Sunlight strengthens joints

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an disease that causes chronic swelling of the joints. While swelling of the tissue around the joints and inflammatory arthritis are characteristic features of rheumatoid arthritis, the disease can also cause inflammation and injury in other organs in the body. It is referred to as a systemic illness. Symptoms of the disease The joint inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis causes swelling, pain, stiffness, and redness in the joints. The inflammation of rheumatoid disease can also occur in tissues around the joints, such as the tendons, ligaments, and muscles. It is typically a progressive illness. It does not show any symptoms. If neglected, it causes joint destruction and functional disability. Simple alterations in diet, exercise and home remedies will give a lot of relief and prevent one from using pain killers, anti-biotics as well as steroids which is the conventional mode of treatment.

Naturopathy Treatments The primary intervention is patient education. Teaching patients how to eat, exercise and relax/nurture themselves physically and emotionally is crucial to naturopathic treatment. Therapies like massages, steam bath, sauna, sun-bath, colon irrigation (enema), hot and cold applications etc are employed as and when needed. Treatment schedule is usually individualised to suit the needs. In acute conditions, intermittent fasting, enemas, regular simple vegetarian diets, ice massages for swollen joints, steam baths, hot and cold infusions, mud applications, etc., are employed in the nature cure treatment for immediate relief from temperature, pain and swelling of the joints. Healthy life modifications such as avoidance of animal protein including milk and milk products will prevent frequent recurrences. Periodical fasting followed by enema and mud pack will improve body's resistance, slowing down the inflammatory processes in the body. Hot fresh vegetable soups, raw vegetable salads, boiled vegetable stews with soft cooked porridges or cereals are best suited for them. Exposure to sunlight is another important input in improving flexibility in the joints, and vitamin D helps in better calcium synthesis in the body. RA is also disease which indicates that stress can cause or trigger the disease process. Nature cure treatment includes, while giving in-house treatment, stress releasing techniques such as 'Gandhian prayers, post prayer lectures, group discussions etc. that act as mind catharsis processes'. Yoga, Pranayama & Kriyas: Simple joint movements (sukshma vyayama), breathing exercises and relaxation techniques are used to reduce suffering at varying degrees depending on the severity of the problem.