Arthritis

Take ‘THUJA OCCIDENTALIS-30’ 1 drop in ½ cup water once every week; “GUAIACUM-Q” 1drop in ½ cup water twice daily after meals.

Arthritis is a very common medical condition.

However, it is not a single disease, but comes in around 200 different forms.

The term essentially means an inflammation of the joints. This inflammation makes the joints painful, stiff, and swollen, and in severe cases can significantly restrict movement.

The two most common forms are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis:

What is it?
Osteoarthritis is caused by the breakdown of protective tissue called cartilage in the joints. Inflammation results when the unprotected bones of the joint begin to rub together.

It most commonly affects the joints of the fingers, knees, hips, and spine.

However, it may also affect the wrists, elbows, shoulders, and ankles.

The condition often affects joints which have been injured, or which have been over-used.

What causes osteoarthritis?
The exact cause is unknown.

One theory is that mechanical stress on the joint stimulates the release of natural chemicals in abnormally high levels.

This disturbs the delicate balance required to ensure that cartilage builds up, breaks down and is replaced.

Instead, cartilage breaks down too quickly and cannot be properly replaced.

As cartilage breaks down, the body tries to repair the damage by making new bone.

The ends of the bones in the joint thicken, and the new bone can result in obvious lumps, most often on the hands and feet.

Each step in this cycle of damage and inadequate repair produces pain.


What are the symptoms?
Osteoarthritis usually comes on slowly. Early in the disease, joints may ache after physical work or exercise, but by no means has everybody with the condition felt pain.

However, over time the disease can lead to steady or intermittent pain in a joint accompanied by swelling or tenderness.

Periods of inactivity may lead to stiffness.

At times, use of the affected joint can be accompanied by a crunching sound or feeling of bone rubbing on bone.


Rheumatoid arthritis:

What is it?
This is a condition caused by inflammation of the lining (synovium) of the joints.

In some people, it can also affect other parts of the body, including the blood, the lungs, and the heart.

The affected joint may also lose its shape, resulting in loss of normal movement.


What causes rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disease. This means that the immune system, which acts to repel infections and other foreign invaders, malfunctions, and attacks the tissues of the body itself.

The reason why this happens is unclear. Genetic factors play a role, but not in every case.

Research also suggests that in some cases the condition may be triggered by an infection.


What are the symptoms?
Rheumatoid arthritis causes affected joints to feel tender, stiff and swollen.

The symptoms can last for an extended period of time, or they may suddenly flare up, and then recede again.

In severe cases the condition can cause serious joint damage and disability.

What is tennis elbow?

Tennis elbow is a painful condition of the elbow that occurs due to repeated forceful impact on the extended arm. It is the result of small tears in muscles and tendons just above the elbow.

What are the symptoms?

Pain caused by lifting or bending the arm or grasping even light objects such as a coffee cup.
Difficulty in extending the forearm fully.
Pain that lasts for 6 to 12 weeks.

What causes tennis elbow?

The injury resulting in a tennis elbow may initially consist of tiny tears in the muscles and tendons. Before these heal, the tissues may be subjected to stress again. This may result in the formation of rough scarred tissue and calcium deposits within the tissues. Collagen, a protein found in the muscles, may leak out from the injured areas causing swelling. The build up of pressure may cut off the blood flow and affect one of the nerves controlling muscles in the arm and hand, resulting in swelling, pain and a weak grip.

Tennis Elbow
(lateral epicondylitis)
Outside of Elbow
Cause & Symptoms
The onset of pain, on the outside (lateral) of the elbow, is usually gradual with tenderness felt on or below the joint's bony prominence. Movements such as gripping, lifting and carrying tend to be troublesome.

Golfer’s Elbow
(medial epicondylitis)
Inside of Elbow
Cause & Symptoms
The causes of golfers elbow are similar to tennis elbow but pain and tenderness are felt on the inside (medial) of the elbow, on or around the joint's bony prominence.

Bursitis
Back of Elbow
Cause & Symptoms
Often due to excessive leaning on the joint or a direct blow or fall onto the tip of the elbow.
A lump can often be seen and the elbow is painful at the back of the joint.

