Health Related Reading

Exercise is excellent at preventing gout, but it isn’t the best treatment when it comes to easing a gout attack.  However, this doesn’t mean that you need to turn to medication to ease your pain and discomfort.  There are plenty of alternative and complimentary remedies out there you may want to try first.  One such alternative or complimentary therapy is acupressure. 

What is acupressure?  Acupressure, also known as a Shiatsu massage, is an ancient form of Chinese medicine that is based on the same principles as acupuncture.   Essentially, the belief is that the body has approximately 2000 trigger points that are linked throughout the body via 20 different meridians.  Qi (life energy) flows throughout the meridians between the surface of the body and its internal organs.  Qi uniquely affects all of the trigger points it flows through bringing balance to both the mind and body.

When the body suffers injury or illness, qi becomes unbalanced.  Thus by performing acupressure on the particular points of the body related to the affected area, these points can be used to direct the nervous system to release muscular tension and increase blood flow to the injured parts.  In other words, balance is restored.

The main difference between, acupuncture and acupressure is the application. Acupuncture uses needles, while acupressure primarily uses fingers or thumbs to apply pressure to the trigger points to encourage circulation and self-healing in the body.  

What are the benefits of acupressure for gout sufferers?  Acupressure provides many gout sufferers with relief from pain, resulting from inflammation of gout-infected joints.  Acupressure can also:
- Increase circulation
- Reduce tension
- Relieves stress
- Enables the body to achieve deep relaxation
- Maintain health

How to perform acupressure – Acupressure is performed by applying gentle, but firm pressure to a specific trigger point with the finger, thumb or knuckle.  Pressure is usually applied for 15 – 30 seconds.    You will know when the trigger point has been found as you will feel a sharp jolt, immediately followed by a tingling or numbing sensation.  This sensitivity is normal, and usually decreases over time.  When pressure is released, there is often immediate pain relief.

Although acupressure is a treatment that requires no equipment, oils, etc. to work, it is important that you know how to properly perform acupressure before applying it to yourself or others.  There are plenty of online resources and self-help guides that can educate and teach you how to perform acupressure, but it is recommended that you seek treatment and instruction from a qualified and experienced acupressure therapist before engaging in acupressure on your own.

For instance, even though a diagram can show you every acupressure trigger point on the body, not all points can help you achieve relief from gout pain and discomfort.  Every illness has its own specific trigger points that need to be targeted based on the ailment and the area of the body where one is experiencing symptoms. 

For example, if you were to visit magnecare.co.uk, you would find a diagram of acupressure points and discover that the recommended trigger points to relieve gout pain are -
41 –Located just above the inside ankle
63 –Located on the lower back near the spine
65 – Located in the middle of the buttock
66 – Located on the backside of your hip
67 – Located directly behind your knee
68 - Located in the middle of your calf

However, depending on where you are experiencing gout pain, not all of these trigger points need to be addressed.

To find a local qualified acupressure therapist, ask your doctor, a physiotherapist, the local hospital, or check the yellow pages.  You can also search online by using your city name and “acupressure therapist” as the keyword search.

Remember, if you want effective pain relief from a gout attack, acupressure must be performed properly.

By Lisa McDowell. Sign up for a free newsletter & discover the cause of gout treatments. On the site you’ll also find more about the various gout home treatment options and how to get rid of gout.  

Acupuncture is another alternative treatment, like cupping therapy, which has been effectively used to provide some fibromyalgia patients relief from painful symptoms. However, unlike cupping therapy that has been adapted from traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is traditional Chinese medicine.

What is acupuncture? Acupuncture has existed for more than three thousand years and originated in China. It is an ancient Chinese practice that has been used throughout time for treating painful symptoms that occur from a variety of health ailments. Its purpose is to improve the overall functioning of the body by restoring balance to the body’s natural life force known as “chi”.

Chi flows through 14 meridians (unseen channels within the body), and each meridian is connected to various trigger points (known as acupoints) throughout the body. Thus, everything is interconnected, which means when specific acupoints related to the health problem are stimulated, this helps to bring balance to the body as a whole.

How is it performed? Acupuncture is a treatment that involves inserting short, solid hair-thin needles into specific acupoints on the body. There are numerous acupoints located all over the body. The ones that are focused on during a session are related to the health problem suffered by the patient.

Usually, before an acupuncture session begins, the acupuncture therapist with ask a fibromyalgia sufferer specific question related to the symptoms they experience, and if there are any other treatments they are currently using. The therapist will then check the pulse and the texture and color of the tongue in order to determine which acupoints should be targeted. A therapist may target as many as 15 acupoints in one session.

Once the acupoints are decided, the needles will then be inserted. The insertion of the needles is not and should not be a painful experience. Many people describe it as a slight pinch or a dull ache or tingling feeling in the affected area. Needles are usually left in the body for 20 minutes.

