NOTE: There are at the end of this article, many questions (in the comment section) from people like yourself who have been suffering from knee and joint pain. There are also answers to these questions that may be very helpful to you. I encourage you to read them.
If you’ve been struggling with conditions that seem stuck, held back by old habits, unhealthy relationships, past pain or memories you can’t let go, this blog may offer you some ideas to help you move towards some peace and hope within your situation. (If not, in the comment section, ask your own personal question)
Metaphysical Cause of Knee and Joint Pain
“Knees are like shock absorbers, taking the strain between the weight of the body above and the ups and downs of the terrain below. Knees are major weight carriers, so if that weight becomes too heavy the knees may show the strain. This weight may not be physical; psycho/emotional weight can be just as heavy.
Water in the knee indicates a holding of emotional energy, particularly a resistance to surrender, or there may be too much emotion to cope with and the weight is being carried in the knees.
An inflamed knee indicates that something or someone is making you feel irritated or angry, and you will not give in.
A dislocated knee shows a resistance to giving way. The knee can no longer take the pressure so it collapses and you are unable to maintain your standing. To dislocate is to lose.
What ground have you lost and what do you need to do to regain it?
How can you reclaim your balance and dignity?”
YOUR BODY SPEAKS YOUR MIND ~ by Deb Shapiro
Of the many different emails I receive from individuals daily, a good portion of these messages are desperate pleas to metaphysically understand chronic pain/stress of the knees, hips and upper/lower spine. Several of these individuals now face the prospect of rehabilitation, surgery or both, and have admitted they ignored their knee pain until it became almost crippling. Much of the musculoskeletal system resembles familiar things like hinges, balls and sockets, and even levers and pulleys. But fixing them is more complicated than adding WD40 or exchanging/removing old parts.
From reading Deb Shapiro’s metaphysical understanding of knee pain, we’ve discovered just how complex joints are, with their ability to flex, move and interact with the world. To help propel us forward the knee (for example) is restricted in moving only in one direction, working like a hinge, with a slight rotation. Also, the knee doesn’t have a deep socket, like the hip to hold our bones in place, instead the ends of the thighbone (femur) and shinbone (tibia) slide around each other held in place by 12 muscles, tendons and 10 ligaments.
“Syndromes and injuries associated with the knee include bursitis, gout, tendinitis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and avascular necrosis as well as sport-related ligament tears, bone avulsion, ligament, sprain, patellar dislocation, meniscal tears, ruptured tendons, fractures. IT band syndrome and patellofemoral syndrome. Many of these injuries and syndromes can be treated with physical therapy. Knee replacement should only be considered when the knee condition is significantly advanced or severely painful such that no other form of treatment provides relief and the degree of impairment affects the quality of life.” Pilates for Hip and Knee Syndromes and Arthroplasties ~ by Beth A. Kaplanek, Brett Levine, William L. Jaffe
Improper shoes are often the culprit in knee pain. A shoe must have sturdy sides to properly support and align the foot, ankle, knee and hip. I’ve known a number of people who resolved serious knee pain and knee dysfunction with a change in footwear or a visit an orthopedic shoe store.
“Many aches and pains in the lower legs, the back and even the shoulders can be traced to issues in the feet. The feet touch the ground, they are our foundation. If our foundation is weak problems may arise in the rest of the body. If the foundation of a house is out of alignment, the walls will be crooked and might crack. If the feet are misaligned or if the body is off center, it will be difficult to find a centered pose.” THE NEW RULES OF POSTURE ~ By Mary Bond
Metaphysically, joints carry unresolved pain and trauma from the past; they can be stuffed with angry (crystalized) emotions caused from childhood feelings of rejection and low self-worth. Early experiences of love may not have been freely given but withheld as a form of punishment…the child felt abandoned/neglected, overly controlled and restricted. He or she may have reacted (and may still be reacting) to this treatment with feelings of anger and frustration and physically acting these feelings out.
“KNEES, like the neck, have to do with flexibility; only they express bending and pride, ego and stubbornness. Often when moving forward, we are fearful of bending and we become inflexible. This stiffens the joints. We want to move forward, but we do not want to change our ways. This is why knees take so long to heal; our ego is involved. The knees take a long time because we get our pride and our self-righteousness involved.
The next time you have a knee problem, ask yourself where you are being self-righteous, where you are refusing to bend. Drop the stubbornness and let go. Life is flow, life is movement; and to be comfortable, we must be flexible and move with it. A willow tree bends and sways and flows with the wind and is always graceful and at ease with life. YOU CAN HEAL YOUR LIFE ~ by Louise L. Hay
Children who are restricted, exposed to physical violence or violent tempers, feel restless, insecure and become inflexible from the shock; they can overreact (temper-tantrums) strongly to changes/stressful events or they run away—splitting when things become too emotional or intense.
