ARTHRITIS can be classified into more than one hundred different conditions in modern medicine, and the most common types are osteoarthritis, rheumatic and rheumatoid arthritis. The common sign for all these conditions is joint pain and stiffness. However, there is no cure or prevention, according to the understanding of modern medicine, and alternative medicines are often recommended to relieve the pain and control the conditions to keep people active and productive.

Understanding in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Arthritis is closely related to cold, wind and dampness, or a mixture of them. The predominant reason may be reflected in symptoms of the patient. Swelling and painful joints indicate that the dampness is the main factor. A wandering pain in the joints, where the pain moves from place to place, is related to the wind. In general, wind, cold, and dampness initially affect the skin and muscles. The damage will then progress deeper to affect the tendons and joints, if no appropriate treatment is given. Ultimately, the condition can weaken or even block the circulation of body's motivating energy (Qi) and symptoms of arthritis develop.

Treatment by Traditional Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture and traditional Chinese herbal medicine can be used, either separately or combined, to tackle arthritis. These approaches have been demonstrated to be effective. By inserting needles at precise points according to symptoms, acupuncture removes the blockage and revives the usual flow of energy. In most cases, significant improvements in joint movement can be observed after acupuncture treatment. Herbal medicine is also tailored to suit individual cases according to symptoms and history of the disease.

Like any other disease, early establishment of correct diagnosis is important in arthritis because the sooner appropriate treatment is started the greater the chance of avoiding disability or deformity. It is usually possible to control the condition and to arrest the progress of arthritis in its early stages using traditional Chinese medicine. For long-time sufferers, acupuncture and herbal medicine have been proved to be effective in reducing the degree of pain and stiffness.

Self Management
A variety of physical procedures exists to help in managing the pain of arthritis and to regain an improved function in the affected joints. Exercise helps to reduce symptoms of osteoarthritis and makes people feel better overall. It is important to keep warm and to protect joints from being affected by wind, cold or dampness. Controlling weight helps in preventing osteoarthritis and relaxing pain by reducing pressure on joints.