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Acupuncture and Arthritis

If you have arthritis you will be aware that it is a chronic condition and medical treatment focuses on coping with the condition rather than curing it. For that reason it may be a condition that could significantly benefit from alternative therapies. In this article we will look at acupuncture and how it can help arthritis.

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is a chronic and degenerative disease that affects the joints of the body. There is more than one type of arthritis and they are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The most common form is osteoarthritis and generally affects people as they get older. People with arthritis tend to suffer from pain in their joints and reduced mobility. Treatments tend to focus on reducing the pain felt and increasing the range of motion to make life more manageable.

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a therapy that comes from traditional Chinese medicine and involves the process of inserting fine needles into certain points around the body. The theory is that all conditions are caused by an imbalance of blockage in the flow of energy in the body. By the insertion of needles at certain points energy can flow freely around the body and good heath can be returned. Treatment is normally specialised for each person, their history and their symptoms and so a full analysis is usually done before treatment begins.

Acupuncture and Arthritis

So the main question is how can acupuncture be used to treat arthritis? Well acupuncture has been used to treat joint pain for hundreds of years and in modern times can be a valuable alternative. This is mainly because modern medicine involves prescribing medication that can have side effects and some people may not want to take.

During treatment the therapist will usually use points in the body to insert needles that are close to the source of pain. The aim of this is to relieve the pain felt in that area. Many people will need to have between three and six acupuncture sessions before they begin to feel pain relief. Although this form of therapy will not work for everyone many people experience significant benefits from the treatment and so it is worth considering.

Many people may find that using acupuncture alongside conventional medicine can have a great affect and be the right way to use the treatment. In terms of side effects most people do not experience any at all making it a very safe treatment for consideration. Side effects that people do report are minor bleeding and allergies. In addition many people can feel dizzy after their first therapy session, this is largely due to the effect that it has on the body and will not last long.

The exact treatment you receive and the style of the acupuncture will depend on the acupuncturist and your symptoms so it is hard to say exactly what your treatment will be like. For example some therapists may include moxibustion in session which involves burning a herb mugwort over a number of points in the body. If you have been suffering from arthritis for some time and are struggling to get relief from the condition then acupuncture may be a safe option for you to try that could have a significant impact on your condition and the way in which you live your life.