Acupuncture: A Natural Treatment for Arthritis

There are many treatment options available for relieving arthritis pain; however, there is a less commonly known treatment that has shown to be very beneficial. This natural remedy for relieving arthritis pain is acupuncture. While you may be a little skeptical about how sticking needles in your skin could possibly relieve pain, the truth is, this form of treatment has been used for hundreds of years and appears to be very effective.

Acupuncture has been used for hundreds of years by Chinese doctors. The belief behind acupuncture is that pain and illness are caused from an improper balance of energy within the body. The stainless steel needles used in acupuncture rebalance the body's energy, relieving pain and illness.

Acupuncture works by inserting needles into the energy carrying channels within the body, which causes a secretion of endorphins, which are pain blockers. When these acupuncture points are stimulated the pain messages being sent to the brain are interrupted.

How is Acupuncture Done?

Acupuncture is conducted with sterile needs. Prior to the acupuncture session, the skin will be cleaned with alcohol. The needles are inserted into the pain site, and sometimes into other regions, and they are inserted at a variety of depths. Sometimes, the needles will be twisted and electronically energized to produce maximum benefits. This maximizes the treatment because it produces a warming effect. The amount of time the needles remain inserted varies from only a few minutes to up to an hour.

While it may sound uncomfortable to have needles inserted into you, the pain level is actually minimal, typically similar to receiving a shot. After the acupuncture session, it is common to experience a heaviness or soreness in the area the needles were inserted. Acupuncture sessions are usually done twice a week. It may take more than one treatment to receive any noticeable relief.

What are the Benefits?

An approximate 21 million Americans suffer from a form of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is among the forms of arthritis. Osteoarthritis causes joint and cartilage deterioration. This results in pain and stiffness in the joints. Acupuncture has shown to relieve the pain this condition causes.

Rheumatoid arthritis is another condition that can benefit from this condition. Rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation and deformation of the joints. This causes severe pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints that are affected. Overtime, it is common for the joints to loose mobility. Acupuncture has shown to be very beneficial in relieving the severe pain rheumatoid arthritis causes.

References:
"Acupuncture for Arthritis" WebMD.com
"Acupuncture for Arthritis" AcuFinder.com