Arthritis. A very painful and debilitating condition

Acupuncture and Arthritis

Arthritis is an insidious kind of disease and this condition can lead to permanent disability in many individuals. Some of the signs of arthritis can normally start to show up around the age of 50 but it can happen at any age. As we age our bones start to erode on their own and the joints can degenerate because of the aging process as well. It is not possible to explain arthritis as a single health disorder but it is a combination of various disorders that could be from 100 different conditions. Most commonly known forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The causes and symptoms of both of these arthritic conditions are different and yet, one of the common symptoms of arthritis is the occurrence of acute joint pain. Osteoarthritis pertains to the disintegration of the joint cartilage whereby the pain and stiffness is felt and this condition mainly affects the joints in the fingers, hips, knees and spine. Rheumatoid arthritis on the other hand affects various numbers of joints in your body and sometimes this condition can also occur in the blood.

Traditional Chinese medicine has an entirely different approach towards arthritis than in Western medicine. TCM theory believes that during arthritic attacks the flow of Qi through the channels becomes stagnated. The pain caused due to arthritis can be excruciating and relief of this pain can be obtained through the use of acupuncture, Chinese herbal formulas and liniments. In cold type arthritis the burning of the herb called mugwort can be used to help warm the area to drive out the cold. This treatment technique is called moxibustion. In resent time we have added laser acupuncture to treat the pain of arthritis at the local site of the pain. By combining this with TCM treatments we are finding that we are getting better results with less discomfort during the treatment at the site of the pain as the laser acupuncture is non invasive. The reason for the blockage of Qi is analyzed so the treatment process can begin. It can be caused either due to cold, wind, or damp pathogens etc and depending on the cause, we will decide what the best treatment method will be to suit your condition.

TCM does not consider arthritis to be just a single syndrome so it takes into account the specific symptoms which you are suffering from. Hence, acupuncture offers individualized treatment for every one which is specifically created to help relieve you of the symptoms that you are suffering from. Acupuncture treatments along with Chinese herbal formulas, lifestyle and dietary changes along with adequate exercise can effectively deal the symptoms of arthritis.

The treatment of arthritis is extremely specific in acupuncture and is preformed only after a careful examination and a case history has been taken. Two people suffering from arthritis may not have the same treatment as their symptoms of the condition are different. Each person will have an individualized program for the treatment of their arthritis which will take care of their disorder and will help to offer them relief. Acupuncture points are spread out all over the body and the treatment is not carried out in the affected area alone. Fine needles can be inserted in to the body, arms, shoulders, legs and even the hands and feet as well. The number and the frequency of the sessions will vary according to the intensity of the disorder. On an average most people will  have treatment sessions of around an hour at least once or twice a week. Some people find relief after the first session itself while for chronic arthritis sufferers they will require multiple sessions to get some relief from the pain.

References:
Acupuncture Information
Holistic on Line
Rheumatoid Arthritis

Tagged as: Arthritis