Joint pain can vary in severity and affect one joint or many. It can be caused by injury, repetitive strain, poor diet, flu or fatigue. It can be a symptom of many conditions including Long Covid, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and bursitis.
Acupuncture can help ease pain and reduce inflammation. In traditional Chinese medicine, pain is described as a Bi syndrome. There are 4 main patterns:
- Fixed pain
- Wandering pain: moves around the body
- Heavy limbs, swelling, numbness
- Swelling, hot, red joints
Categorising your pain will assist your acupuncturist in choosing the best acupuncture point prescription. Always be honest, no such thing as TMI (too much information).
Did you know – Dehydration can cause joint pain?
Dehydration can cause joint pain because of the lubricating effect it has on the joints. Drinking water can reduce the inflammation around joints and can stimulate the production of synovial fluid. Synovial fluid is the thick lubrication located between the joints providing a cushion so the bones don’t come into contact.
Reusable bottles of water can help you stay mindful of hydration.
Orange, tomato, pineapple and carrot juices are all high in the antioxidant, vitamin C, which can neutralise free radicals that lead to inflammation.
Research suggests that daily consumption of cherry tart juice can relieve joint pain. Follow the link below to see one such study: https://academic.oup.com/cdn/article/3/Supplement_1/nzz028.P01-030-19/5517107
