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Acupuncture and Arthritis |
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Arthritis is a complex disorder that comprises several
distinct conditions, all of them sharing one common symptom: chronic joint
pain. For years, a significant aspect of modern medical science has been
dedicated to finding the cure for arthritis, with varied results. Some forms
of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis – a degenerative condition affecting
the cartilage leading to inflammation of the joints – are irreversible,
hence, much of the treatment has been focused more on pain reduction than on
an actual cure.
However, a new study has made a connection between acupuncture and
arthritis. The study said that the combination of acupuncture and arthritis
can significantly reduce pain and improve function in those suffering
osteoarthritis of the knee.
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical procedure wherein hair-thin
needles are inserted into points along “energy channels” – meridians, where
the life force of the human body flows through. This is thought to help
unblock the clogged energy channels and thus, help ease pain as a result of
such blockage.
As part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) – a form of alternative
medicine based on the belief that an essential life force, qi, flows through
the body along channels called meridians – acupuncture is among the oldest
form of medical procedure in the world. The first form of acupuncture was
started in China more than 2,000 years ago but is now widely practiced in
Asia and Europe. With the recent discovery about the connection between
acupuncture and arthritis, specifically on its role as a pain reliever, the
procedure is increasingly becoming popular in the United States as well.
As opposed to what you may believe, getting stuck with needles for a few
minutes is not as torturous as it sounds. In fact, most people who believe
in the healing connection between acupuncture and arthritis, say that there
is only a slight stinging sensation when the needles prick the skin, but
that is all. There is no pain after that. The needles used in acupuncture
are very thin, smooth, and solid, unlike hypodermic needles which are hollow
with cutting edges. The length of each session may vary, depending on the
kind of disorder you wish to be treated. When it comes to acupuncture and
arthritis, treatment may require two sessions a week and may last for
several months.
Study on Acupuncture and Arthritis
The study on acupuncture and arthritis was conducted by the US National
Institutes of Health (NIH). Considered as one of the largest and longest
clinical trials to show such conclusive effects of acupuncture and arthritis
on patients, the study reported a 44 percent average reduction in pain and a
40 percent improvement in mobility.
For purposes of the study, the researchers enrolled 570 patients who are
aged from 50 above, with arthritis of the knee, and who had been suffering
significant pain in the same the month before the study was conducted. The
patients were then randomly assigned three different treatments, and it was
found that those who specifically underwent acupuncture and arthritis
treatment had a 40 percent decrease in pain and a nearly 40 percent
improvement in function.
“We have demonstrated that traditional Chinese acupuncture is an effective
complement to conventional arthritis treatment and can be successfully
employed as part of a multi-disciplinary approach to treating the symptoms
of osteoarthritis,” says Brian Berman of the University of Maryland School
of Medicine, Baltimore. |
| This article
is provided courtesy of Roxanne Courtmanch. Please visit
www.thehelpingcircle.com for more articles on arthritis
as well as many other topics that may be of interest to you.
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