After the session, some people find they are totally relaxed, their limbs feel heavy, or that they are energized. However, bear in mind that everyone responds differently to treatment.

Are there any side effects? Some individuals experience side effects such as fainting, fatigue, headache and nausea, but this is extremely rare and usually only occurs in those suffering from complications, and when treatment is performed by someone who is not qualified. However, it’s a good idea to talk to you doctor about acupuncture treatment before perusing it.

How does acupuncture benefit fibromyalgia? Medical studies have found that acupuncture is quite successful at relieving fibromyalgia symptoms for up to one month after treatment. The symptoms it effectively relieves include:

• Decreases and relieves pain
• Reduces feelings of depression
• Increases energy and reduces fatigue

It is believed that acupuncture needles help to increase blood flow in fibromyalgia sufferers, and the increase in circulation helps decrease the number of sensitive points and improve overall muscle health. It is also believed by Western medicine that the reason acupuncture is so successful at reducing and relieving pain is because it increases the level of endorphins (natural painkillers in the body) and may block pain impulses to the brain.

How can you find an acupuncture therapist? Ask your…
• Health care provider
• Physical therapist
• Neurologist
• Hospital
• Fibromyalgia support group

You can also do an online search using the keywords “acupuncture” or “acupuncture therapy” and your city name.

Make sure you receive acupuncture therapy form a qualified and experienced acupuncture therapist. If a therapist does not have a license find out their educational background and how long they have been practicing acupuncture. It also doesn’t hurt to ask for referrals. Remember, acupuncture can be painful, cause bleeding, organ puncture, and lead to side effects if not performed correctly.

By Jane Thompson. To find out more about Fibromyalgia diagnosis and for information on Fibromyalgia characteristics please visit Treat Endometriosis, where you can also sign up for a free newsletter focusing on treating endometriosis.

Although you should take the time to relax, it’s also important that you explore other forms of fibromyalgia treatment so you can enjoy your life to the fullest. For instance, hydrotherapy is a unique treatment that has helped many fibromyalgia sufferers find freedom from pain, without all the nasty side effects that accompanies many other treatments.

What is hydrotherapy?
Hydrotherapy, also known as balneotherapy, is an alternative treatment that utilizes water as a method for curing illness and maintaining sound health. Hydrotherapy uses different water techniques to alleviate pain, improve circulation and health. Water has always been celebrated for its healing properties and it’s effectiveness in treating a variety of physical and mental illnesses. Hydrotherapy has been used for centuries in Europe and Asia.

How does it work?
There is not definite answer to this question. However, there are many theories about how hydrotherapy works, most of which are based on the two natural water properties - temperature and buoyancy.

Water is a unique element that has the ability to retain cold and heat in a form that makes it easy for body application. In turn, the water temperature placed on the body has an affect on the way the body functions. Specific temperatures assist in the constriction and dilation of the blood vessels. The change in blood vessels improves circulation, efficient removal of waste, and speeds healing.

The buoyancy of water is also effective for alleviating pain. Water provides support to the entire body and helps to reduce the strain on joints and muscles. In addition, water helps your body heal and find soothing relief because the natural motion of water assists in stimulating touch receptors of the skin. This stimulation creates electronic impulses that encourage the release of diverse hormones and chemicals that promote healing.

The following are different types of hydrotherapy:

Compress – Cold, luke-warm, or hot compresses are used to alleviate pain and promote circulation. The compress is usually a towel that is soaked in the desired water temperature and placed on the affected area. More than one towel can be used to achieve better relief.

Icing – Ice cubes are used to assist in inflammation, swelling and pain reduction. The ice is wrapped in a towel or plastic bag and applied for no more than 20 minutes to the body. This method is repeated every two hours over the course of one day.

Baths – This is the most popular form of hydrotherapy. The baths may either be cold or hot, and are used to reduce stress and give relief to symptoms. The baths usually take place in a whirlpool tub and the body is either partially or completely submerged. Often, special herbs are included in the baths to assist healing.

Baths are the most common form of hydrotherapy for fibromyalgia sufferers. In fact, a six week study that was done on fibromyalgia patients who were given hydrotherapy in the form of therapeutic whirlpool baths two times in one week, found that the participants had improved joint and muscle function, had less pain, and better sleep.

Hydrotherapy is a treatment that is performed by a qualified and licensed hydrotherapist, physical therapist or naturopath. In other words, it is not a treatment that anyone can perform. You must seek this treatment from an experienced professional. Speak to your doctor to learn about hydrotherapy in your community and to find out if this treatment is the right choice for you.

Keep in mind, hydrotherapy isn’t the only alternative treatment available for fibromyalgia sufferers. Another alternative and popular method of fibromyalgia pain relief is massage therapy.

By Jane Thompson. Sign up for a free newsletter & discover proven natural methods to help you combat the pain and frustration of Fibromyalgia. On the site you’ll also find more about the different early symptoms of fibromyalgia and which treatment for fibromyalgia works.