Causes of Arthiritis
Although we understand how some forms of arthritis start, we are still in the dark about other
forms. In this section we would like to summarize the known possible causes, and also contribute some ideas from Chinese medicine
and Qigong.
1. Weakness of the Internal Organs:
We already know that the condition of the internal organs is closely related to our health. According
to Chinese medicine, there are five Yin organs which are considered the most important for our health and longevity. These
organs are the heart, liver, lungs, kidneys, and spleen. Whenever any of these five organs is not functioning properly, sickness
or even death can occur. Furthermore, all of these five organs are mutually interrelated. Whenever there is a problem with
one, the others are always involved too. For example, gouty arthritis is caused by the improper functioning of the liver and
kidneys.
2. Defective Genes:
Only recently it was reported that some forms of arthritis are caused by defective genes, which
are inherited from one's parents. According to Chinese medicine, the genes are considered the essence of your being. This
essence is responsible for the production of hormones, from which Qi is generated. When this Qi is led to the brain, the spirit
is raised. When all of these conversion processes are functioning normally, the immune system is strong and sickness is less
likely. One of the main goals of Qigong is learning how to convert the essence into Qi efficiently and lead it to the brain.
3. Weak Joints:
Weak joints can come from heredity or from lack of exercise. The body is a living machine, so the
more you use it, the better condition it will be in. Chinese medicine believes that even if you have inherited a weak joint
it is still possible to strengthen it through Qigong. When you exercise, Qi is brought to the joint by the movement of the
muscles and tendons. This will nourish the joint and rebuild it.
4. Injury:
According to today's medicine, some forms of arthritis are caused by injury to the joints. Although
the injury may not be serious, it may have significant results. The injury can affect the muscles, tendons, ligaments, or
even the cartilage and bone. Whenever any joint injury, even a minor one, is not treated, the normal smooth Qi circulation
in the joint area will be affected. If the situation persists, the Qi imbalance can cause problems such as arthritis.
5. Aging:
Aging has always been the cause of many sicknesses, including arthritis. When you are old, the
Qi level in your body is low. Since your system is being deprived of the required amount of Qi, it starts to degenerate. One
of the main goals of Qigong practice is learning how to slow down the aging process by building up the Qi in the body.
6. Qi Deficiency:
Qi deficiency is responsible for many problems. It can be caused by emotional depression and sadness,
which can lead the Qi inward and make the body Yin. This deprives the outer body of Qi. When this happens, you will generally
feel cold. If the problem persists for a long time, the muscles and tendons will be affected by the the lack of Qi, and the
joints will be weakened.
Qi deficiency can have other causes, such as the weather. For example, your body's Qi is more deficient
in the winter, and there fore, arthritis can be more serious then.
Qi deficiency can also be caused by working for prolonged periods in a damp area, or by exposing
your joints to the cold.
7. Tension:
Tension includes both mental tension and physical tension, which are related and cannot be separated.
Constant mental and physical tension can increase the pressure on the joints. For example, some people are very tense and
grind their teeth in their sleep, which can cause arthritis in the jaw.
A lot of body tension is caused by the emotional disturbance which is related to your mental reaction
to stressful events. For this reason, learning how to regulate your mind is an important part of the treatment of arthritis.
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