You can lessen the severity of rheumatoid arthritis with reflexology

Reflexology is a godsend for people who are debilitated by pain caused by arthritis and other similar ailments. An article in Modern Reflexology explained how one particular branch of this alternative medicine can help manage rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that afflicts the joints. Like all types of arthritis, it is an autoimmune disease. The immune system mistakenly attacks the linings of the joints, thinking that they are not part of the body — causing it to swell painfully.

Reflexology is tailor-made for autoimmune diseases like arthritis. It restores the natural balance of the body, greatly lowers stress levels, and improves your sleep. It also increases your blood circulation, thereby improving your body’s ability to detoxify itself, and reduce the amount of pain caused by arthritis.

While there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, reflexology can keep the pain and disability to a minimum. You will be able to enjoy life better if you are not hobbled with crippling pain. (Related: Study: Curcumin found effective at alleviating symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.)

Know these pressure points that relieve rheumatoid arthritis

Treatment calls for applying pressure on certain parts of the body. It does not need any special equipment. For rheumatoid arthritis, a single session will need around 40 minutes.

The first pressure point is between the thumb and the forefinger of the hand. Start by putting pressure on this point for a few minutes. It will bring a measure of relief to the patient.

The second point can be found in the webbing that separates the big toe from the second toe. It is recommended to put moderate pressure on the point of one foot for a short while before switching to the other foot for even treatment.

The next point is the spot between the fourth and the little toe. Found between the webbing of these toes and the ankle bone, it is a very sensitive part of the body. It is recommended to alternate between medium and strong amounts of pressure.

The fourth pressure point is at the lower end of the knee cap. Place your fingers upon your shinbone. Slide your fingers down the bone, making sure to move in the direction of the outside of the smallest toe.

The fifth pressure point is on the palm. It is found on the crease of the wrist, which is about one thumb away, as well as a finger apart on either side of the line that runs through the middle of the palm.

Any spots that are tender must be pressed with utmost firmness. Furthermore, if one hand or foot is experiencing significant amounts of pain, the pressure point on its opposite counterpart must be the one kneaded.

Unclog your chi channels by pressing the right pressure points

After each session, the recipient must drink a lot of water. This will help wash out the accumulated lactic acids and other toxins that have just been expelled from the joints.

Reflexology holds that chi flows through the body. If the natural pathways of chi are blocked, they cause inflammation and pain, which also happen to be common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

To that end, the fourth pressure point deserves particular note. It plays a big part in ensuring the strong flow of chi, making it important when it comes to providing relief and nourishment to the joints and tendons.

Unlike pharmaceutical drugs, reflexology comes with no negative side effects. As an alternative means to reduce and manage pain, it is highly recommended for people with rheumatoid arthritis.

ArthritisCures.news brings you more articles about natural solutions for arthritis.

Sources include:

ModernReflexology.com

NHS.uk