Rheumatoid Arthritis
Print This PostHYDROTHERAPY
41. Arthritic people are inclined towards poor blood circulation and suffer from aches and pains. There are various forms of hydrotherapy which can be of immense benefit for circulation and general well-being: the “cold dip” for circulation (see Annex); hot Epsom salts bath (see Annex); sea salt bath (see Annex); bicarbonate of soda bath; sauna or steam bath; hot and cold alternate compresses for local use; Epsom salt local bath or compress; hot compresses for pain relief. A warm sea salt bath before bed time can relieve muscle tension, ease aching joints and help you get a good night’s sleep.
NATURO-FOOD THERAPISTS
42. Our Naturo-Food Therapists, Goindis couple, have been associated with Naturo-Food Therapy for over 40 years and myself for about a decade. Today, we still thank NATURE daily for its wonderful gifts of natural foods and the opportunities we had to learn about their healing qualities. We have always endeavoured to use this divine knowledge for the benefit of the arthritic and other patients and have achieved excellent results where prescribed dietary regimes have been strictly followed.
ANNEX – EXERCISES FOR ARTHRITIC PERSONS
i) Flexibility Exercises
- 1. Lying on the Back
- 2. Lying on the Stomach
- 3. Standing
ii) Correct Body Posture
iii) Deep Breathing Exercises
- 1. “Hara” Technique Breathing
- 2. Abdominal Breathing
iv) Exfoliation of the Skin — Dry Body Brushing
v) Massage Oil Formulations
vi) Hydrotherapy
- 1. The Cold Dip
- 2. Sea Salt Bath
- 3. Epsom Salt Bath
Acidic and Alkaline Foods.
Diet Guidelines for a Healthy & Disease-Free Life
i) FLEXIBILITY EXCERCISES
Lying on the Back
Lie flat on the floor on your back with your arms in a comfortable position alongside the body and do the following exercises:
- 1. Bend your right knee and pull it up to your nose. Stretch the whole leg and lower it again. Repeat with the left leg.
- 2. Do the same exercise with both legs at the same time.
- Bend your knees and place both feet flat on the floor. Now spread the knees and then close them again.
- 3. Lift your right leg to as near a vertical position as possible and then lower it slowly. Repeat this with the left leg.
- 4. Pull your knees up and place both feet flat on the floor. Stretch your arms sideways at an angle of ninety degrees. Keep both knees together and let them fall first to the left and then to the right. The hips are allowed to rise off the floor, but shoulders should remain flat on the floor.
Lying on the Stomach
Lie, facedown, on your stomach with your hands clasped in the small of your back, with your head resting on the floor:
- 1. Raise your head and shoulders off the floor as far as possible. Lower and then rest them both before repeating several times.
- 2. To continue on from the previous exercise, lift your head and shoulders and turn your head to the left and then to the right.
- 3. Return to the starting position and stretch your arms alongside your body. Raise your left leg and then lower it again. Repeat with the right leg.
Standing
Stand up straight, with your legs apart to the width of your shoulders.
- 1. Move your hips to the left and then to the right. Take care to keep your shoulders still.
- 2. Swing one arm round and round and follow this with the other arm.
- 3. With your hands clasped loosely, bend forward and then backwards from the waist.
- 4. Bending forward, dangle your head and arms loosely, as if they are hanging from a thread. Keeping your knees stretched, count to five and then return to starting position.
- 5. Clench both hands tightly together and with your right leg stretched, lower your hands towards the left foot. Move the hands across the floor to the right foot, while stretching your left leg. Repeat this five times.
- 6. Cross your arms in front of your chest, swing them together sideways, and then across in the opposite direction.
- 7. Let your arms hang loosely beside your body, raise them up to shoulder level and down again. Try to bend your knees in rhythm with the arms.
- 8. Raise one leg out to the side, then lower it. Repeat with the other leg.
- 9. Pull your shoulders up towards your ears and then drop them down again, stretching the back and neck.