This is a great article about approaching a common ailment from a holistic perspective.
Many people are diagnosed with osteoarthritis and given the impression that this is just how it is from now on, they need to learn to live with the discomfort and should probably expect it to grow worse over time.
Nonsense!
Arthritis might not have a cure at this point in time, but there is so much we can do to support our joints and decrease inflammation.
Sadly the medical system is not promoting the necessary lifestyle changes that allow this to happen.
“It is what it is, and that’s that” seems to be the official response. How fatalistic and thoroughly inaccurate.
Total poppycock!
How you use, misuse or overuse your body matters! Your stress levels and diet matter. If you’re willing to address these factors, there’s a great likelihood that you can diminish pain and restrictions to mobility.
Naturally, I’m partial to gentle bodywork and energy healing as strategies for repair, although they aren’t mentioned in the article. The author teaches a form of movement re-education called Somatics that I find beneficial as well.
The important question is… are you willing to do things differently to have a different experience?
This is a great article about approaching a common ailment from a holistic perspective. Many people…
I get so frustrated when doctors diagnose arthritis and lead people to believe that there is nothing to be done about the pain they are experiencing. Gah!
True. There is no cure for arthritis. AND that doesn’t mean that it is a sentence to hopelessness and increasing discomfort.
We’re talking about inflammation of one or more joints. It can be quite unpleasant when left untreated. But don’t despair. It’s possible to manage inflammation and to create space in joints that might be jammed together because of tense muscles or imbalanced movement patterns.
(If you’re over 20, I can practically guarantee you have at least one imbalanced movement pattern; perhaps from an old injury that didn’t heal 100% or repetitive actions from a job or hobby.)
It’s possible to have arthritis and to minimize the resulting pain. I see it all the time and feel it in my own body. We can only benefit when reducing inflammation, tension and misalignment. Why not give it a try?
Reiki is an amazing holistic healing technique that utilizes spiritually-guided life-force energy to reduce stress and pain. Stress is a primary driver of inflammation. It stands to reason, and has been backed up by my 20+ years of experience, that minimizing stress can provide relief to inflammatory conditions.
Processing suppressed emotions is another result of this modality. Releasing anger and worry and grief that might be stored in the body blocking the energetic flow can help joint issues. And will help prevent us from tipping over into red zone where cortisol triggers more inflammation.
You know what doesn’t help joint issues? A diagnosis presented without hope of a remedy. It’s unclear to me why the medical establishment hasn’t grasped this fact yet. Despair feeds tension that puts greater strain on the joints.
Reducing stress and re-establishing a healthy flow of energy in the body can support the reduction of muscle tension. This encourages circulation, providing the muscles with fresh oxygen and removes cellular waste, reducing pain in the muscles which can trigger a cycle of clenching, pain, clenching and more pain. It also allows for more space in the joints.
Reiki can also support body awareness and increase access to inner wisdom, helping us to notice when we’re using poor body mechanics and guiding us to new patterns or even therapies, such as Somatics, Feldenkrais or Gyrokinesis that promote balanced, healthy movement patterns, or products that activate the body’s innate healing abilities.
It might take time to relearn how to sit, stand and move in alignment, meet with and metabolize feelings and trauma, manage stress and reduce inflammation. This is what holistic healing looks like: addressing the causes of imbalance rather than trying to eliminate the effects while carrying on with the offending behavior. It’s possible that these causes have been developing for decades; reversing this requires some patience and self-compassion.
But with some attention, effort and consistent Reiki support, there is hope of finding greater comfort and ease in the body and peace of mind.
To me, that seems like a much better option than doing nothing and bemoaning the doctor’s verdict.
I’d be delighted to work with you if you’re interested in pursuing Reiki treatment, or massage if you’re in the Philly area. If that’s not your thing, I’d encourage you to explore one of the movement therapies I listed above, an anti-inflammatory diet or some form of herbal or homeopathic support. Most importantly, know that there is hope, as hope is one of the greatest medicines available.
I get so frustrated when doctors diagnose arthritis and lead people to believe that there is…
A few weeks ago, when I was visiting family in Michigan, my brother invited me to the county fair with him. He was going to purchase a steer and a hog at the 4H youth livestock auction. I decided to go for the experience of witnessing something so very outside of my urban reality. And for the funnel cake.
Funnel cake has always been my favorite fair food. It’s a very rare, nostalgic treat that I know has negative consequences. If you’re unfamiliar with such delicacies, it’s basically fried dough with powdered sugar on top. The batter drops through a funnel, creating a haphazard pattern in the hot oil, no doubt vegetable oil from the 1990’s. (Vegetable oil might sound healthy; I assure you, it is not! It’s likely a blend of GMO corn, GMO soy, and GMO canola oils, high in omega 6 fatty acids, and a precursor to joint inflammation.) It comes with 18 napkins to help soak up the greasy residue.
The full scoop is that after surveying the food arena, there was no funnel cake to be found! I was all revved up for something decadent and ended up choosing a caramel apple. Then on the way out, by some miracle or devilry, I spotted the jackpot. I got my precious funnel cake even though I wasn’t hungry anymore.
After approximately 3 bites, my knee began to ache. It continued to stiffen and swell and even throb a little. This is the knee that I had injured (likely a meniscus tear) about 18 months ago. It doesn’t bend completely, but hasn’t bothered me in over a year. A few bites of a triple inflammatory (vegetable oil, wheat, sugar) and poof! It regressed fantastically. And stayed that way for nearly a week!
