Alleviate Arthritis Pain with Acupuncture
Arthritis isn't just one disease, but a complex disorder comprised of
more than 100 distinct conditions that can affect people at any stage
of life. Two of the most common forms are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid
arthritis. While these two forms of arthritis have very different
causes, risk factors and effects on the body, they often share a common
symptom -- persistent joint pain.
For many people, arthritis pain and inflammation cannot be avoided as
the body ages. In fact, most people over the age of 50 show some signs
of arthritis as joints naturally degenerate over time. Fortunately,
arthritis can often be managed with acupuncture and Oriental medicine.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting an
estimated 21 million adults in the United States. Beginning with the
breakdown of joint cartilage that results in pain and stiffness,
osteoarthritis commonly affects the joints of the fingers, knees, hips
and spine. Other joints affected less frequently include the wrists,
elbows, shoulders and ankles. When osteoarthritis is found in a less
frequently affected joint, there is usually a history of injury or
unusual stress to that joint. Work-related repetitive injury and
physical trauma may contribute to the development of osteoarthritis. If
you have a strenuous job that requires repetitive bending, kneeling or
squatting, for
example, you may be at high risk for osteoarthritis of the knee.
Rheumatoid arthritis can affect many different joints and, in some
people, other parts of the body as well, including the blood, lungs and
heart. With this form of arthritis, inflammation of the joint lining,
called the synovium, can cause pain, stiffness, swelling, warmth and
redness. The affected joint may also lose its shape, resulting in loss
of normal movement. Rheumatoid arthritis can last a long time and is a
disease characterized by flares (active symptoms) and remissions (few to
no symptoms).
Diagnosis and Treatment of Arthritis with Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
According to Oriental medical theory, arthritis arises when the cyclical
flow of Qi (energy) in the meridians becomes blocked resulting in pain,
soreness, numbness and stiffness. This blockage is called "bi
syndrome" and is associated with "bi" type pain. It is widely studied
and successfully treated using a combination of treatment modalities.
The acupuncture points and herbs that are used depend on whether the
underlying cause of the blockage of Qi(arthritis) is caused by wind,
cold, damp or damp-heat.
Acupuncture and Oriental medicine aim to treat the specific symptoms
that are unique to each individual using a variety of techniques such as
acupuncture, bodywork, lifestyle/dietary recommendations and energetic
exercises to restore imbalances found in the body. Therefore, if 10
patients are treated with Oriental medicine for joint pain, each of
these 10 patients will receive a unique, customized treatment with
different acupuncture points, different herbs/supplements and different
lifestyle and diet recommendations.
Your acupuncturist will examine you, take a look at the onset of your
condition and learn your signs and symptoms to determine your diagnosis
and choose the appropriate acupuncture points and treatment plan.
Call today to learn how acupuncture and Oriental medicine can be incorporated into your treatment plan for arthritis!
Studies of Acupuncture for Arthritis
Several studies have shown that acupuncture can help people with arthritis and related auto-immune diseases.
Scientists found that acupuncture can reduce pain and improve mobility
in arthritis patients by 40 percent based on results from a major
clinical trial that investigated the ancient Chinese needle treatment. A
total of 570 patients aged 50 and older with osteoarthritis of the knee
took part in the American study. All had suffered significant pain in
their knee the month before joining the trial, but had never experienced
acupuncture. By the eighth week, patients receiving genuine
acupuncture treatments showed a significant increase in function
compared with both the "placebo" treatment and self-help groups. By week
14, they were also experiencing a significant decrease in pain.
In a German study, 3,500 people with osteoarthritis of the hip and/or
knee received 15 sessions of acupuncture combined with their usual
medical care. The results showed that the patients that received
acupuncture had less pain and stiffness, improved joint function and
better quality of life than their counterparts who had routine care
alone. The improvements occurred immediately after completing a
three-month course of acupuncture and lasted for at least another three
months, indicating osteoarthritis is among conditions effectively
treated with acupuncture.
