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!
www.bluecraneacupuncture.com
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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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