 

 

Treatment for arthritis:
It is widely thought that eating a varied and balanced diet can help to reduce the symptoms of arthritis. Exercise, too, is thought to be beneficial.

Physical therapy is widely used.


Are drugs available?
Many medicines are available for relief of the pain and inflammation of arthritis.

Rhus toxicodendron.

All Rhus toxicodendron rheumatic symptoms are relieved by motion, worse from sitting and worse from rising from a sitting position or first commencing to move ; but continued motion relieves, also warmth.

They are aggravated during damp weather and are caused by dwelling in damp places.

There is stiffness of the muscles and soreness.

Prominent projections of the body are sore to touch.

It seems to have a special affinity for the deep muscles of the back.

It is a remedy also for the effects of over-exertion, such as sprains, wrenches, etc.

Ferrum phosphoricum

Articular rheumatism or sub-acute rheumatism, the pains are worse from motion.

Drugs having relief from slow motion are Lycopodium, Pulsatilla and Ferrum.

Rhododendron

There is great susceptibility to change of weather, particularly changes to cold winter weather.

The pains are worse during rest.

There is a weak paralytic feeling, and it is especially useful. in chronic rheumatism affecting the smaller joints.

It is a very useful remedy for rheumatic gout.

Ledum Pal

Pains of Ledum characteristically travel upward.

It is a remedy for gout and rheumatism affecting the smaller joints.

The pains are worse from the warmth of the bed.

Ledum produces a scanty effusion which tends to harden into nodosities, while Bryonia tends to a copious effusion.

Drugs having nodular swellings in the joints are Calcarea carbonica., Benzoicum acidum, Lycopodium, Ammonium Phosphoricum and Lithium carbonicum.

Bryonia

It is a remedy for acute articular rheumatism with violent local inflammation ; the parts being hot, shining and dark or pale red, and the pains are greatly aggravated from motion ; external heat relieves.
Bryonia is aggravated by motion and Rhus toxicodendron is relieved by motion.

Actea spicata

It has an affinity for the smaller joints.

The joints ache and swell while the patient is walking.

It is especially indicated in the rheumatism of hands and feet.

Actea racemosa affects the bellies of the muscles rather than the joints.

Caulophyllum is especially useful for rheumatism of the smaller joints of the hands and feet.


Colchicum

The pains are worse in evening.

The affected parts are swollen and dark red, and there is a tendency for the disease to shift about from one joint to another.

It is especially useful for rheumatic affections in debilitated persons ; those who are weak , weakness being the characteristic.

Guaiacum

Chronic forms of rheumatism where the joints become distorted by concretions ; contractions of tendons ; worse from motion.

Viola odorata

Viola odorata has special action on the right wrist.

Kalmia

Rheumatism affecting the chest and rheumatism which shifts from the joints to the head, especially after external applications to the joints, and the rheumatism of Kalmia, unlike that of Ledum, travels downwards ; useful in heart affections, such as pericarditis and endocarditis from rheumatism.

Pulsatilla

The chief characteristic is the wandering of the pains ; the disease shifts about from one joint to another ; they are worse from warmth and in the evening, and are relieved from cold ; the pains are so severe as to compel the patient to move.

Rheumatism following an attack of indigestion.

Kalium sulphuricum, Kalium bichromicum, Sulphur, Bryonia, Colchicum and Kalmia have rheumatism which shifts about.

Ranunculus bulbosus

The pains are worse in damp weather, and particularly from a change of weather and change of temperature ; intercostal rheumatism, stitch in side and a feeling as if parts were pounded.

Causticum

Causticum is useful where the joints are stiff and where the tendons are shortened ; rheumatoid arthritis calls for the drug, and the pains of Causticum are worse from cold and relieved from warmth ; restlessness at night ; drawing muscular pains ; the parts on which he lies become sore.

Rhus toxicodendron has restlessness and relief from motion all the time ; with Causticum there is only nocturnal restlessness.

