Can food help ease arthritis?
Managing its symptoms, the Traditional Chinese Medicine way
KUALA LUMPUR: According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it is more important to avoid food that trigger arthritic pains than eat those that can help reduce the pain.
Federation of Chinese Physicians & Acupuncturists Association of Malaysia (FCPAAM) president Prof Dr Ng Po Kok said that currently, there is no cure for arthritis, whether from mainstream or traditional treatment.
However, it is important for patients to manage their pain because when the condition is severe, it could lead to difficulties in working and sleeping due to swollen fingers, hot and painful joints, or prickly sensations, he said.
While doctors give anti-inflammatory pills to stop the pain and inflammation of arthritis, the TCM’s perspective on wellness strives to strike a balance between the yin and yang, Prof Ng revealed.
“When one has arthritis, the body’s yin and yang will be out of balance.
“When the yin and yang are balanced, we can manage the pain better,” he said.
In TCM, Prof Ng said this could be achieved by avoiding certain foods, changing one’s lifestyle and taking certain herbs.
He said that arthritis pain can be controlled so that people do not have to suffer from the pain.
“When it comes to food, it is more important to avoid certain foods rather than eat those that reduce pain,” he said.
Among the food that arthritic patients should avoid are duck, animal innards, soy bean, sardine, and shellfish such as crab and prawns, he said.
“They should also avoid eating too much red meat and nuts. While nuts can be eaten in small amounts, peanuts should be avoided.
“Beer is totally a no-no, but some wine is fine,” he said.
Prof Ng said those affected should also avoid processed food, food with preservatives, colouring and additives, and eat natural food.
While citrus fruits are natural food and can be consumed, sour food such as black vinegar and tomyam soup should be avoided, he said.
“Another important factor for arthritic patients is to avoid having late night suppers, and they should sleep before 11pm,” he said, adding that exercise is also encouraged.
If sleeping in air-conditioned rooms, the temperature should not be too low, preferably not below 22°C, he advised.
Prof Ng said that it is important for those with arthritis to drink lots of water daily – at least two to three litres.
While drinking some cold water is fine, one should not eat ice cubes because in TCM theory, ice cubes can disrupt the yin and yang in the body, he said.
They can drink barley water that is boiled from mixed raw and roasted barley and take more vegetables and fruits, but avoid man-
goes and jackfruit, he said.
They could also take some ginger as it helps remove “wind” in the body, he added.
On herbs that one could take, he said ba zhen helps improve blood circulation and boost the immune system.
Dang gui, one of the eight types of ba zhen, helps “produce” blood and when blood volume is increased, the body will be in a better condition, he said.
The other is dang shen, also known as poor man’s ginseng, which helps improve blood circulation and revitalise the body, he said.
“In TCM, one must have a strong immune system, and only then can the body fight other conditions,” he added.
Prof Ng cautioned that any mainstream medication and Chinese herbs are just temporary relief.
“People still need to manage their condition, if not, the symptoms could return,” he said.
He said for whatever condition that people suffer from, they should first see a physician for
assessment.