Acupuncture for Arthritis
•Acupuncture for Treating Arthritis
•Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis
•Acupuncture Arthritis Research
•Acupuncture Points for Arthritis
ACUPUNCTURE FOR ARTHRITIS & JOINT PAIN
Acupuncture points to treat Arthritis are located all over the body, not just directly over the affected area. During the acupuncture treatment, tiny needles could be placed along your legs, arms, shoulders, and perhaps even your little toe.
Osteo Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Osteo Arthritis is known as cold or damb Bi-Syndrome. Acupuncturists believe that several different conditions are diagnosed as osteo arthritis. Old injuries that have not healed properly are diagnosed as arthritis, Fluid deficiencies called Deficiency of Liver Blood results in joint pain and is often diagnosed as osteoarthritis, finally a deficiency of protective energy (wei qi) also creates joint and tendon pain and is diagnosed as arthritis.
Acupuncture treatment for arthritis will vary according to the underlying Chinese medical cause of the arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis is called Hot Bi-Syndrome. Treatments for Osteo-arthritis are different than treatment for Rheumatoid arthritis. Though acupuncture for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis may be somewhat similar, herbal treatment varies considerably. In Western medicine, rheumatoid arthritis is considered an "auto immune" disease. Acupuncturists call rheumatoid arthritis "hot bi syndrome". Herbs for this condition are different. See Herbs for Arthritis. Treating rheumatoid arthritis is difficult, and self-treatment should be avoided. It is best to see an acupuncturist familiar with the use of Chinese herbs.
The number and frequency of treatments for both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis will vary. Typical acupuncture treatments last from five to 30 minutes, with the patient being treated one or two times a week. Occasionally, some symptoms are relieved after the first treatment, while more severe or chronic ailments will require multiple treatments.
Acupuncture Arthritis Research
Several studies have shown that acupuncture can help people with arthritis and related auto-immune diseases.
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 2 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.
Another study at the University of Maryland showed that elderly arthritis patients with knee pain due to arthritis improved significantly when acupuncture was added to their treatment.
The randomized clinical trial, performed at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, determined whether acupuncture was a clinically safe and effective adjunctive therapy for older patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.
The study addressed these questions:
1. Would the addition of acupuncture to conventional therapy produce an added measure of pain relief?
2. Would the effects of acupuncture last for 4 weeks following the end of treatment?
3. Would acupuncture have any side effects?
Seventy-three patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. One group received twice-weekly acupuncture treatments and conventional therapy for 8 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 side effects from any acupuncture therapy session.
Rheumatoid Arthritis by Xiao J; Liu X; Sun L; Ying S; Zhang Z; Li Q; Li H; Zhang Z; Jin B; Wang S.
[Experimental study on the influence of acupuncture on interleukin-2 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Chen Tzu Yen Chiu Acupuncture Research, 1992, 17(2):126-8, 132. Language: Chinese. (UI: 93169756) Pub type: Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial.
Abstract: In order to observe the effects of the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with acupuncture and moxibustion (heat treatment), 41 patients were divided into warming needle and acupuncture point injection groups at random, and 19 healthy subjects as control group. IL-2 levels were measured. Generally, IL-2 is considered as a very important signal for regulating immune response. The results showed that the IL-2 levels in two rheumatoid arthritis groups before treatment were obviously lower than that in control group (P 0.05). After treatment the IL-2 level in control group was unchanged, but increased considerably in two rheumatoid arthritis groups (P 0.01).
Our results have shown that the decrease of IL-2 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis should be one of main causes of internal environment disorder, acupuncture and moxibustion as a stress stimulation exerts an influence on the immunity system through neuroendocrine system to improve the IL-2 production
CHINESE MEDICINE FOR ARTHRITIS MADE IN USA
Some Acupuncture Points to Treat Arthritis Pain
Local acupuncture points near the site of the pain are frequently used such as acupuncture point St 35 for knee pain, acupuncture point LI 11 for elbow pain, acupuncture point LI 15 for Shoulder pain, and acupuncture point GB 40 for ankle pain.
In addition, acupuncture points that have a systemic effect on the Liver or the joints are also used. Examples are:
Acupuncture point Yang Ling Quan • Acupuncture point Gall Bladder 34 Yang Mound Spring. Acupuncture point Hui Point for Tendons and Muscles.
Location: On the lateral side of the leg, in the depression anterior and inferior to the head of the fibula.
Acupuncture point Lie Que • Lung 7 Broken Sequence.
Location: On the radial side of the forearm, 1.5 cun superior to the tip of the radial styloid process.
