Rheumatism
The word rheumatism is derived from the Greek word
"rheuma" which means a swelling. This disease is recognised as one of
the most serious threats to health. It is a crippling disease which causes
widespread invalidism, but seldom kills. Rheumatism refers to an acute or chronic illness
which is characterised by pain and swelling of the muscles, ligaments and
tendons or of the joints. It affects men and women, both young and old. Quite
often, this disorder extends to the heart and the values and the lining of this
vital order becomes inflamed. It is the most common cause in 80 per cent of the
cases of valvular organic diseases of the heart.
Rheumatism, perhaps, more than any other disease,
although readily diagnosed, is never the same in any two individuals. There are
too many variations in the development of this disease. Broadly speaking,
however, rheumatism, which may be acute or chronic, can be roughly grouped into
two classes. These are muscular rheumatism which affects the muscles and articular
rheumatism which affects the joints.
The muscular variety is, however, far less common than
that affecting the joints. In the acute form, it is often found among children
and young people, but in the chronic form, it is generally confined to adults.
Symptoms
The onset of the acute type of rheumatism is
characterised by fever and rapid pulse with intense soreness and pain. In the
acute muscular type, the tissues become so sensitive that even the weight of
bed clothing aggravates the pain. The liver is found to be swollen. Acute rheumatism is extremely painful
but it leaves no permanent defects, if treated properly. It may settle into a chronic
state under a wrong mode of treatment. The symptoms of chronic muscular rheumatism
are pain and stiffness of the affected muscles. The pain increases when an
effort is made to move these muscles. IN cases of chronic articular rheumatism,
pain and stiffness are felt in one or more joints of the body, with swelling in
most cases. It is not usually fatal but there is a danger of permanent
deformity.
Causes
The chief cause of rheumatism is the poisoning of the
blood with acid wastes, which results from imperfect elimination and lowered
vitality. Meat, white bread, sugar, and refined cereals, to which modern man is
most addicted, leave a large residue of acid toxic wastes in the system. These
acid wastes are not neutralised due to absence of sufficient quantities of
alkaline mineral salts in the foods eaten. This upsets the acid-alkaline
balance in the body and produces the condition described as acidosis.
When there is abundant vitality, excess acids are
ejected almost before they reach any appreciable concentration in one or the
other of the acute cleansing efforts such as colds and fevers. When the
vitality is low, the acid wastes are concentrated around the joints and bony structure,
where they form the basis of rheumatism. The reason why large quantities of
acid wastes piling up in the system are attracted towards body structure for
storage is that lime, which is the most prominent constituent of the bony
structure, is an alkaline substance. In certain cases, infection from the
teeth, tonsils and gall bladder may produce rheumatism. The disease is aggravated
by exposure to cold water.
Treatment
In the case of acute rheumatism, the patient should
be put on a short fast of orange juice and water for three or four days. While
fasting, the bowels should be cleansed through a warm water enema. After the
juice fast, the patient should be placed on a restricted diet for 14 days. In
this regimen, orange or grapefruit may be taken for breakfast , lunch may
consist of a raw salad of any vegetables in season, with raisins, prunes, figs
or dates ; and for dinner, one or two steamed vegetables such as spinach,
cabbage, carrots, turnips, cauliflower, etc., and a few nuts or some sweet
fruit may be taken. No bread or potatoes or other starchy food should be taken;
otherwise the effect of the diet will be lost. Thereafter, the patient may
gradually commence a well balanced diet of three basic food groups, namely (i)
seeds, nuts and grains (ii) vegetables and (iii) fruits.
In case of
chronic rheumatism, the patient may be placed on an all-fruit diet for four
or five days. In this regimen, he should have three meals a day of fresh, juicy
fruits such as apples, grapes, peaches, pears, oranges, pineapples and grapefruit.
He may thereafter gradually adopt a well-balanced diet. The patient should take
ripe fruits and fresh vegetables in abundance. Lots of buttermilk should be
taken. The foods which should be avoided are meat, fish, white bread, sugar,
refined cereals, rich, indigestible and highly seasoned foods tea, coffee,
alcohol, sauces, pickles and condiments.
Raw potato juice is regarded as an excellent food remedy for rheumatism.
One or two teaspoonful of the juice pressed out of mashed raw potato should be
taken before meals. This will help eliminate an acid condition and relieve rheumatism.
In some rural areas in Great
Britain , it is a custom for rheumatic
suffers to carry a potato in their pockets, in the belief that the potato will
absorb in itself some of the acid from the sufferer’s body. The old potato is
thrown away and replaced by a new one after a few days. The skin of the potato
is also an excellent food remedy for rheumatism. The skin is exceptionally rich
in vital mineral salts and the water in which the peelings have been boiled is
one of the best medicines for the ailments caused by excess of acid in the
system. The potato peelings should be thoroughly washed and boiled for a few
minutes. The decoction should then be strained and a glassful of the same
should be taken three or four times daily.
Celery is another effective food remedy for rheumatism. A fluid extract of the seeds
is more powerful than the raw vegetable. This also has a tonic action on the
stomach and kidneys. Five to ten drops of this fluid should be taken in hot
water before meals. Powdered seeds can be used as a condiment. Lemons are also
valuable and the juice of two or three lemons may be taken each day.
Hydrotherapy
Other helpful methods in the treatment of rheumatism
are application of radiant heat and hot packs to the affected parts, a hot tub
bath, cabinet steam bath, dry friction and a sponge bath. Hot Epsom-salt baths
are also beneficial and should be taken twice a week for three months in case
of chronic rheumatism and once weekly thereafter. The affected parts should
also be bathed twice daily in hot water containing Epsom-salt after which some
olive oil should be applied. Fresh air, deep breathing and light outdoor
exercises are also beneficial. Dampness and cold should be avoided.
Source: www.healthlibrary.com through www.scribd.com
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