Acupuncture for Arthritis Pain
November 24, 2005
Filed under: Acupuncture Treatment General — Admin @ 4:31 am
The Centers for Disease Control has stated that one in three Americans is affected by Arthritis which equates to a huge 70 million individuals. Arthritis is one of the top most prevalent diseases in the US and is the principal source of disability.
As people get older arthritis pain and inflammation is unavoidable for many. The majority of people over 50 have at least some indications of arthritis because joint naturally deteriorate as you get older. Despite this, arthritis can be successfully managed through acupuncture for arthritis pain and Chinese medicine.
On the contrary to common belief arthritis isn’t actually a single disease. Arthritis is a disorder consisting of over one hundred different conditions and is able to occur at any point though out a person’s life. The two top most frequent types are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Even though these two arthritis types are caused very differently, have different risk factors and affect a person’s body in different ways they in fact usually both have one symptom in common, relentless pain occurring at the joints.
Chinese medical theory says that arthritis occurs when the cyclical flow of Qi is blocked in the meridians. This blockage is known as ‘bi’ type pain which is well studied and can be successfully remedied with the use of acupuncture for arthritis pain and Chinese herbs. In fact acupuncture and Chinese medicine has been shown to be highly effective for relieving the inflammation and pain connected with all varieties of arthritis.
Traditional Chinese medicine doesn’t look at arthritis as one specific condition, rather it tries to remedy each particular set of symptoms specific to an individual through a host of methods including acupuncture for arthritis pain, bodywork, Chinese herbs, lifestyle/dietary advice and vigorous exercise routines to help re-establish imbalances through out the patients body.
During a procedure of acupuncture for arthritis pain the points used are not only over the effected areas but are situated all over the body. The small acupuncture needles may be positioned on your legs, shoulders, arms and possibly your little toe.
Acupuncture needles are so small and thin several can fit into the centre of a hypodermic needle. Suffice to say there is little or no feeling when an acupuncture needle is inserted. Some individuals do report a brief moment of discomfort when the needle is placed in the skin; however this is only for an instant and soon after most patients relax and may even fall asleep during the acupuncture treatment.
The procedure of acupuncture for arthritis pain will vary in length and frequency in which it will need to be carried out. Normally the treatment will last for five to thirty minutes and will need to be performed once to twice a week. Quite often certain symptoms are in fact calmed after just one acupuncture procedure, however, the more severe complaints will likely require many more treatments.