How to Use Alternative Medicine to Treat Arthritis

Arthritis refers to the swelling of muscles and joints, a condition that's often accompanied by pain, stiffness and swelling. There are several different types of arthritis, each with its own underlying cause and respective conventional medicine treatment. There are also a variety of alternative medicine treatments used in alleviating the symptoms of arthritis, like certain forms of exercise and fire cupping. Exercise is usually encouraged by medical practitioners, but not often prescribed. Cupping, a regiment that uses cups to create a vacuum on the skin in order to draw out the stagnant toxins in the body, is virtually unheard of in conventional medicine. Follow these steps to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Mini trampoline
• Stair climber
• 8 to 13 cups

Exercise to Treat Arthritis Symptoms

1. Buy an inexpensive miniature trampoline, commonly called a rebounder. Trampolines are an excellent form of exercise for arthritis sufferers. You can use this form of exercise 3 to 4 times per week for about 20 minutes each time.
2. Sign up for a course on the "Alexander Technique," a way to relieve tension while improving balance. It takes approximately 30 to 40 sessions to completely master the technique; but it's a calm, easy way to exercise for people with arthritis.
3. Consider buying a stair climber. While a stair climber may not be suitable for everyone with arthritis, many sufferers can alleviate symptoms through consistent, low-key use.
4. Get more exercise suggestions to treat arthritis at the "Alternatives for Arthritis" Web site (see Resources below).

Use Cupping to Treat Arthritis

5. Gather 8 to 13 bell-shaped, 4-ounce cups.
6. Place an inverted cup over an open flame for several seconds.
7. Put the cup immediately on the back, taking care to avoid skin tags, moles and scabs.
8. Proceed with the rest of the cups, placing them in a parallel, vertical pattern.
9. Get more information about cupping and arthritis from the "Center for the Healing Arts" Web site (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• If you want to try cupping to relieve your arthritis symptoms, it's a good idea to seek out a professional with experience in cupping to perform the procedure.
• Alternative medicine treatments aren't intended to replace the care of your primary physician. If you experience severe or sudden pain, shortness of breath, serious injury or unexplained bleeding, contact your doctor immediately.