Rheumatoid Arthritis

Arthritis is inflammation in a joint. Joint inflammation is characterized by redness, warmth, swelling, and pain within the joint. Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of chronic arthritis that usually occurs in joints such as hands, wrists, fingers or knees.

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include joint pain, swelling and stiffness that especially occur in the morning or after sitting still for long periods of time.  For some people, joint symptoms develop gradually over several years. In others, rheumatoid arthritis may progress rapidly, while other people may have rheumatoid arthritis for a limited period of time and then enter a period of remission.

Acupuncture can help to diminish the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis such as swelling, inflammation and pain.  If combined with the appropriate Chinese herbal prescription, regular acupuncture treatments can manage the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis for some patients well enough to help them eliminate the need for medications and even go into remission.