Arthritis

Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis often afflicts older adults and can be described as the "wear and tear" form of arthritis.

Osteoarthritis occurs when the matrix of cartilage in a weight-bearing joint demineralizes due to the body's naturally declining level of glucosamine.  This leads to brittleness and the development of bone spurs as the body tries to stabilize joints.

Sign/Symptoms:
-stiffness (especially in the morning)
-painful and/or limited motion
-no signs of inflammation.
-occasionally only hands or knees affected
-rarely are all joints affected at once.

Rheumatoid Arthritis:
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammation that affects the whole body. The joints that is affected includes hands, wrist, feet, ankles and feet. This form of arthritis is an autoimmune disease which means that the immune system is attacking its own tissues.

Symptoms include swollen and tender joints with constant pain and stiffness. Naturopathic medicine includes many approaches when healing arthritis. Naturopathic doctors look at the underlying causes of disease.

Treatment for Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis: Naturopathic doctors look at special diets, eliminating food sensitivities, botanical medicine, acupuncture and lifestyle counselling as potential methods of treatment.