Chinese Medicine and Herbal Support for Arthritis
Chinese Medicine for Arthritis
At Longmont Acupuncture Clinic, we embrace the power of ancient wisdom to address joint challenges.
What’s rheumatoid arthritis? How is it different from other autoimmune diseases or forms of arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack healthy cells instead of bacteria or viruses. This can cause painful inflammation, especially in the joints (hands, wrists, knees), but it can also affect organs like the eyes, lungs, and heart. As the disease progresses, joints can become damaged, leading to ongoing pain and mobility challenges.⁶
Unlike some autoimmune diseases that focus on specific parts of the body, rheumatoid arthritis can attack many joints at once and even affect other areas. It's also different from "regular arthritis" (osteoarthritis) which is caused by wear and tear, not an attack by the body's own immune system.
Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis typically appear between 30-50 years of age.
We do a comprehensive intake during our Initial Consultation, including checking the heart, pulse and tongue. This information, combined with your medical history and a physical exam, can be used to create your treatment plan.
What are the different types of autoimmune diseases?
There are many (over 100) autoimmune diseases that can affect different parts of the body. Below are only a few examples³: Rheumatoid arthritis (widespread)
Lupus (widespread)
Graves’ disease (thyroid gland)
Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes (pancreas)
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (thyroid gland)
Celiac disease (small intestine)
Pernicious anemia (stomach)
Herbal Support for Arthritis
What triggers the immune system to turn against the body, leading to autoimmune diseases?
Scientists don't fully understand what causes autoimmune diseases. But here's what they do know²:
They aren’t contagious, so you can't catch them from someone else
Having a family member with an autoimmune disease increases your risk of developing one
Having an autoimmune disease increases your risk of developing another one
Other risk factors* include[² ³]:
Being female (roughly 75% of those affected are female)
Certain medications
Smoking
Obesity
Exposure to certain toxins, chemicals, or infections like Lyme Disease or Covid 19
*Having 1 or more risk factors doesn't mean you'll develop an autoimmune disease, but it can increase your chances. If you have questions about your risk, please speak with us ASAP.
What’s the difference between antibodies and autoantibodies?
Your immune system makes proteins called antibodies to fight off invaders like viruses and bacteria. Their job is to help keep you healthy. But in some cases, the immune system mistakenly creates proteins called autoantibodies. Unlike regular antibodies, autoantibodies attack healthy cells and organs in the body as if they were harmful, leading to inflammation and damage.⁴