Acupuncture Arthritis Treatment

By: Cory Ponciano



Does the idea of being poked with needles give you the willies? Are you skeptical about the actual help it can provide? Don't be. Acupuncture arthritis treatment has been well documented throughout China.

Acupuncture has long been a method of pain relief used in traditional Chinese medicine. It has been used to treat a wide range of ailments over the years. Recently it's made its way to the Western world becoming one of the most accepted alternative treatments.

In fact it's not only the most accepted, it's the most popular with more than 15 million Americans turning to this therapy for relief of chronic pain. It is recommended by the World Health Organization as a treatment for more than 40 conditions which includes arthritis.

Many Rheumatologists are using it as mainstream treatment but there are still doctors who remain skeptical. Rheumatologists have seen acupuncture work when other conventional treatments have consistently failed.

So what is acupuncture? It is a treatment that uses fine needles which are inserted into the skin along meridians where gi [pronounced chee] flow. An acupuncturist spends many years training.

The life energy force is called gi and it runs along invisible channels which are called meridians. When gi is blocked illness develops and pain occurs. Unblocking gi reduces pain.

Western acupuncture is the same but different from the traditional style. It is not entirely understood but what is known is that for many it does work. It's a centuries old treatment that is used not only in China but also in other overseas countries and has been for centuries.

Scandinavian studies indicate that of those that had been scheduled for knee surgery 25% were able to avoid surgery because of treatments. Other studies have shown excellent results with fibromyalgia.

That said, other studies had difficulty showing any improvement over inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. I'm sure studies will continue and the results will continue to be mixed. The best option is to give it a try and find out if it works for you.

Acupuncture is a safe alternative treatment when done by a trained professional. It appears to work best on soft tissue pain and fibromyalgia as well as some types of arthritis. Relief can be long term or temporary. It is very dependant on the patient.

Some medical plans cover the cost of treatment while others do not so you will need to check with your insurer. Be warned if you do not have coverage it can be quite an expensive undertaking with treatments running around $100 for the first treatment and $35 to $50 there after.

This is certainly a safe alternative treatment provided you take these precautions.
1. Always choose a licensed practitioner who has graduated from a recognized school.
2. Always get a diagnosis from your medical doctor first.
3. Always check with your doctor before undergoing any new treatments.
4. Make sure the acupuncturist always uses disposable needles or needles that have been correctly sterilized.
5. If you feel pain after the initial insertion you will need to tell the practitioner immediately.
6. Tell the practitioner about any health issues you may have, any medications you are taking including herbal and non prescription, and if you are pregnant.
7. Track your progress over a dozen sessions and then determine the effectiveness.

Acupuncture arthritis treatment has grown in popularity in the past few years. Is it for you? There's only one way to find out. Give it a try. Many have had great success. You could too!



Cory works has been a working for pharmaceutical company for more than 10 years. Cory Ponciano has researched and studies about arthritis and has compiled his work on his website at www.arthritiscontain.com . He has made this information open to public to understand and learn about arthritis