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Arthritis (Osteoarthritis/ Rheumatoid Arthritis/ Gouty Arthritis)

Acupuncture for Arthritis (Osteoarthritis / Rheumatoid Arthritis / Gouty Arthritis)

Arthritis is a group of conditions involving damage to the various joints of the body. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in people older than fifty-five years.

There are different forms of arthritis; each has a different cause. The most common form of arthritis-- Osteoarthritis is a degeneration of the bone and cartilage of the joints. Other arthritis forms are Rheumatoid Arthritis (autoimmune diseases) in which the body attacks itself. Gouty Arthritis which results in inflammation is caused by the deposition of uric acid crystals in the joint. There is also an uncommon form of gout caused by the formation of rhomboid crystals of calcium pyrophosphate. This gout is known as Pseudogout.

How does acupuncture work for Arthritis?

NCCAM (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) and NIAMS (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) indicated that acupuncture is an effective complement to conventional Arthritis treatment and can be successfully employed as part of a multidisciplinary approach to treating the symptoms of arthritis. Acupuncture improves immune functions and blood flow to the joints to speed healing and to "wash out" inflammatory proteins. Acupuncture provides pain relief, improves brain-based pain tolerance.

Course of treatment

There are 10-15 acupuncture sessions in one course of treatment. Treatment frequency depends on individual condition. Chinese herbs work synergistically with acupuncture.

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