“By misconstruing the musculoskeletal system as exclusively involved with posture and locomotion, we have failed to appreciate its central respiratory, circulatory and metabolic roles. Thus, when a middle-aged man says, “I don’t walk much anymore because my knees hurt,” we regard the statement as meaning…he will have to cut down on his caloric intake to avoid gaining weight. What’s happening, though, is that his systems are beginning to shut down, which impedes and weakens his internal systems and organs. His complaints slowly escalate from “I can’t walk because of my knees,” to “I’ve lost my appetite,” My stomach hurts,” “I can’t sleep at night,” “I feel dizzy,” “I have high blood pressure,” and so on. These are all effects of motion starvation.” PAIN FREE – A Revolutionary Method for Stopping Chronic Pain ~ by Pete Egoscue with Roger Gittines
The musculoskeletal system executes all our acts of will, expresses our conscious and unconscious habits, breathes air into the lungs, articulates our emotional expressions and implements all thoughts. The musculoskeletal system enables us to achieve external balance, to twist, bend, turn upside down, to be still or active and to accomplish all cleansing and breathing exercises. The nervous system and musculoskeletal form a neuro-musculoskeletal system that unifies all aspects of our actions and activities.
The musculoskeletal system does more than move the body, it also serves as a movable container and protects our internal organs.
“Bones and connective tissue form our skeletons, but we also have an energetic cytoskeleton that runs through our fascia, where the wiring of our secondary nervous system is. This energy field connect back to the heart and its strong electromagnetic field. And every energy meridian you have running along your fascia is connected to a major organ system. When you work with your muscles, fascia, and connective tissue to affect the energy flow along that meridian, you bring energy and health into the corresponding organ system. According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), bone health is governed by the kidneys, where chi is stored. The kidneys keep your blood clean and your bone marrow healthy and flowing. When your fascial tissue is well hydrated and you do stretches related to the kidney meridian, it helps keep your bones healthy. “ Christiane Northrup
KIDNEY/BLADDER MERIDIANS
The kidney meridian and the kidneys themselves, represents the water element. Emotionally the water element relates to self confidence, courage and vitality. The kidneys are also the ‘creator of power’ of your skills and abilities and the repository of knowledge. This is the yin aspect of wisdom, while the bladder, yang, represents the utilization of resources that are stored in the kidneys to help support your progress through life. A water imbalance can make you feel tired, lack self-confidence, feel fearful, lack energy and vitality. Also, the movement of water is felt inward and experienced low down in the body, affecting the low back, pelvis and legs.
The kidneys are associated with life, depth, flow, power and purification. Water is essentially known as the source of life; it governs the deeper structures, e.g., tissues and bones (including marrow) and the spinal cord. Water has the ability to reach back to our deepest past, its movement and flow allows water to cleanse and flush away and prevent stagnation. When our kidneys are out of balance, the Will takes over and doesn’t know when to stop. So we tend to work and work, and push and push until we’re exhausted and even then we will drive ourselves harder, using up all the reserves of the body.
The kidneys have a direct influence on urination and they also control all fluids in the body. They also rule the bones, have a direct influence on our growth and development as well as our sexual organs, our fertility, our aging (longevity, premature aging) and with the central nervous system. have a connection with our growth and development; our aging.
The kidney meridian point(s) K27, are located where the two collarbones meet near the neck area. K27 is the last point of the kidney meridian, and tapping it allows you to breathe more deeply; it relieves anxiety, exhaustion, a scattered-mind (reverses the flow of energy) and supports the immune system.
Flushing Kidney, Liver and Spleen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJhzKe1trp8
The bladder meridian is known to rule the nervous system. It is connected to all the organs and brings energy to fuel the brain. It is the longest meridian of the body, going from the top of the head, down the back and legs and off the toes.
A bladder imbalance is usually because of overwork or stress – and – this intense feeling of having to meet deadlines are the same tension and urgency to the need to empty the bladder. So getting up during the night is a sense of relief when we can finally let go and allow our whole body to relax … this is exactly the kind of release we have difficulty with when we have a bladder imbalance. If it’s constantly out of balance then fatigue becomes chronic. Also fear is an emotion of the water element which manifest more as tension, anxiety and restlessness.
On a psychological level, the bladder meridian is where we conceal (hide) from ourselves and others, old wounds, fears, jealousy and guilt. In fact any unwanted baggage that’ we can’t let go of is pushed to our back, affecting our energy levels and exhausting us.
Problems with the bladder meridian can cause headaches, sinus pain, back pain, knee pain, neck pain … unable to complete things, due to lack of energy, being inflexible and fearful.
Bladder meridian https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9MALPOoi40
THE LIVER/GALL BLADDER MERIDIAN
The Solar Plexus is a major contributor to our energy, it houses a lot of organs, in particular the stomach, liver, pancreas, and gall bladder. Interestingly, the stomach, liver and gallbladder meridians all flow around and by the knee (the quadricep muscles) which are the largest, heaviest and most powerful muscles in the body.
When the stomach, liver or gallbladder aren’t working as they should, they can cause painful knots in the quads and thigh muscles. These will then pull on the knee. It can also affect a muscle called the sartorius which is the longest muscle in the body. The sartorius doesn’t send pain to the knees but it can make the inner knees so hypersensitive to ‘pressure’ that it’s uncomfortable to lie on your side with your knees together. Tight sartorius muscles can also compress the nerves in the thigh area, also affecting the knees. When the meridians are blocked or not flowing as they should, especially from the solar plexus area, there’s a lot of unexpressed emotions here…hurt pride, anger, fear, loss and rejection and all these start to accumulate and cause intense irritation and frustration.
