Alternative therapies for Arthritis

    Arthritis affects more than 23 million people in the United States according to the American Arthritis Foundation; only factoring in three main types of Arthritis- Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Juvenile Arthritis -not including a multitude of related or associated symptoms and disorders.      Traditional Western Medicine has many therapies which include prescription medicine and home treatments such as electric heating pads, warm compresses and alternating ice packs and gold compresses to treat pain which is more sharp and/or intense.
    Alternative therapies which may provide greater relief for those with Arthritis are available.  Some of the treatments- such as those centered around Hydrotherapy -are treatments for the symptoms with the addition of the use of water at specific temperatures to make better and already effective and established treatment of Arthritis. 
    According to John Abruzzo, M.D., director of the Rheumatology and Osteoporosis Center at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia Osteoarthritis patients receive  "better results with moist warm treatments such as moist heat packs, than with dry applications such as electric heating pads."  Heating a body of water to approximately 85 degrees Fahrenheit can be more effective  so long as the the affected part of the body is immersed in the water.  It is also suggested to participate in water activities such as wading, swimming and wading to maximize the therapeutic effects of Hydrotherapy on the symptoms of Arthritis. 
    An estimated 85% of Dr. (PhD.) Eve Campanelli's patients- a holistic practitioner in California -achieve partial relief from two glasses of Black Cherry Juice everyday.  Massage is an option which provides relief for many Arthritis sufferer's according to the American Massage Therapy Association.  And stretch based relaxation for 20 minutes twice a day can can help manage arthritic pain, according to a professor of psychology, Charles Carlson, Ph.D at the University of Kentucky. 
    Please visit the American Arthritis Association for more information or contact your primary care physician if you believe your Arthritic condition is not improved by any of the suggestions proposed by the above cited doctors and experts.