I’m here to implore you to consider what systemic inflammation you may be experiencing due to dietary choices. Wouldn’t you like to know what it feels like to have greater mobility and less pain? Do you really get so much enjoyment out of doughnuts that it makes the subsequent suffering worthwhile?
I never felt better than when following the elimination diet recommended by Dr. Alejandro Junger in his book “Clean: The Revolutionary Program to Restore the Body’s Natural Ability to Heal Itself”. If that sounds too daunting, perhaps begin by taking just a small step and replacing one sugary fried dough product with something more wholesome. Every step towards reducing inflammation is a step in the direction of optimal health, freedom, and greater quality of life.
I promise, once you begin to experience life with less pain, you won’t even miss that funnel cake. After this epiphany, I certainly won’t ever eat one bite ever again.
A few weeks ago, when I was visiting family in Michigan, my brother invited me to…
It’s been nearly two months since I posted about my journey of using alternative, holistic medicine to heal a knee injury. I am being super careful about keeping the joint aligned (twisting is that action that hurts), but otherwise not really applying myself to using all the tools in my arsenal. I suppose you could say I’ve fallen into complacent acceptance. I altered my behavior to avoid pain and went about my business.
I’ve learned to modify my home yoga practice to avoid deep flexion of the knee (alas, that includes child’s pose, one of my all-time favorites!) and several other postures that aggravated the injury, and now allow myself plenty of time to get where I’m going so I don’t add the stress of rushing to my compromised state. I continue to get lots of bodywork and have been massaging my own calves with a softball several times each week.
This probably could have gone on indefinitely as I rarely had pain and the occasional twinge served as a reminder to be more mindful. But then… I went hiking. How could I not? Spring in the northeast is gloriously beautiful and soon enough the heat and humidity will be oppressive and I will be hiding inside. Unfortunately the rocky terrain led to twisting movements in the knee joint. I will also confess to consuming an excess amount of sugar over the past few weeks, which I know causes inflammation and irritates my joints, even those in the healthiest state. Not a brilliant combination at all. 😦
Next time I’ll just go sit by the water and enjoy the vibes without re-injuring myself!
So I’m applying the motivation to prevent further discomfort and my recent learning to my new healing plan. Coming up soon will be a full on 4 week cleanse based on the book “Clean” by Dr. Alejandro Junger to eliminate inflammation. I’ve done this twice before and recognize that the rewards are spectacular. I notice an improvement in digestion, sleep, mood, skin, and mobility that is simply incomparable.
I’ve started formally applying the knowledge I gained from “The Intention Experiment” every morning, by actively visualizing the enjoyable activities I will explore once I am fully healed. If you’re skeptical about the healing power of the mind, this book goes heavily into documented experiments- quantum physics and such. It was a bit too science-y for me, but as a believer I’m not in need of proof . If you’re questioning the validity of the potency of intention, I suspect this book will change your mind.
And my newest, and perhaps funnest toy: sound healing. I took a class last week about the amazing effects of vibrations on our molecular structure. “The 7 Secrets of Sound Healing” by Jonathan Goldman is an amazing resource, and completely accessible to beginners. I’ve always known that music has a healing quality, but I have a much greater appreciation for it now. I’ve discovered YouTube videos with specific frequencies for healing knees! I’m listening to one now.
The great thing about holistic medicine is the absence of harmful side effects. Some people might be rolling their eyes at the seeming lack of action that I’m taking in the healing process, but it’s impossible to suggest that there will be any dangerous repercussions to my plan. Shamans and healers have been using these tools for thousands of years with incredible benefits. That gives me great hope. Knowing there will be no damage done (to body, mind, or spirit) gives me tremendous relief. Together, this provides the inspiration I need to keep up with my practices. Onwards!
It’s been nearly two months since I posted about my journey of using alternative, holistic medicine…
I’m feeling pretty stiff after a full day of giving massages. Yoga definitely helps, as does being aware of body mechanics while I’m working. Yet there is much room for improvement! I’m remember doing a cleanse earlier this year based on Dr. Alejandro Junger’s book, Clean. I’m easing my way into a purer diet based on his suggestions because of the spectacular relief I experienced. It was like traveling back to a time before I knew muscle tension and joint achiness!
I’ve done lots of detoxes over the past two decades. What stands out for me about this one was that I gave up all caffeine for three weeks. Usually I continue to consume green tea for the antioxidants and other health benefits while cleansing. I had a huge epiphany that even the small amount of caffeine in green tea contributed to feelings of anxiety, sensations of stiffness, and disrupted my sleep somewhat. As impressed as I was, somehow I fell back into my ritual of having two or three cups of black or green tea each morning. The symptoms returned so gradually that I just didn’t notice the impact of this discretion.
If your interested in the science behind cleansing, I do recommend his book. I’m not sure if it’s the caffeine itself, or perhaps an acidic internal environment that leads to inflammation. Having had the experience of it’s absence, I don’t really care about the cause! I’m just eager to return to that freedom of sleeping deeply and jumping out of bed at 6am, well-rested and free of all aches and pains. So I’m saying goodbye to an old friend. This morning I will savor my last cup of black tea with honey and coconut creamer. This afternoon I will linger over my last cup of green tea with a few drops of stevia. Tomorrow I will switch to rooibos “lattes” and licorice tea. Coz nothing tastes as good as pain-free feels!
Luminous Heart Reiki & Massage 