There are pressure points which you’ll find below, for both the quads and sartorius and other muscles in the thigh and tibia area.
The meridian of the gall-bladder begins at the eyes and since both the gall bladder and liver rules the tendons and elasticity of the muscles .. it enables us to make the connection between our perception and our physical response in order to make decisons and carry them out. Poor vision and poor muscular coordination may make us clumsy and accident prone. Weak tendons and poorly circulated joints make make us inactive physically and susceptible to injury and arthritis as well.
The liver makes long-term plans, where the gall-bladder makes moment-to-moment decisions. The decision-making of the gall-bladder needs to involve the ability to take risks as well as the determination to stand by the decisions we’ve made. When the gall bladder is deficient, there is timidity, hesitation and a reluctance to take risks.
The gall bladder can even go off balance when we’re under great stress and anxious about something .. say a job interview or driving test. When this happens and the gall bladder overreacts, our bowels become spastic, we feel weak in the knees with little confidence in ourselves. Weak tendons and poorly circulated joints make make us inactive physically and susceptible to injury and arthritis as well.
The liver deals with family troubles and our ability to think, make decisions and plans without having to explain to others. When we depend on others to make decisions for us, this weakens our self-esteem and our liver/gall bladder. Many times there are hidden emotional feelings that we’ve conveniently tucked away and believed they were gone. But they are still there and they’re still affecting you.
The liver is known as the receptor of family guilt and the concerns of our deeper self. Depending on our genes and eating habits the liver will set off specific attitudes and emotional reactions. It houses all our memories, emotions, pitfalls, death of loved ones, illnesses, etc., It can cause doubt and uncertainty about our life and lean us more to the past then to the future. It affects our self esteem and the ground we stand on.
Acupressure points for knees and meridians
http://www.herbalshop.com/Acupressure/Acupressure_43.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srbiCyv90k8
Quadricep muscle acupressure points http://www.ask.com/youtube?qsrc=1&o=6635&l=sem&q=acupressure+points+quadriceps
Sartorius points..this video is short but shows you the points. This area can make the knee hypersensitive…massaging on this points in a circular fashion will ease up the energy and the meridians too http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlHFFqyBOI0
LOW SELF-ESTEEM
At the heart of self-esteem lies core beliefs about yourself, reflections of your identity as well as truths/expressions about yourself. Conclusions you have about yourself are based on your experiences in life and messages you received from others (parents, siblings, relationships) about the kind of person you are.
To the degree we doubt our worthiness, we limit or sabotage our efforts, and undermine our relationships, finances and/or health. If you suffer from low self-esteem, speaking out is difficult and you may have such a strong fear of failure that you likely avoid many challenges and opportunities coming your way.
It’s possible you didn’t have the security and bonding of a normal parent-child relationship. Were you raised by authoritative parents who stressed overachievement and set unrealistic goals? A child raised by parents like these may feel anxious when he or she fails at some task and will be tempted to put off such tasks in the future. This may have resulted in feelings of low self-worth, where you constantly drag yourself down by pointing out your flaws, failures and shrugging off compliments by others.
Those with low self-esteem often come across a cold (stuck-up) or distant to others, when in fact, they’re sad. Sad about their self-imposed isolation, sad about their personal goals and desires which lay unfulfilled, and sad about their loss of passion which looks forever lost.
If there is no downward push through the legs and no upward transfer of force into the torso, the spinal muscles and upper body will have to overwork to compensate for the lack of power communicated from the base.
The brain must be externally stimulated if it is to move skeletal muscle. Lack of stimulus means our bodies have lost the ability to cope with the physical demands of our life. When we get sluggish and stiff we start to hurt…our knees and feet turn outward, our shoulders become rounded, and/or our hips become misaligned.
“If a person lost would conclude that after all he is not lost, he is not beside himself, but standing in his own shoes, on the very spot where he is, and that for the time being he will live there’ but the places that have known him, they are lost …… how much anxiety and danger would vanish”. Henry David Thoreau
You cannot change who you are. Developing a strong self-esteem is not a matter of making yourself into something you’re not. It’s a matter of allowing and accepting yourself as you are, right here and now! The only risk in all this is to get to know yourself more fully and in new and different ways. When we get to know our ‘true-selves’ we discover there never was anything wrong with us and that ‘we have everything we need, inside us’ to live a creative and fulfilling life.
CASE STUDY ONE
One woman I treated for knee tendonitis/rheumatoid arthritis, moved 7 times in 3 years. Anne (not her real name) a freelance reporter, put way too many miles on her hips and knees, ignoring the danger signs and ‘playing down the pain’. When at a movie, she had to know where the EXIT door was at all times. Having to continually make ‘abrupt fresh starts, she wasn’t able to build long-lasting attachments to people, places or experiences—instead she was constantly having to try and make new friends all over again.
All this took a toll on Anne’s physical body (hypertension, panic attacks, digestive problems, headaches) and especially her knees which were crumbling under the pressure. Anne’s body was warning her, she needed a healing regime to help her slow down and come to terms with and transcend her childhood wounds. She also needed to learn to slowdown, relax and learn to rely more on her intuition.
“It really hurts when I look at my situation” … “I’ve wasted so much time and been so hard on myself” .. “I so want to feel secure and settle down, especially now as I’m approaching 40s…..” In Anne’s case, the slightest threat or fear of ‘imprisonment’ caused her to look for the fastest escape route.
