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Dr. Jared Hanson N.D.,L.Ac. is a doctor of naturopathic medicine and acupuncturist practicing in New York City and specializing in chronic conditions, such as arthritis.

Natural Treatment for Arthritis or Degenerative Joint Disease

Acupuncture for Arthritis

Acupuncture is a treatment of choice for chronic pain conditions and arthritis is no exception. Regular acupuncture can reduce pain and stiffness and increase mobility and quality of life. Acupuncture needles are commonly placed not only in local points where the pain is, but also in “distal” points. These are points on different parts of the body that have been found to reduce pain in the local area. For example, a patient with arthritis of the knee will have acupuncture needles placed in her knee but may also have a needle placed in the ear.

Homeopathy for Arthritis

The natural treatment of arthritis should include homeopathy. A single specially-processed plant or mineral may be indicated based on the character of the pain, the location of the pain, what conditions make it better or worse (such as weather, motion, postion, temperature and many other factors), constitutional factors (for instance, appetite, thirst, sleep habits, etc.) and other health issues that the patient may be experiencing concomitantly. If the right homeopathic remedy is found, improvement can be dramatic.

Nutritional Supplements for Arthritis

Conventional medical treatments for arthritis focus on relieving pain. While this may be effective in the short-term, joints continue to deteriorate. Natural treatment of osteoarthritis with nutritional supplements differs in that they supply the building blocks for cartilage and the nutritional cofactors your body requires to turn those building blocks into cartilage. Glucosamine sulfate is a component of cartilage. Supplementing with glucosamine has been shown to reduce pain and stiffness. SAMe is another building block of cartilage and an important supplement for osteoarthritis. Other nutrients that have been shown to benefit arthritis sufferers are niacinamide, vitamins B6, C and E, and the minerals selenium and boron.

Lifestyle factors for Arthritis

The progression of osteoarthritis is related to overuse and misuse of the joints. Physical injury can predispose a joint to arthritis. Being overweight can present a chronic stress on joints and losing weight should be part of any treatment plan if you are overweight and suffering from arthritis. Similarly, weak muscles can’t support the joints properly, predisposing a person to joint degeneration, so exercise is also an important part of the natural treatment of osteoarthritis.