Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune systemic disease, with chronic evolution. It is a severe inflammatory process primarily involving capsule and cartilage of the joints, epiphyses, tendons and ligaments, causing deformities in joints and constant pains, reddening and heat in the affected areas. In late stages, the patient is impaired by ankylosis of the joints and very intense pains; the inflammatory process also involves the internal organs.

Rheumatoid arthritis starts by inflammation of the membrane lining the joint (synovitis), as response of the immune system to a local infection, to deposits of dead cells or toxins that cannot be eliminated from the body any more. The infection of the synovial membrane triggers the antibodies’ reaction of destroying the pathogen elements. However, by an immune misreading, the antibodies will also attack the articular tissue, developing towards the bones, ligaments, muscles and internal organs, unless an appropriate treatment is followed. This erroneous immune reaction also occurs where there is a genetic predisposition; it is triggered by such environment factors as: viruses, bacteria, action of certain toxins, a much polluted living environment, and action of certain chemical agents.

In order to arrest the inflammatory process and the decay of the articulations, the acupuncture doctor must remove the effects of triggering factors and restore the deteriorated tissue areas. By acupuncture, phytotherapy and tibetan thermotherapy, the local metabolism and the vascularisation in the affected areas will be quickened and the toxins as well as the cell residues will be taken by blood and lymph to be removed from the body. Thus the inflammatory process is arrested and the pain intensity will decrease. After the stages of cleansing of the inflammed areas, follows the regeneration of the affected tissues. Certain herbs and the elements they contain are combined, in order to manage the regeneration of the cartilagineous and osseous cells and to restore the articular structure in the late stages. Unfortunetly the treatment cannot be applied if the structure of the ligaments is completely destroyed.