When we aren’t able to express our feelings or fears, we don’t feel safe or secure. When we don’t feel safe, we either withdraw or get angry. This is where I think Anne’s anger came from. Either way, our anxieties grow and our self-expression shrinks because we can only say and behave what is allowed to be seen.
Every person has a unique story and often these stories are heartbreaking. Anne came to the clinic where I was working because she knew her body and her life were totally out of her control. She felt overwhelmed by fears and worries, overwhelmed by anger and guilt—deeply lacking in self-confidence and self-esteem—beaten down by physical and psychological abuse.
“Your body is providing a painful reminder that you are not as flexible as you believe. Remember that your body will warn you of things you are not conscious of. You don’t have to fear losing control by bending to the will of others or accepting knew ideas. Allow yourself the flexibility to see things from another perspective. You have misinterpreted bending to mean “on your knees in submission.” You may have some latent fear of being too flexible related to one of your parents. Address this and realize that you are distinctly different from either of them and, although the apple may not fall far from the tree, your life is your own. It doesn’t hurt, however, to be a little flexible and accept some help once in awhile from those who care. … Allow yourself the flexibility to see things from another perspective .. you have misinterpreted bending to mean “on your knees in submission’….. Misalignment of the knees indicates difficulty standing up straight and in moving in a straightforward direction toward goals or future endeavors. Your Body is Telling You: Love Yourself! ~ Lise Bourbeau
CASE STUDY TWO
Another client, Tony (not his real name) with serious knee problems (one knee replacement), said .. “I’ve found throughout my life, when trying to assert myself, I was either punished for it or failed miserably with it.
When we experience limitations and restrictions in our lives, these are often created by unresolved emotional patterns and attachments to the past. Serious knee damage can be caused by intense emotions and brisk impulses that are not spontaneous but have a stiff forced quality to them….most likely caused from doing the opposite of what an individual wants to do. Tony was brought up with ‘everything in life doesn’t come easily’, and that strict control over every area of his life was the only way to succeed in life. Order in his life is serious business. When his knees ‘buckle under pressure’ because something didn’t go as planned, he cruelly snaps at other people, then harshly criticizes himself for being lazy and irresponsible.
Tony’s wounds have to do with issues of self-esteem and self-worth, and his use of power in the world. No doubt he has had his personal power stymied, highjacked, or squashed by others – usually people of significance – such as parents, teachers, older siblings, etc. Tony actually suffered a split between his tightly controlled rational mind and his repressed drives and feelings. He was caught in a conflict between what he’d love to do and what he ought to and must do….Tony constantly found himself being forced into a mould created by his parents when just a child. Because of this, he doesn’t trust his own judgements and has trouble trusting others and following through with his plans. Physically this creates problems with his feet, ankles, legs and knees. He also suffers from restless leg syndrome.
CASE STUDY THREE
When Carley first contacted me, she had no idea why her rheumatoid arthritis had suddenly flared-up causing her excruciating pain. To get to the heart of the matter, I scheduled a distant-healing with her, to help both of us understand what was metaphysically going on.
Reiki and other forms of healing, helps us ground our energies by gradually reconnecting with our feelings. Our feelings help us understand our own unique perspective on the world and they reveal ‘unfinished business’. Feelings inform us there’s something we need to attend to..feelings are doors into our inner selves. Beyond each door lies information about our past which can set us free in the present. However, if we keep these doors shut, we miss out on opportunities to heal ourselves. Not only that, it takes an awful lot of energy to barricade a door, that if opened, could be used to heal the body.
Bones are basically crystallized energy of our life and experiences. They represent the deepest core of our being, the unconscious. Given their composition of minerals, are related to old memories recorded in this life-time or in previous lives. The many traumas we “agreed” to partake on in this lifetime, constantly forces us to reassess and change direction. Change just doesn’t happen. It has to wind backwards first, before literally screeching to a halt and then going forward.
Relaxing deeply into her physical body, Carley’s memories took us both back to her childhood, when she had been diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in her knees and joints at the age of seven. It was during this time, her parents were called to work in a different country, leaving Carley with her elderly grandmother.
It was difficult for Carley to conform to her grandmother’s expectations, who projected a rigid code of conduct that she had to adhere to even if her grandmother did not. There was also a lack of spontaneity in their relationship or any real demonstrations of affection or love. When I asked Carley to express what she felt living with her grandmother, the first word out of her mouth was ‘Empty’. “I did things because they were expected of me .. I felt angry, I felt controlled .. I resented her for that! But she was old, this made me feel guilty to yell at her … I held all those resentful, hurtful feelings inside”.
“It is within the chest that we express many of our feelings, particularly to do with ourselves; these feelings may include our sense of self-value or self-dislike, our ability to love ourselves (from which we can then love others) and, conversely, feelings of anger or frustration with ourselves. Tension in this area will build a wall of armour, protecting against hurt or rejection…..it is this area of the body that harbours our innermost feelings which then find expression through our relationships, downwards through the pelvis and legs or upwards through the arms or voice.” The Bodymind Workbook ~ Debbie Shapiro
Six months after her parents left Carly started experiencing severe pain in her lower extremities and spent a good part of her young life in hospital. For two years, Carely’s parents never knew she was ill or in the hospital. Her grandmother never told them!
