Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints and is the main cause of disability in the U.S., according to the Arthritis Foundation. Some 54 million adults are diagnosed with arthritis, with osteoarthritis affecting approximately 31 million adults. Even infants and children are prone to the disease, with about 300,000 cases in the U.S. alone.
According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the disease is caused by qi and the blood not being able to pass sufficiently through certain meridians of the body. There is emerging evidence that TCM can have a positive effect on arthritis according to an external peer-reviewed paper.
Treatment
The most popular treatment for arthritis among Western medicine practitioners is nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). While these drugs may relieve the pain and decrease the inflammation associated with the disease, they do little to address its root cause.
TCM treatments reduce the pain and inflammation associated with arthritis and also help treat the underlying causes of the disease. Still, TCM treatment of more chronic, long-term cases of the disease may take months or even years to see improvement. It is therefore important to begin treatment at an early stage.
Arthritis symptoms and remedies
The disease can cause pain and discomfort in daily life. The following four foods can help treat the symptoms of the disease without the associated side effects of traditional medicines.
Green tea
Studies show that green tea can effectively relieve arthritis. In an animal-study, green tea was used to treat mice afflicted with the disease and the frequency of pain attacks decreased by 50 percent.
Bean products
Bean products, such as tofu, are frequently found on the shelves of natural food stores. They are rich in isoflavones, vitamin E, and calcium, which can strengthen muscles while building up strong bones.
Sweet pepper
The vitamin C contained in one green pepper is twice the amount our body needs per day and the amount in red or yellow peppers is even higher. In addition, sweet peppers are a good source of vitamin B6 and folic acid, which can help relieve the pain resulting from arthritis.
Bananas
Bananas have more calcium than any other fruit. In addition, they are rich in vitamin B6, folic acid, and vitamin C. Bananas are also easy to digest. A drink made with a ripe banana, kiwi fruit, berries, and mixed with milk is a nutritious remedy for treating the symptoms of arthritis.
The writer of this story is not a medical professional, and the information that is in this story has been collected from reliable sources — every precaution has been taken to ensure its accuracy. The information provided is for general information purposes only, and should not be substituted for professional health care.
Translation by Audrey Wang
