Ok, I am currently studying Massage Therapy and went to a conference on the weekend for arthritis. It was really very interesting. They had a look at the natural therapies that help with everything from pain to inflammation and much more. I was wondering if anyone uses either Herbalism, Aromatherapy or Massage to help with their arthritis. Both Osteo and Rheumatoid.

My mother sufferes quite badly from arthritis and has had knee operations for it. I think that maybe too many doctors are jumping right into surgery

Catriona, I have had RA for 9 years and I'm medication free. I started seeing a chiro back in January and I've never felt better. I started to get some arthritis symptoms when I started menopause, could have been the trigger. I love how the chiro and the massage therapist he uses have really helped me. I do have osteoarthritis in my neck along with the RA. I can't say enough good things about this type of healing.

That is great to hear.

I can almost guarantee you that your RA was brought on by menopause, it almost always in in women who get RA.

I am glad that you have found something that is helping you and I am even more pleased that it is natural. I am using massage and a little bit of aromatherpy to help my mum with her arthritis and sending her to a herbalist. Seems to be helping a lot with her pain. She can do more walking now than she could before.

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Re:Arthritic pain - I've suffered for almost 20 years & have tried many anti inflam's which really bothered my stomach. I have been on an awesome vitamin & mineral supplement since Oct/00 & have no more pain! The most important thing about supplements is to make sure the company follows the Goods Manufacturing Practice (GMP) & if they follow the GMP for Pharmiceuticals even better! Then you know you are getting exactly what it says on the bottle.

Hi -- Catriona

You want an "arthritis" natural healing testimony? I hope you are blessed by this one! (You're DEFINATELY on the right track!)

Your topic is a subject dear to my heart (and to my oints!)

In 1974, I was 40 years old, I was a "professional" housewife left with 2 teens and a 5 year old to raise alone, and had just been diagnosed with approaching blindness, (Dr. was gonna have to triple one lens and double the other!) and an accumulation of degenerative joint problems -- carpal tunnel, bursitis shoulder, tennis elbow, water on my knees, almost crippled fingers (I was a typist!) -- on and on -- finally lumped into one diagnosis, Degenerative Arthritis. (I watch out for labels -- even the RA and the other one you mentioned)

I was a MESS -- and had 3 kids to support -- I was DESPERATE! And QUITE a sick lady! I couldn't even AFFORD to have my eye-glass prescription filled.

Allopathic medicine said, "Nothing we can do for you, it's just your age. Here -- take this (mind altering drug) and expect to be in a wheelchair before long!"

JUST MY AGE!?!?!? At 41???!?!

Talk like that, dear friend, can improve your prayer life! It sure did mine!

I dropped to my knees, and said, "Lord, You said that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made." Those guys in the Bible lived HUNDREDS of years..."

Long story short -- I started hanging out at health food stores, and buying every book (well, I'm a bibliophile) I could find that MENTIONED joint pain.

Jump to now, I am a robust 68 year old grandma who drives a pair of mules to harness for the fun of it (well, lately, I TALK about it more than I do it, other stuff to do!) cut my own firewood in winter (really -- well, with a chainsaw!) and can outwork my kids and grandkids!

My eyes were CURED in 3 weeks! I never filled that prescription, and now wear almost the exact same eyeglass prescription I had on when they diagnosed blindness in 1974!!

Yep, the Lord cured me after that prayer -- only thing is, He didn't ZAP me like I thought He might! What He did was TEACH me how to care for the body the way He designed it!

And it all occured through those health food stores, and the books and info I got there about "natural" healing.

What I did was find out what was CAUSING the blindness -- AND the arthritis, and what was keeping my joints from STAYING put, when the chiripractor adjusted me -- and how to HELP me feel better, until I could STOP what was causing me disabling pain!

Now, you may think this is just another Texan telling tall tales -- but I promise you, I have much documentation to back me up! (More than 100 books in the bibliography of my 26+ year journal of the healing! I self publish it, and have never broke even, much less made any money on it -- don't even have it in print at the present -- and have no intentions of making money on it.) But I had to gather the info a bit here and a bit there, and when I put it all together, my puzzle was solved!

Voila! Just a total lifestyle change, and avoiding the elements that caused my pain (and my blindness) and some good de-tox, and I am pain-free!

Yes, things like massage I'm sure would have helped me, and the closest thing I came to it was a good chiropractor -- and yes, I subscribe to the herbal remedies. And yes, I take my calcium, and other supplements, including bromelaine.

I'm quite aware that this is a public forum, so am not about to tell any one what to do to get rid of arthritis and blindness, because I'm not a doctor -- just an investigative reporter and former ALMOST-invalid. (I didn't fall off no turnip truck!)

But for you, or anyone else who wishes to research it for oneself, just do an indepth study -- ask botonists, ask lay people who have gotten well, ask people who have beat the maladies -- and when you read "Not enough scientific evidence to support..." keep asking -- keep looking, -- keep on believing that you do NOT have to hurt!

I trust anecdotal evidence! I am SO blessed that SOMEbody put this "BOARD" up, so we can share "anecdotes" such as this.

You may wish to study the following poisonous elements that we (at least in our American society) either ingest, breath, or absorb into our skin!

Here's what I found to study:

SOLANINE POISON FROM THE PLANT FAMILY, SOLANACEAE. (Greives herbal book will help get you started)

REFINED SUGARS (a little book called Sugar Blues, by William Dunfy will get you started)

FLESH FROM ALL SCAVENGER ANIMALS (experience taught me this one -- only THEN, did I realize that the Scriptural laws warning against eating them was part of the Designer's plan! -- I'm not Jewish -- so I didn't think it applied to me! It wasn't for GOD, that He said "don't eat," it was for MANKIND!)

I came to the conclusion that the story In John 6, (I think it is) about that crippled guy who had been waiting 38 years for someone to put him into the "angel stirred waters," -- I think he had gone to the wrong place for healing! And I think that's what Jesus meant when He said what He did later, when He bumped into him in the Temple.

Happy study! and I hope that everyone reading this, will take responsibility for your own wellbeing! You live in that body -- and there was only one issued -- It's your responsibility to care for it -- not the doctors' -- not the pharmaceutical companies'!

Be blessed! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/round.gif

b

P.S. I'm in FULL agreement w/ your comment about some "knife happy" surgeons!

[This message has been edited by B. McRae (edited 07-14-2001).]

[This message has been edited by B. McRae (edited 07-14-2001).]

B McRae,
I applaud your effort & motivation to help yourself and the fortitude it must have taken to accomplish what you did!!!
Any chance that you could save us from all the research and just give us a 'do & don't' list that worked for you.(I do understand that each of us is different.) I am more interested in the arthritis part as I am diagnosed with several autoimmune diseases, one of which is Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Thanks so much, Ann