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Posts Tagged ‘Traditional Chinese Medicine’

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.

Click here to check out Devil’s Claw Root And Other Natural Remedies For Arthritis

In addition to the various pharmaceuticals designed to alleviate pain and modern treatment methods recommended by doctors all over the world, many patients also seek natural remedies for arthritis. The reason for this is varied and may include the following:

• Other medications are not working or cause adverse side effects for the patient seeking natural remedies for arthritis.
• Holistic or organic healing is believed to be more effective than doing it with the aid of chemicals.
• Some prescription medications are so expensive the patient seeking natural remedies for arthritis may not be able to afford it anymore.

Below is a list of some of the most pervasive natural remedies for arthritis in use today. However, before you decide to take any of these natural remedies for arthritis, you are strongly advised to consult with your physician first. Understand that most of these natural remedies for arthritis do not have any scientific proof to prove their medical claims. Some of them may react to the drugs you are already taking or may have undesirable side effects.

Acupuncture:

Acupuncture is a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine and one of the oldest natural remedies for arthritis. It consists of inserting hair thin needles with smooth edges into certain areas called meridians found in the body which act as channels through which the life force or qi flows.

To treat arthritis, you may have to undergo several sessions of acupuncture – at least 3 sessions per week, depending on the type of arthritis you have. A recent study released by the National Institutes of Health showed that acupuncture may have some positive effects on arthritis pain, particularly on the knee joints.

Oils:

It makes sense that one of the natural remedies for arthritis is oil. After all, one of the common causes of arthritic pain is friction in the joints where the cushioning tissue, called cartilage, is damaged and the realese of the synovial fluid, responsible for lubricating the bone ends, is affected. However, when speaking about oils as natural remedies for arthritis, it does not mean that you are going to end up smearing yourself with messy metal lubricants. What it does mean is to put the right kind of oils inside your body to help with the aches and pains associated with the disease.

Out of the oils used because of their medicinal properties, fish oil supplements occupy the top of the list. Fish oils have omega-3 fatty acids that can ease the painful symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis or RA, help prevent Raynaud’s syndrome spasms, and possibly relieve some symptoms of lupus. Other oil types that can be used as natural remedies for arthritis are borage seed and evening primrose seed oils, both of which have been shown to ease RA inflammation.

Click here to check out Devil’s Claw Root And Other Natural Remedies For Arthritis