Children who are prompted to do exactly what is expected of them, without taking their own needs and feelings into account, suffer from intense constrictions throughout the whole body. This constriction severely inhibits the breathing process, causing the metabolic action in their body to almost cease. When this happens, tissue in the human body becomes condensed (fossilized) because of traumatic experiences. This ‘fossilization’ can be linked to chronic conditions such as gout, arthritis and skin diseases.
I talked with Carley about the chakra system (whirling energy centers) of the body and in particular the base/root or 1st chakra – this chakra has more unconsciousness patterns and beliefs within it than any other center. These become activated when our survival is threatened. The base chakra becomes dysfunctional when we sustain a shock to our system. Whenever we face a threat or unknown danger the base chakra can become paralyzed and frozen. Overtime this can show up as problems with the pelvis, rectum, hips, legs and feet which channel the energy of this chakra. Each step we take defines our right to live our own life and helps recalibrate its vibrations and strengthens our bond between our spirit and the earth. The 2nd chakra or sacral is about our emotional feelings and our self-image. It represents the historical record if our awareness from the time of our birth to the present. Our feelings don’t represent our awareness of others but they represent our awareness of ourselves in relation to others – the impact of experience with others.
HEALING KNEE AND JOINT PAIN
“When you feel bad and pretend to feel good, your are in denial. This is a form of resistance and it causes internal conflict. A person who is conflicted usually internalizes feelings which results in physical problems or addictions. Any time you are not true to your feelings, your energy level drops. Any time you deny a feeling, you give it more power. Unresolved feelings continue to recycle and resurface until they are resolved.” Joe Nunziata ~ Spiritual Selling
Whenever you become aware of your body and its position, you immediately experience relaxation and a flow of energy because you are listening to it more closely than before. You will become aware of your presence, your form and your communication with your body and your surroundings. At first you may be restless and feel as though you are thinking thousands of thoughts…don’t worry…if you subconscious is trying to remind of you of things you need to do, write them down , acknowledging you will take care of them afterwards…this will help to relax you.
CREATIVE VISUALIZATION
Visualization is simply the process of creating pictures in your mind, giving from to your thoughts so you can direct towards a specific goal. In fact, any time an idea or thought comes to you, you get a mental image as well. Even if you believe you have no imagination at all, subliminal pictures and images are continually rising from your inner mind. Many body/mind healers have made us aware of the mind’s presence in every cell of the body. Deepak Chopra taught us that each cell has a mind of its own and signals to you when an area of the body is breaking down or in need of repair. This ever-flowing connection between body and mind allows every cell in the body to change according to your thoughts and images.
You need to work at understanding your negative emotions by transforming your views of them. Certain patterns that seem to happen over and over are most likely from your childhood experiences and conditioning. This will be a long and enduring phase of healing for you, but once you learn the tools of overcoming the past, you will be able to regain an accurate sense of self that is not conditioned by others. You first must become familiarized with your inner energy [the psyche]…and to do so you must have courage, self-honesty and the willingness to be accountable …you have to have a really deep look at what is going on inside of you, for that is what creates your difficulties in the outside world.
To heal your past, look especially toward your mother’s influence especially on how you formed your values, attitudes, and beliefs. Review memories that make you overly emotional – and look at any unresolved emotional wounds; note how you often overreact to others’ personal comments, how you tend to imagine ‘what they think / feel’ about you; and explore the fluctuations in how you relate to people. Observe how you evaluate others and experiences through emotions and intuitions; realize how your attitudes, beliefs, and values are connected to emotional biases; see the emotional power shaping your major decisions, and how your reactions are generated by emotions.
The more you work with your imagery, the stronger it will get.
HERBS AND SUPPLEMENTS (look these up and choose the one best for you)
In this day and age, people have invested a lot of money into supplements without taking into account the foods they’re eating. Using a specific supplement for a specific cause may not be as straightforward as it seems. Picking a product that works, requires an understanding of your own problem and the nature of the supplement. There are many reports (unseen) of people damaging themselves with mega-doses of unwise supplements.
Most nutrients taken excessively can dangerously upset the body’s overall balance and create other deficiencies. Natural foods are made up of complex organic molecules, therefore, taking supplements with a varied food diet is best. And if you feel the need for supplements, it makes sense to use a form close to those that occur naturally in food. Some supplements can create unpleasant side-effects because they’re not in forms that the body can easily use.
SUPPLEMENT TO REDUCE INFLAMMATION
Willow bark is an anti-inflammatory and has been used for joint pain. Willow bark contains salicin which is used in aspirin. But aspirin is much more irritating than willow bark. It can be used as a tea or capsules.
Devil’s Claw is a plant which is used to reduce fever, pain and inflammation. It too can be given as a tea or in capsule form.
Boswellia has been used for Rheumatoid Artitis and has anti-inflammaotry effects. They reduce inflammation but unlike NSAIDs they do not affect prostaglandins which protect the lining of the stomach from acids.
