Everybody has suffered from joint pains one time or another except those at very young age.
The following helps you understand more about joint pains and how to treat them with Chinese herbs.
Causes of joint pains: oAge will definitely worsen your joint pains.
oOverexertion in work, sports or other activities.
oOverexposure to cold, wind and damp such as insufficient clothing to protect the body against the elements.
oNot enough rest due to work, travel, and other activities.
oSudden change in weather especially humidity.
oUric acid from food, known as Gout in Western medicine.
oA previous joint injury may result in periodic pains after recovery.
oFlu or cold can cause temporary aches and pains, which will disappear when the flu passes.
Nature of joint pains: oLong-term condition subject to occasional flare-ups triggered by the causes described above.
oAging causes more pains, possibly deformation of joints too.
oJoint pains accompanied by swelling are more serious.
oVery difficult to cure joint pains completely.
Expect only improvements in the following areas: intensity of pains, duration, degree of swelling if any, and the frequency of flare-ups.
oA certain degree of tiredness always accompanies the pains.
oPainkillers or numbing with ice can only reduce the pains but cannot get to the roots of the problem.
External treatment: oGentle and slow exercise such as Tai Chi, Yoga, or swimming.
oHeat treatment with pad or lamp.
oMassage by people or machine.
oAcupuncture.
oVarious ointments with different ingredients.
Internal treatment: The Chinese approach is to enhance the blood circulation with herbs.
The Chinese name for joint pains is, literally translated as "wind damp disease".
This is related to the observation that joint pains become more acute in windy and damp weather conditions.
The herbs used to enhance blood circulation will flush out the wind and damp, as well as cold absorbed by the body from the environment.
Improved blood circulation also helps reduce swelling.
The effects will last much longer than external treatment since the herbs also strengthen the bones and tendons.
The basic prescription for joint pains is focused on strengthening blood circulation, bones and tendons.
It also tries to expel the environmental factors being absorbed into the body such as wind, damp and cold: 1) Blood circulation Sang Ji Sheng Gui Zhi Du Huo Wu Jia Pi 2) Bones and tendons San Qi Niu Xi Gu Sui Bu Bu Gu Zhi 3) Expel wind/damp/cold Jiang Huo Fang Feng Bi Xie Ze Xie A combination of 12 herbs are used in a package.
Drink one cup (8 oz) of herb tea a day, preferably in the morning to allow time for dissipation of excess heat.
This is just one formula with countless variations depending on: * How acute is the pain and where.
* Any swelling and where.
* How sensitive is your body to the strengthening herbs.