Massage for Arthritic Hands

[Flaminblonde]

[sm=wave.gif] I am a qualified massage therapist but wonder if anyone can tell me where I can get information on the best treatment for arthritic hands. I have a friend who has recently moved to the area who is a musician and has osteoarthritis in hands. I want to be able to help but want to know the very best way of doing this. I have contacted ARC and ITEC but neither have been able to supply any information.

Looking forward to hearing from anyone who can help

[sm=sandrine.gif]

 

[Pompal 09.]

Hello Spike,

I have some osteoarthritis in both thumbs and my left wrist which isn't too severe at present. I have found lots of relief using green clay. This can be bought from essential oil suppliers or it is much cheaper in France. It comes in a powder form or ready made up. I use the powder form which needs to be mixed with a little water to form a paste. I then add 5mls St Johns Wort containing essential oils of Rosemary, Balsam Fir and Peppermint Mitcham. I have tried a variety of different combinations but have found this one to be the most effective. The green clay can also be used without the oils. Once the green clay is applied to the area, cover with cling film to keep is moist and also bits drop off as it dries out. I do this after seeing every client or at the end of each day and the pain is usually gone once it is washed off. My mother has osteaoathritis in the same places which is much more severe and some of her fingers are now permanently bent. I also make this mix up for her and she has found it effective too.

I also take 100mgs of Glucosamine daily and have heard that MSN is also very good. I occasionally wear supports between clients as well. I read somewhere that not eating red meat, potatoes and foods belonging to the mushroom family can also help but I am not a nutritionist so perhaps someone else can add to this.

Hope this helps your client.

 

[DW96]

with you on the green clay, you could also use kanuka and eucalyptus citradoria with St J Wort. However if you are using this on a client and are not an aromatherapist you could be liable so remember to explain that to him, there is also a wonderful stretching book by Christoper M Norris "The complete guide to Stretching" and it does some good hand, finger stretches, you can find it on Amazon approx £10 incl postage.

Hugs
T
xx

 

[Madison]

I don't know about the massage, but if they drink or eat pro-biotic foods that is said to help arthritis, as it works on the immune system.Maybe this could help your client?

Lisa

 

[MooDevooae]

My mum has osteo and she benefits from an extremely gently massage to the hands using gentle pressures to pressure points rather than any frictions or manipulations at the wrist, which she finds painful. It's nice to give gentle effleurage to the joints but using no real pressure as this is where most of the inflammation is. Unfortunately because of the damage already done, there's not much you can other other than provide pain relief. The specialist advises a good calcium / oseto supplement.

 

[immeflamp]

Has your friend considered taking a supplement called SAMe (pronounced "Sammy"), aka S-adenosylmethionine? It's not herbal or homone based, but is a molecule that all cells produce constantly. It is being used as a treatment for arthritis and also, curiously, depression.
It has only recently become generally available in the UK.
In dozens of European trials involving thousands of patients, it has performed as well as traditional treatments for arthritis and major depression, but without adverse side effects, even at high doses. Doctors have prescribed it successfully for two decades in the 14 countries where it has been approved as a drug.
In a dozen clinical trials involving more than 22,000 patients, researchers have found SAMe as effective as pharmaceutical treatments for pain and inflammation. But unlike the commonly use NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), SAMe shows no sign of damaging the digestive tract. And instead of speeding the breakdown of cartilage, SAMe may help restore it.

Oh dear, it's sounding like an advert...[&:] that's the danger of cut and paste!
No, I don't sell it, import it or have a business that sells it! - but my wife's been taking it and has seen quite an improvement.
You can download an e-book on it from the place we buy it from, on http://64.177.224.15/msg3.htm

L&L,

Chris