Curcumin (Turmeric) has been used as an anti-inflammatory agent. It comes in capsule form
Bromelain is a protein-digesting enzyme found in the fruit and stem of the pineapple plant. Bromelain reduces swelling and is known to be quite effective for rheumatoid arthritis
Ginger root has been known to help with arthritis and other auto-immune diseases such as Lupus, MS and Fibromyalgia
Probiotics are friendly bacteria that help to strengthen the immune system. Seventy percent or more of our immune system is controlled by what happens in the gut, and friendly bacteria are the most important component of that immune system. These bacteria modulate the immune system by increasing the numbers of certain while blood cells (T lymphocytes). Probiotics also help improve digestion and protect the body from things such as candida albicans.
HEALING FOODS
Many people with severe or mild joint pain may have an allergy to grains. Also onions and garlic can be factors as these can contribute to digestive problems and immune reaction in ‘some’ people. Sometimes just stopping dairy products and coffee (caffeine) will take the pressure off of the lymphatics and allow them to drain.
1. Calm down inflammation in the body by avoiding Nightshade foods (potatoes, All peppers, eggplant, , gluten
2. Anti-inflammatory supplements such as Omega-3 and Turmeric (curcumin) help to reduce inflammation.
3. Build up the liver function. Milk Thistle and the Yellow Saffron help with this.
4. Drink teas like Slippery Elm and American Yellow Saffron, Devil’s Claw
5. L-Glutamine and/or Glucosamine build the intestinal wall. Most people with inflamed joints have what is called a ‘leaky gut’.
6. A diet that is 80% alkaline (Yin) is helpful, most fruits and vegetables are alkaline.
7. Avoid sugar
8. Drink lots of water
9. Take anti-oxidants.
ravenstarshealingroom@gmail.com
Links
Here’s a great chart on acidic (Yang) and alkaline foods (Yin) Yin-Yang-Food Chart
Reversing Chronic Inflammation
20 Emotional Issues Directed At Knee Pain
Knee Pain the Importance of Flexibility
Crystals for Joint Inflammation
Mind Body Medicine and Joint Pain
Chinese foot reflexology – knees http://www.chinesefootreflexology.com/knees/
Emotional issues linked to knee pain https://www.healing-affirmations.com/20-emotional-issues-directly-linked-to-knee-pain/
Kidney Meridian http://www.natural-health-zone.com/kidney-meridian.html
Liver and Gall bladder Meridians http://www.5elements.com/docs/elements/wood.html
Wow … What a fantastic site. Thankyou so much for sharing your wisdom and helping us all to have a greater understanding of ‘what lies beneath’. love and light to you xX
Hi Jacqui, thank you for writing such a lovely comment! I appreciate knowing this blog was helpful to you and available to ‘all’ seeking a deeper understanding of their ailment(s) …
With Love
ravenstar
All I can say is this one article has been literally life changing in so many ways and it’s been 2 minutes!
Hi Karlie,
I love your enthusiasm! In truth, you’re the one that shifted gears, researching for new ways of healing yourself. You followed the signals and your intuition lead you here. Keep that positive flow of energy going, it’ll always align you with the universal flow and the world-wide-web.
Hugs,
ravenstar
So informative, mind opening article. Thank you for sharing. Almost every sentence resonates with me, which is extremely helpful, knowing, I’m not alone and there is more than medical interpretation of pain and discomfort. Thank you so much for sharing the knowledge and wisdom.
Hi Magdalena, Thank you for taking the time to write and letting me and all who frequent this site, how this article has helped you. You are definitely not alone. We are all part of ‘the human family, yet we all come from a universal family larger than that of our parents, and siblings. We are uniquely put together to survive and adapt and evolve beyond any negative influences (trauma) from our childhood. We do this by taking the first step towards healing which is being real with our feelings.
Blessings to you Magdalena, and your healing,
Love
ravenstar
This article has so much truth in every word I have been practicing holistic health for about 6 years and this article concludes every approach in many things I’ll missed or missed. I’m thankful for running across the reading and understanding healing of the mind, body and soul were definitely present!
Hi Moni,
Thank your for your support and very kind words Moni. It’s wonderful you’ve helped so many of your clients with their own complex deep-seated emotions. I’m glad you were able to gleam some knowledge from this blog and wish you all the best as you move forward with your healing practice..
Hugs,
ravenstar
Thank you so much for an incredible article; so insightful. Thank you!
Hi LH,
Thank you for your very kind comment on this article. I truly hope this blog has helped answer some of your questions about your metaphysical symptoms.
Warmly,
ravenstar
Very interesting. Is it possible to get an appointment with you for some help via phone or skype?
Thanks for writing John!
If you contact me at ravenstarshealingroom@gmail.com I’ll write back and send you info regarding my healing work.
ravenstar
❤
Thank you Bonnie!!
Hugs,
ravenstar x
Another great article. Have you thought of writing a book? With so much well thought out articles and the work that each takes. It might just take off. Personally I dont do alot of online reading , but I will be today.
Hi Joy!
Thanks again for your very kind comment and for reading the articles on this blog. I’m not sure if there will be a book in the works, however, if there is one, you’ll be the first to know!
Hugs,
ravenstar x
I had 2 patella(knee) dislocations and now I had episodes of partial dislocations. Now either I go with physiotherapy or surgery. I feel anxious about my future and independence. What should I do?
