| Traditional Chinese medicine has used acupuncture to | | | | patients who reported limited benefits from |
| relieve pain as well as to cure disease. During an | | | | anti-inflammatory medication and exercise. |
| acupuncture session, a practitioner will insert thin | | | | The study demonstrated a statistically significant |
| needles into the skin at any one of more than 2,000 | | | | improvement in both pain measures as well as mobility |
| carefully defined meridian points. The ancient theory of | | | | measures in patients receiving real acupuncture versus |
| why acupuncture is effective is that needle insertion | | | | sham acupuncture. |
| restores qi (life force) flow throughout the channels of | | | | The authors concluded that "True traditional Chinese |
| the body. When qi is at optimal levels, there is harmony | | | | acupuncture is safe and effective for reducing pain |
| with the universal forces of yin and yang. This leads to | | | | and improving function in patients with symptomatic |
| improved health and relief of pain. | | | | knee osteoarthritis who have moderate or greater |
| While the traditional acupuncture approach has been to | | | | pain despite background therapy." |
| use the needles by themselves, modern acupuncturists | | | | Some notes of caution. The effect of acupuncture in |
| may rotate the needles or apply low levels of electric | | | | relieving pain is not huge. The effects are modest and |
| current to improve the effectiveness of the procedure. | | | | do take time. The second issue is that the placebo |
| Sometimes acupressure is also given during the same | | | | effect undoubtedly enters into the equation. |
| session. Moxibustion which is the use of herbs that are | | | | An interesting study from Dr. George Lewith in |
| burned during the procedure is also used. Some | | | | Southampton, England used positron emission |
| practitioners also use "cupping" which is a method | | | | technology to demonstrate that brain blood flow was |
| where suction cups are applied to meridian points. | | | | altered in a different manner with real acupuncture |
| Theories as to how acupuncture relieves pain have | | | | compared with sham acupuncture therefore validating |
| included the "gate theory" which suggests that pain | | | | the concept of a real pain modulating effect of |
| signals travel along neural pathways through "gates." If | | | | acupuncture on the brain. |
| a competing stimulus such as acupuncture needles, | | | | Unfortunately, acupuncture does take a long time to |
| then pain signals are blocked. | | | | work. Dr. Hochberg from the University of Maryland |
| Another theory has to do with endorphin release by | | | | states, "You really have to give acupuncture ... six |
| the brain due to acupuncture stimulus. Another theory | | | | months in order to get maximum benefits from it." |
| is that acupuncture helps produce analgesic | | | | Another downside is the cost. Generally, the charge is |
| neurotransmitters in the spinal cord. | | | | anywhere from 60 to 100 dollars a session. Expect |
| One large study of acupuncture in osteoarthritis of the | | | | that it will cost about $2,000.00. Fortunately, some |
| knee was performed at the University of Maryland. | | | | insurance carriers will cover the cost. |
| Researchers compared traditional Chinese | | | | Acupuncture will not be a substitute for conventional |
| acupuncture with sham acupuncture (using either | | | | treatment. You should use it in conjunction with your |
| retractable needles or real needles inserted into false | | | | regular arthritis therapy. Make sure you see a licensed |
| pressure points). The study group consisted of 570 | | | | practitioner. |