Another study, published in the journal Pain, looked at the
effects of acupuncture among 40 adults with osteoarthritis of the knee.
Among the patients in the study, those who had a daily acupuncture
session for 10 consecutive days reported greater improvement in their
pain compared with patients who received a "placebo" version of the
therapy.
In one Scandinavian study, 25 percent of arthritis patients who had been
scheduled for knee surgery cancelled their operations after acupuncture
treatment. In the study, researchers compared acupuncture with advice
and exercise for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip. Thirty-two
patients awaiting a total hip replacement were separated into two
groups. One group received one 10-minute and five 25-minute sessions of
acupuncture, and the other group received advice and hip exercises over a
6-week period. Patients were assessed for pain and functional ability:
Patients in the acupuncture group showed significant improvements, while
no significant changes were reported in the group that
received advice and exercise therapy. The results of this study
indicate that acupuncture is more effective than advice and exercise for
the treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip.
A University of Maryland School of Medicine study showed that elderly
arthritis patients with knee pain due to arthritis improved
significantly when acupuncture was added to their treatment. The
randomized clinical trial determined whether acupuncture was a
clinically safe and effective adjunctive therapy for older patients with
osteoarthritis of the knee. The study addressed the addition of
acupuncture to conventional therapy to determine if it would provide an
added measure of pain relief, if the effects would last beyond treatment
and if treatment would have any side effects. Seventy-three patients
were randomly divided into two groups. One group received twice-weekly
acupuncture
treatments and conventional therapy for eight weeks, and the other
group received conventional therapy only. Patients who received
acupuncture had significant pain relief and showed improvement in
function. Those who did not receive acupuncture showed no significant
change. No patients reported negative side effects from any acupuncture
therapy session.
Call today to learn more about the benefits of acupuncture and Oriental medicine for arthritis!
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In This Issue
- Alleviate Arthritis Pain with Acupuncture
- Studies of Acupuncture for Arthritis
- Reduce the Impact
- Anti-Inflammatory Foods
Reduce the Impact
The Arthritis Foundation recommends the following to reduce the impact of arthritis:
Get Active - Regular physical activity helps build and maintain
healthy bones, muscles and joints. Tai Chi, a Chinese exercise that
strengthens muscles, improves balance and flexibility, promotes
relaxation, and has been shown to relieve chronic joint pain.
Control Weight - Maintaining an appropriate weight or reducing
weight to a recommended level reduces the risk of osteoarthritis.
Losing just 10 pounds relieves 40 pounds of pressure on knees. For
those living with symptoms, losing 15 pounds can cut knee pain in half.
Modify Job Tasks - Try to modify your movements, since repeated
use of joints in jobs that require bending and lifting is associated
with an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis.
Speak with a health care professional about ways to reduce strain on your joints.
Anti-Inflammatory Foods
A balanced, varied diet can help ease the pain of arthritis by
providing vitamins and minerals that keep your joints healthy. Avoiding
“damp” foods such as dairy products and greasy or spicy foods also helps
joints.
Here are some healthy and delicious choices to include in your diet.
Ginger - Ginger is a natural anti-inflammatory. A fresh ginger
tea can be made by combining a half teaspoon of grated ginger with 8
ounces of boiling water. Cover and steep for 10 to 15 minutes, strain
and add honey to taste.
Fresh Pineapple - Bromelain, an enzyme in pineapple, reduces inflammation. Be sure the pineapple is fresh, not canned or frozen.
Cherries - Recent research has shown that tart cherries are an
excellent source of nutrients that may help to reduce joint pain and
inflammation related to arthritis.
Fish - Cold-water fish such as salmon and mackerel contain
omega-3 fatty acids, which help keep joints healthy as well as reduce
pain and swelling.
Turmeric - A natural anti-inflammatory, it can be used in many food preparations including soups, sauces and salad dressings.
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