Thank you so much for this information, it is truly a gift. I feel as though I just received the answers to how to begin healing completely. Excellently written, and the amount of helpful links compiled in this article is wonderful for anyone looking to delve into the healing process. I deeply appreciate you and all that you’re doing, may you continue to be blessed and share your gifts!
Hi Patricia,
Thank you for writing such a lovely comment! I appreciate knowing this blog has been a aid in helping you focus more deeply into your psyche where you can honestly encounter both the shadow and the healing light.
All the best on your healing journey,
Hugs,
ravenstar
I’ve been suffering from weak knees (slightly displaced kneecaps) for quite sometime now. I know it involves change but when I look to the future, I just freeze up. I have an awareness that I need to free up some emotional blockages, but I don’t know how or where to begin. Can you help me?
Hi Lana,
It’s possible you may have ‘patellar tracking disorder’ which means the kneecap shifts out of place as you try to move forward. Metaphysically, the underlying issue is about personal power; if you lack confidence this can lead to a pattern of either being too timid or too aggressive in your interactions with others.
It is the thigh muscles that help to keep your kneecaps stable and in place. If your quadriceps (thigh muscles) are weak, this may cause patellar tracking disorder. Talk to your doctor or health practitioner about this.
The metaphysical energies of the ‘hips/thigh(s)’, has to do with past issues, parental problems, traumatic childhood memories, anger and or resentment. It’s also associated with our sexuality and intimacy, which we learned as children from our parents. It’s possible you were disempowered as a child and possibly abandoned too, which is why you suddenly switch directions and run. When we are disempowered our minds can be in total disarray, causing a loss of our own self-empowerment and intuition/spiritual guidance.
From what I can gather from your question, your emotions/stress-levels are way too high and this is causing you to feel stuck, perhaps from your distant past, which is preventing you from living the life you want to live.
What are your over-riding memories of childhood? Thinking about it, do you have a sensation of comfort and warmth? Or do you feel insecure and unhappy when you look back. Is there anger? Or sadness .. Give yourself time to remember things. The more you start to think, the more the floodgates will open. Buy yourself a journal and jot things down as they come to you.
Are there similarities to your childhood and the life you’re living now? For example, was there a authoritarian person in your life who criticized you in a certain way .. and .. is there someone in your life who is treating you the same way now, at the present moment?
Often, when we are on the spiritual path, there is a war that goes on between the person you once were and the person you are becoming. Some call it “thought patterns.” Others call it “*habit.”
Keep an ‘eye on all your habits .. keep a journal and write them down daily;
When being and talking with others, become aware (watch yourself) when you’re acting out of character, or not being yourself;
Learn to meditate or take time out to recharge and rebalance yourself, especially if you’re feeling overwhelmed, like being pulled in different directions;
Give yourself a break and time to relax ..ask yourself how you’re feeling?
Share your deepest feelings with someone you trust;
Enjoy a hobby or take on one, dancing, singing, painting, writing, drawing .. anything to get in touch with your feelings and help you balance.
Meditate or do ‘nothing’ .. allow your mind and soul to relax ..
Learn to work and cooperate with others ..
(*To have conscious control of your autonomic nervous system, you first need to unlearn old habits. Habits control us without even thinking, directing both our nervous system and skeletal muscles, this may be why your musculoskeletal system is tense and your hips/knees are out of whack. You would think the more you concentrate your thoughts the more you’re in control .. actually this way of ‘forcing’ causes more muscle tension .. relaxation, is the key to mind-body control. Instead of keeping your focus in the head area, let your consciousness flow to where you want it to go ..then you can be there mentally. )
All the best Lana. If you’d like to discuss this more deeply, contact me at ravenstarshealingroom@gmail.com
Hugs,
ravenstar
Very interesting explanations that go deeper than usual on other sites. I was looking for deeper explanations and I appreciate your work and sharing with the world and people who want to have a better quality of life.
Obviously, I would like you to develop other body parts such as hip, hands, fingers, shoulder, feet, etc !!!!
Thank you again for your work and dedication!
Hi Mary,
Thank you so much for your enthusiastic comment! Your support and kind words are very much appreciated. It is people like YOU who have inspired this blog into being.
In regard to hips, you can learn a great deal about them from a few articles on this blog:
Here’s an article on the shoulders:
And another article on the hands:
In regard to the feet:
Watch and begin to recognize how you hold and move your body towards or away from certain people (authoritative and/or critical people) in your life. Have you noticed there are times when your body seems to freeze in one spot? Perhaps in response to intimidation, or to insults, memories, or even imagined ones. Whatever the cause, your body remembers that memory which felt life-threatening at the time. Perhaps you held/froze some part of your body ‘still’ to ‘control your behavior’ during the confrontation. “Holding back” creates tension in your jaw, throat, and shoulders so as to keep yourself from lashing out and being humiliated. This tension eventually turns to pain affecting your pelvis, legs and feet as you try to hold your body still. If this happens again and again, your body will learn to habitually freeze on the spot causing chronic tensions in the muscles and tendons, and the feet.
ALSO..
There are tendons connected to several calf muscles which wrap under your foot to form a ‘stirrup’ that supports your arches. If a foot (or feet) are in a “holding position”, the tendons will cling or stick to the fascia (connective tissue) preventing the natural rotation of the foot.
