The Benefits Of Acupuncture For Diagnosis And Treatment Of
Arthritis
By Tim Gorman
Acupuncture for diagnosis and treatment of arthritis is now becoming more
prevalent but having your skin savagely poked with a series of long needles
doesn't exactly sound like ideal comfort, especially when you are already
living with arthritis, a rheumatoid disease characterized by it's trademark
stiffness and pain. The ancient Chinese would beg to differ, along with the
estimated fifteen million Americans who have tried the ancient Chinese needle
therapy known as acupuncture. Around the Asian continent, acupuncture has been
used for generations to alleviate the symptoms of chronic pain sufferers, like
arthritis patients, for instance. Prospective "acupokees" should be
aware that acupuncture therapy is used for treating arthritis, not diagnosing
it. Although patients should garner a arthritis diagnosis before signing up for
acupuncture therapy.
Studies in Arthritis and Acupuncture
More than twenty million Americans live with osteoarthritis (there are
various forms of the condition, however). In fact, osteoarthritis is amongst
the most frequent causes for physical disability in adults. Despite a history
spanning more than two thousand years, it was 2001 before acupuncture was found
to aid arthritis in the knee via a study by the University of Maryland School
of Medicine. The study included 570 osteoarthritis patients over the age of
fifty who had never before received acupuncture, surgery, or steroid
injections. A control group was selected and these individuals received regular
sessions of acupuncture. By the end of the first week, the acupuncture group
experienced a surge in mobility and by the end of the study the group reported
a forty percent decrease in pain and a forty percent increase in knee function.
Using Acupuncture For Treating Arthritis
Bigwigs of Western medicine aren't exactly sure just how acupuncture works
to fight arthritis and similar diseases, but the skilled acupuncture who
administer the therapy have an idea or two. According to therapeutic
philosophy, pain is the result of a blockage of one of life's essential
energies, qui. Stimulating certain points will put the flow of qui back in
balance again, thus alleviating chronic pain in the process - Volia! A 1999
study even found evidence that acupuncture improves sleep.
During acupuncture therapy, very thin needles are inserted into precise
point in the skin, these points are known as acupoints. It is these acupoints
that may have the biggest influence on the connection between treating
arthritis with the use of the acupuncture therapy. In addition to being poked
and prodded, acupoints also react to magnets, currents of electricity,
acupressure (hand pressure), lasers and even bee stings. Acupuncture
practitioners have also been known to administer herbs along with wielding out
some advice on making lifestyle changes at the conclusion of a session.
Studies demonstrate that some of designated acupoints are actually connected
to sensitive bio-trigger points rich in nerve endings. And further studies show
that tinkering around with those triggers can cause a mirage of biological
responses, one of the many responses being the chemical release of endorphins.
The release of endorphins is pivotal to acupuncture's influence on arthritis
because the chemical serves as the body's own answer to Advil, Tylenol and
Motrin, as a natural painkiller.
Acupuncture Checks and Balances
Acupuncture costs vary across the
thumb, first visits usually fall between $75 and $150, with cheaper follow-up
treatments costing between $35 and $75. Health insurance accommodations of
acupuncture vary, but advocates of using the therapy for the treatment of diagnosed
arthritis cite the long-term benefits of it's hefty price tag, which include
fewer doctor visits over time and saving a few bucks on prescriptions.
For more hlepful advice and information on acupuncture for diagnosis and treatment of arthritis please
visit QuickArthritisPainRelief.com
where you will find information on natural arthritis relief, artritis symptoms,
arthritis of the knee and arthritis of the spine.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Gorman