Chamomilla makes the patients almost beside themselves, compelling them to get out of bed and walk about.

Three other drugs, Rhus toxicodendron, Ferrum metallicum and Veratrum album, have rheumatic pains relieved by moving about ; they all lack the feverishness, excitement and irritability of Chamomilla.

Dulcamara

It is useful in rheumatism made worse from change of weather.

That is the chief characteristic of the drug.

Rheumatic pains of the muscles from taking cold during the prevalence of damp, raw weather.

Sulphur

It is indicated in acute and chronic rheumatism when the inflammatory swellings seem to ascend - that is, they commence in the feet and extend up the body ; the pains are worse in bed and at night, and it is especially a remedy for jerking of the limbs in falling off to sleep during a course of acute rheumatism.

Benzoicum acidum

It is a remedy for rheumatism and gout with extremely offensive urine, and especially is it useful for rheumatism of the smaller joints ; gouty nodosities, weeping sinews.

Kalium hydriodicum

When the pains are worse at night when lying on affected side, and when the troubles are of mercurial or specific origin.

Silicea

It is one of the best remedies in chronic hereditary rheumatism.

The pains are worse at night and worse from uncovering ; better from warmth.

Sanguinaria

Sanguinaria gives a picture of acute muscular rheumatism ; the pains are shifting, sharp and stitching, with great soreness and stiffness in the muscles, especially those of the back and neck ; rheumatism of right deltoid muscle.


Ferrum metallicum and Nux moschata have special affinity for the left deltoid muscle.

Magnesia carbonica
It is useful for rheumatism of the right shoulder, also with rheumatic pains which are worse after a long walk ; better from warmth, but worse in bed

Apis mellifica

The affected parts feel very stiff and sore to pressure, and there is a sensation of numbness ; the joints affected are swollen, and there is a sensation as if the skin over them were stretched tight ; the swelling is apt to be rather pale than red, and there is usually a great deal of effusion into the joints.

It is especially a remedy for synovitis.

Belladonna

There are cutting lightning-like pains running along the joints ; the joints are swollen, red and shining, and pain radiates through the inflamed joints.

It is one of the best remedies in rheumatic stiffness caused by getting the head and neck wet or sitting with the head and neck exposed to a draft.

Calcarea carbonica

It is useful for rheumatic affections caused by working in the water and for rheumatism of the muscles of the back and shoulders after Rhus toxicodendron fails.

Ruta graveolens

Soreness and lameness as from a sprain or bruise.

Rheumatism of wrists and ankles.

Causticum, Sulphuricum acidum, Sulphur and Silicea have a weakness or giving away of the ankles.

Actea racemosa is especially indicated in rheumatism of the fleshy parts of the muscles.

Arnica

Rheumatism resulting from exposure to dampness, cold and excessive muscular strain combined ; the parts are sore and bruised.

What about surgery?
Various types of surgery are used to treat arthritis, but usually only in serious cases where other treatments have proved ineffective.

These include:
Arthrodesis: A procedure to stop the bones of a joint fusing together.

Arthroplasty: The rebuilding or replacement of an entire joint.

Arthroscopy: The use of tiny instruments to remove loose growths that may be causing pain.

Osteotomy: A correction of hip or knee deformities in younger patients

Synovectomy: The removal of diseased lining of the joints.

*This page contains basic information. If you are concerned about your health, you should consult a doctor.

Regimen of the sick during Homoeopathic Treatment

1. Food (Light, digestible, nourishing) is the best TONIC, water is the best BEVERAGE.

2. Don’t overload your Stomach. Regularity in time of eating, sleeping and rising is of great importance.

3. Avoid spices, alcohol, chocolate, coffee, HONEY, vinegar, tobacco, COSMETICS, perfumes, garlic, onions, ginger, cloves, domestic medicines, herb teas, poultices, ointments, laxatives and the articles forbidden by the physician.

4.Homoeopathic medicines should not be taken too soon after eating; and for about an hour after taking them the patient had better abstain from eating or the use of tobacco and if possible from much mental or bodily exertion.