What is Arthritis? Arthritis literally means “inflammation of a joint.” It is accompanied by pain, swelling, and changes in joint structure. The distance between the two bones within the joint becomes narrower and the cartilage that forms a smooth lining at the ends of the bones becomes thinner and irregular. There is a restricted range of motion, with cracking and creaking noises caused by the rubbing of the two irregular surfaces. The affected joints usually feel stiff after periods of immobility such as the morning after a night’s sleep.

Two major types of Arthritis: The two major types of arthritis are Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: more severe with development of deformities and loss of function. It is thought to be an autoimmune disease. Osteoarthritis: more common and results from the effects of wear and tear. It tends to affect joints that have been subjected to overuse, trauma, or excessive weight bearing.

Conventional Treatments for Arthritis: Unfortunately, there is no cure for arthritis in conventional medicine. The drugs available do not come without side effects, and once discontinued, the symptoms recur. Conventional medical doctors mainly prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs to treat the symptoms of arthritis:

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS): These have little or no effect on the underlying disease and therefore cannot prevent progression of joint destruction or organ damage. Examples include aspirin, ibuprofen, indomethacin, and naproxen. The effects of NSAIDS are quite rapid but once the drug is stopped, its benefits fade. Side effects include stomach irritation, gastritis, ulcers, skin reactions and rashes, increased blood coagulation time, reversible liver toxicity, and impaired kidney function.

Chinese Medicine Perspective of Arthritis: TCM classifies arthritis as ‘painful obstruction,’ meaning that there is a blockage in the normal flow of blood and Qi (energy) in the body. The Qi and blood are obstructed by an invasion of climatic influences from the environment such as wind, cold, heat, or dampness. These factors gain access to the body because of a pre-existing weakness or imbalance. The combination of factors from the outside plus the imbalances within the body causes the Qi and blood flow to become blocked in some of the joints. Each individual’s particular symptoms give an indication of the type of pathogens that are present. For example, pain that moves from one joint to another is due to wind; fixed pain with numbness and heaviness is due to dampness; inflammation with red and hot joints is due to heat; severe pain without redness or heat is due to cold. In practice, arthritis is mainly due to wind and dampness. The overall health of the individual plays an important role. If the Qi, blood, Liver, or Kidneys are in a weakened state, the person will be predisposed towards an invasion of external pathogens.

Can Acupuncture help the pain? Yes! Acupuncture is extremely successful in eliminating pain. In Chinese Medicine terms, acupuncture alleviates arthritis pain by the painless insertion of fine needles into specific points on the body to promote the circulation of Qi and blood, thus eliminating blockages and relieving pain. It causes the body to produce chemicals called endorphins, which are “natural painkillers.” Endorphins are similar to morphine but of course the difference is that there are no side effects. Acupuncture also works through the nervous system by blocking the transmission of pain signals to the brain. It also deactivates the trigger points that are often responsible for the chronic pain frequently found around arthritic joints. Acupuncture also has a very relaxing effect on the mind and body. Since many illnesses are the result of stress, acupuncture’s relaxing capabilities help promote the healing process.

Not only does acupuncture relieve pain, but it also relieves the swelling that is present in Rheumatoid Arthritis. The degree of inflammation fluctuates, possibly following changes in the stress levels of the body. Acupuncture stimulates the adrenal glands to produce natural steroids that have anti-inflammatory effects.

Acupressure massage is also incorporated at the end of an acupuncture treatment to stimulate the circulation in the affected areas, aiding the effect of the acupuncture and providing comfort and relaxation to the patient.

How about Chinese Herbal Medicine and Dietetics for Arthritis? Herbal medicine is typically combined with acupuncture for the treatment of arthritis in order to strengthen any underlying weaknesses and to enhance the functioning of the immune system. Therefore, this provides the quickest and most complete approach. The herbs come in capsule and powder form and are easy to ingest.

