Practiced by Chinese healers and used by the Chinese Acupuncturists for thousands of years as a treatment for various kinds of illnesses, acupuncture is now one of the most popular alternative forms of treatment around the world as well.  It is for the various health benefits that it offers as well as its safeness (no negative side effects) that it is so popular with people of all races.  Acupuncture is even now being extolled as a natural remedy for arthritis, probably because traditional Chinese practitioners believe that arthritis is a manifestation of an imbalance in the body’s energy.  Acupuncture is supposed then to revive the natural energy balance.  In Western medical viewpoint, acupuncture has been observed to activate the release of endorphins, which naturally block pain.

The most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis around the world and it affects around 20 million sufferers in the Untied States.  Osteoarthritis is caused by the degradation of the joints and soft bones that causes stiffness and severe pain.  Rheumatoid arthritis is usually more severe in pain and scope since not only the joints are affected but also some major organs.  Rheumatoid arthritis causes extreme swelling in the lining of the joints resulting in inflammation, stiffness, and severe pain.  This kind of arthritis also contorts the shape of the joints and severely impairs their range of movement.  Acupuncture is a very potent treatment for pain relief for both types of arthritis.

Treatment begins by cleansing the skin with alcohol.  Sterilized fine needles are inserted into the area of distress or in other parts of the body.  The number of needles used and the depths of insertion depend on the degree of the pain.  The needles are either “tweaked” or manipulated or electrically energized and allowed to remain in the skin for several minutes to an hour.

A slight sensation is felt as the needles are inserted, which is much less painful than when one is receiving a vaccination shot.  A warm sensation is felt when the needles are applied with mild electricity.  This manipulation or electrical stimulation is used to optimize the effect and thus increase the benefits of the treatment.  Acupuncture as a treatment for arthritis is usually done two times per week and it usually implies several treatments for one to substantially enjoy the benefits.

There is not doubt the acupuncture relieves pain, thus making it an ideal modality for arthritis, which is mainly a problem principally characterized by pain. Arthritis is a very significant problem in the United States because of its debilitating nature.  There are hundreds of pain medications for arthritis but acupuncture is more superior to these because it does not cause any side effects whatsoever.