Acupuncture to Treat Symptoms of Arthritis
Acupuncture is an effective complementary therapy to treat the symptoms of arthritis and can be used alongside other types of treatment.
Back in 2004 a US National Institute of Health study concluded that acupuncture can relieve pain and improve joint movement in osteoarthritis of the knee.
Their study involved almost 600 arthritis sufferers and those that received acupuncture treatment experienced a 40% reduction in pain and a 40% increase in joint movement; two of the key symptoms of arthritis.
Until recently the pain relieving properties of acupuncture were not well understood, but a recent study at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York indicates that acupuncture may stimulate the release of Adenosine, a natural pain killer produced by the body.
How is Acupuncture Used to Treat the Symptoms of Arthritis?
Very fine acupuncture needles are inserted into key acupuncture points in the body. Some of these will be very close to the joint that is affected by arthritis, but others may be some distance away. These far away points are known as distal points.
Inserting the needles doesn’t hurt although some people report a stinging sensation which may be worse if the needles are inserted close to the area experiencing symptoms of arthritis and it is swollen or inflamed.
Every acupuncture treatment is different, but you can expect to have a maximum of 20 needles inserted into your skin. These will be left in place for around 20 minutes.
It may take four to six sessions before you begin to feel the benefit of acupuncture, and as arthritis is a chronic condition a weekly treatment may be necessary to relieve the symptoms of arthritis sufficiently.
Check out some of the other ways of treating the symptoms of arthritis naturally here.
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