Do let me know if you need more information.
Warmly,
ravenstar
Well this shifted my entire day! Twisted by knee yesterday, slept horribly due to excruciating pain… starting research IT Band Syndrome, then a friend reminded me to look into the Metaphysical Signification and stumbled upon your beautiful blog post.
This resonates with me fully and I started to open up to what I wasn’t paying attention to, and within minutes my knee calmed down and is almost back to normal. I know with a little loving care for myself and my knee, this will disappear and be fine very quickly.
Yet another reminder of the power of metaphysical realization.
If you have any particular insights about the right IT band, I’d love to know, but this has already been so encompassing.
Thank you thank you thank you.
Hi Heidi,
Thank you for writing such a lovely comment on the metaphysical cause of knee and joint pain. How you expressed yourself, regarding your knee pain, will help many, many others. How you think and feel can have a profound effect on healing any part of your body.
Healing is done with ‘intention’. You gently but firmly took control of your mind, which in turn regulates the body. Taking control reacquainted you with your body, which in turn relaxed it. Your pain may have said “thank goodness you’re listening, now I don’t need to cause more pain to get your attention”. Pain once acknowledged, begins the healing process.
Before discussing the IT-Band, I think it’s important to look at other ways your knee pain started. Could it have started from a weak inner core which helps to stabilize the spine and create a solid base for your outer core muscles? (The inner core is in a deep layer of the body and shaped like a donut around the spine. )
How you hold your body comes from your interaction with the world around you. Through awareness you can learn to recognize how you hold your body as you move toward or away from certain people in your life. Have you noticed there are times when your body seems to freeze in one spot? This may have been to ‘manage your behavior’ during a confrontation. If so, this would also create tension in your jaw, throat, and shoulders to keep your from lashing out and being humiliated. This tension eventually turns to pain affecting your pelvis, legs, knees and feet as you try to hold your body still. If the threats are repeated, you’ll habitually freeze on the spot causing chronic tensions in the muscles and tendons, which includes the knees, ankles and feet.
Or could it be the Psoas? The Psoas muscle is known to ‘shorten’ our entire being when the mind/body is under stress (its main function is to move our legs rather than the spine). The psoas also act as a hip flexor….for without it walking or running would be impossible. These muscles contribute to the outer rotation of the hips, which also affects the muscles and nerves of the lower back and the knees.
Metaphysical article on the Psoas https://ravenstarshealingroom.wordpress.com/2016/08/03/metaphysics-of-the-lower-back/
The body and its trillion cells are interconnected through the fascia. If one cell is affected, the whole body will know it.
The body uses tough bands of tissue (ligaments) that attach bone to bone through the mediation of the joints. The IT Band (Iliotibial band syndrome) has been known to cause ‘lateral knee injury’ especially when tight, irritated or inflamed. Mostly this is from overusing and repeatedly flexing and extending the knee(s).
Metaphysically, problems with the IT Band (on the right side) is caused from the mind/body being out of touch with one’s inner guidance (feminine). It’s possible individuals with IT Band problems suffered from abuse in their childhood. This can create a lot of anxiety, fear and deep frustration, which the body tries to repress by constantly being revved up, aggressive and on the go, moving and searching and trying everything and anything to avoid opening their feelings. However, their choices and actions actually cause an increase in their pain. All this high energy causes them to overdo things, loose focus and scatter their energy.
When the Right (Masculine side) is healthy and balanced with the feminine, it becomes aware of the need to focus its energy to accomplish things. there is a great sense of confidence and the ability to strike out in new directions. There is a vision of the future which is clear and sensible. The person knows their limits and abilities and acts accordingly.
Without the feminine to guide him, he’d run over anyone who stands in his way.
To heal the Right side of the IT Band is to learn to slow down and quiet the rapid firing of the mind. Much of what you did today Heidi. When we slow down, the more we’re in touch with our own inner guidance and this will help to discover which experiences on the table have real value to us. And especially have real value to you.
Most importantly, to keep the IT Band healthy, is to always be aware of what’s happening in your reality. The more present you are, the more you’ll be open to clarity, insight and your intuition. You’re on the the right path.
Blessings,
ravenstar X
I’m only just seeing this response now! And it was beautiful and divine timing. Thank you for such a thorough and informative response!
Many blessings to you as well ❤
Wonderful article! Very helpful. Thankyou for sharing!!!
[…] also lots of useful information on Ravenstar’s Healing Room blog covering the metaphysical causes of knee and joint pain, as well as the bone loss in osteoporosis, and the dangers of spiritual addiction and escapism and […]
What an informative article, it resonated with me on many levels. I’ve been a shiatsu practitioner for 10 years, and you have taught me something new with your explanation of the meridian functions. I really value your holistic approach. Thank you for your generous sharing.
Hi Stephanie,
Thank you for your wonderful and delightful response. We definitely do learn from each other and about each other from hearing each other’s stories.
I’m sure many people frequenting this site would enjoy reading about your Shiatsu and Yoga practice….
“Both Yoga and Shiatsu are wonderfully nourishing not only for the body but also for mind and spirit and complement each other perfectly, both being based on connection to the universal energy.”
http://yogiatsu.co.uk/
Hugs,
ravenstar x