Specific changes in lifestyle, diet, and supplement intake will also be advised. There is no general dietary guideline to be followed by arthritis patients, as every individual is different. Therefore, an assessment of the patient’s diet is included in the initial consultation.

How many treatments are necessary? Each person’s situation is unique. Some patients respond to acupuncture more quickly than others. Most patients find symptomatic relief after a few treatments. Typically, six to ten sessions within a 1 to 2 month period is a normal course of treatment. Then there is a re-evaluation of the patient’s case. For cases where there is a reoccurrence of inflammation or where joint mobility is restricted, periodic maintenance treatments are recommended.

Some Research: More and more scientifically designed clinical studies support the use of acupuncture for arthritis. One study examined the effects of acupuncture on 32 osteoarthritis patients waiting for knee replacement surgery. After nine weeks, patients receiving acupuncture treatments reported a decrease in pain, while pain increased in untreated patients. The patients with acupuncture treatments were able to walk farther and faster, compared with the untreated group. Another study at the University of Maryland School of Medicine found that patients with osteoarthritis of the knee improved significantly after acupuncture treatments.

U.S. study: Acupuncture relieves arthritis pain Go to CTV to view video CTV.ca News Staff

After alarming news about popular painkillers like Celebrex and Vioxx, an American study is pointing to another way to control the pain of arthritis. A U.S. study provides more evidence that acupuncture works. The study found the ancient treatment relieves arthritis pain in the knee and improves freedom of movement. Acupuncture is a 2,000-year-old Chinese treatment in which needles are inserted in specific points on the body. "For the first time, a clinical trial with sufficient rigor, size, and duration has shown that acupuncture reduces the pain and functional impairment of osteoarthritis of the knee," said Dr. Stephen Straus, director of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, which helped fund the study. "These results also indicate that acupuncture can serve as an effective addition to a standard regimen of care and improve quality of life for knee osteoarthritis sufferers." Researchers studied 570 patients aged 50 or older with osteoarthritis in the knee. All of the patients had significant pain, but had never tried acupuncture or steroids, and hadn't had knee surgery in the past six months. The subjects received either regular acupuncture treatments, a self-help course for managing pain or "sham" acupuncture as a placebo. They also continued to receive standard medical care, taking anti-inflammatory drugs and pain relievers as prescribed. By the end of the second month of treatment, patients who received regular acupuncture treatments had a significant increase in function. By the 14th week, those same patients had a significant reduction in pain compared to the other two groups, according to researchers. During the course of the study, the study participants who received acupuncture had 40 per cent less pain and a 40 per cent improvement in function. In Canada, some arthritis sufferers already enjoy the benefits of regular acupuncture treatments. "Acupuncture for me has been a godsend," says Gail Noukas. She says acupuncture relieved the pain so she could stop taking morphine for her back pain. "I am hoping that I will be pain free or close to it because I don't want to be on drugs," Noukas says. Dr. Linda Rapson, an MD who specializes in pain management, learned the art of acupuncture three decades ago. "I think the medical profession is waiting for this kind of a study to decide if they really want to believe acupuncture works as well as it seems to," she says. "The study does make acupuncture...a viable option because it is safe." Doctors say the method works because the fine needles release endorphins in the body. "What happens, based on Chinese theory, is there's a blockage of energy flow," says Dr. Peter Yea of the Canadian Association of Acupuncture. "The idea is to use a needle on certain points, on the meridians, depending on where the blockage is." Yea says that almost anyone with arthritis pain will feel some relief after the first treatment, but acupuncture works well over the course of several treatments. "It takes some time," Yea says. "He or she didn't have the problem overnight, so it takes some time to treat it as well." Yea stresses that it's important to find a qualified acupuncturist for the best results. He says he treated one woman who had arthritis pain in her knee for 15 years. After a course of treatment, "she can climb six floors of stairs." In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says an estimated 2.1 million American adults received acupuncture treatment in 2002.