment/cold treatment Heat treatment -- in the form of a hot bath, hot pack, or a heating pad -- is one of the oldest known treatments for arthritis. This therapy sends soothing heat to the small joints in the hands or feet. Cold, wet compresses or ice packs applied to the painful area are often more effective than heat for soothing sharp, intense pain. Just remember not to use cold treatment for more than 20 minutes at a time -- excessive cold can damage the skin.

There also are many other alternative arthritis treatments that have been proven to give people relief. As with any health treatment, though, be critical when trying an alternative therapy. Arthritis is characterized by periods of flare-ups and remissions, and particular therapies may be more or less effective on any given day -- just remember not to expect a "cure." Arthritis is a lifelong process, but alternative therapies can help you regain control of your life.