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"Applying a hot towel to my legs every night makes me feel much easier on my legs."
Li Juan said, with incredible excitement on her face. The 56-year-old sat in the consultation room, opposite her family doctor, Dr. Zhang, an experienced TCM practitioner. Li Juan's legs have been plagued by arthritis for many years, especially in winter, and whenever the temperature drops, the pain attacks without warning, making it difficult for her to sleep all night.
Li Juan, an elementary school teacher, has to stand for long periods of time for her job, which undoubtedly exacerbates her leg pain. However, half a year ago, she heard a small home remedy at a chance party - applying a hot towel to her legs every night before bed can relieve joint pain. At first, Li Juan was skeptical, but due to the long-term painful torture, she decided to try this method.
After six months of perseverance, Li Juan felt a noticeable change. Not only did she find that her pain had lessened, but her sleep quality had also improved greatly. This time she came to the hospital for a routine medical check-up, but at the same time, she couldn't wait to share the good news with Dr. Zhang.
Dr. Zhang examined Li Juan's leg and was surprised to find that the stiffness of the joints had been significantly reduced and the swelling had subsided. He listened carefully to Li Juan's talk about her home remedies, thinking about the scientific truth. The hot compress can improve blood circulation and speed up metabolism, which has a good basis in TCM theory. Heat can "dispel cold" and is especially effective for cold arthritis.
Doctors say that while traditional and modern medicine are controversial in many ways, the combination of the two can often lead to unexpected results. This is vividly reflected in Li Juan's case, where the effect of hot compresses in the treatment of arthritis is clearly supported by science.
Moderate heat is effective in reducing pain and increasing range of motion in patients with arthritis, while patients who are regularly treated with warm compresses have significantly lower joint pain and stiffness than those who do not use warm compresses.
Li Juan's practice at home has inadvertently verified this. The quality of her daily life has improved dramatically as a result. She can now do her daily activities more easily and even start trying some light physical exercises like walking and yoga, which she could not have imagined during her pain attacks.
Li Juan raised a question about how to further improve joint health in the future. In his answer, Dr. Zhang did not directly give specific drug recommendations, but emphasized the importance of comprehensive management.
He advised Li Juan to continue to insist on warm compresses, along with appropriate physical activity and a nutritionally balanced diet, emphasizing the idea that prevention is better than cure. He also cites his own previous medical records to illustrate the positive impact of sticking to this integrative approach for long-term patients.
As the treatment continued, Li Juan noticed that the skin on her legs had become smoother and more elastic. She was pleasantly surprised by this and asked questions during her next visit to Dr. Zhang. She asked, "Dr. Zhang, I noticed that not only did my leg hurt less, but the skin on my leg also looked much younger. What's going on? ”
Dr. Zhang smiled and explained, "That's one of the added benefits of a hot compress. The warm compress boosts blood circulation in your legs, which not only helps relieve the symptoms of arthritis but also improves the microcirculation of the skin. A good blood supply allows the skin to get more nutrients, slowing down the aging process and making the skin look younger and healthier. ”
What do you think about hot towel compresses on your legs? Welcome to discuss in the comment area!