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Acupuncture The history of the practice
Acupuncture The history of the practice
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Acupuncture treatment for arthritis
Word count: 883
Description: Acupuncture treatment for arthritis is an alternative therapy and makes use of needles for stimulation of specific points of the body. Acupuncture treatment for arthritis has been practiced since thousands of years.
Keywords: Acupuncture for arthritis, acupuncture arthritis, acupuncture therapy, acupuncture pain, arthritis remedies, arthritis natural remedies, acupuncture rheumatoid arthritis, acupuncture and arthritis, acupuncture and rheumatoid arthritis, acupuncture healing.
Acupuncture treatment for arthritis has proved to be effective in reducing the inflammation and pain resulting from this condition. Acupuncture has been practiced for a long duration in traditional Chinese medicine. Acupuncture serves as an alternative to arthritis medication. Acupuncture not only provides relief from joint pain but also proves beneficial for other diseases.
Many people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis and gout get relief from pain with the use of acupuncture therapy.
Before we start about acupuncture, we must know about arthritis.
What is arthritis?
The term arthritis refers to the joint inflammation. Joint facilitates the movement of body parts. Over the 100 different forms of arthritis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are common. It has been estimated that over 350 million people worldwide are affected by arthritis.
Symptoms of arthritis:
• Joint pain
• The diseased joints swells up, turns red with a feel of warmth
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Numbness of various body parts
• Anxiety and irritation
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
Causes of arthritis:
There are several causes of arthritis ...
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...s is done?
The process of acupuncture treatment for arthritis begins with cleaning of skin with alcohol. The next step is the insertion of sterile needles. The needles are directly inserted either into the affected sites or into the distal points.
When more number of needles is required in a site, they may be introduced into a hypodermic needle. The needles may be twisted and electrically energized during the treatment. The warming effect created by it is beneficial for the treatment. Acupuncture treatment for arthritis usually requires 2 sessions in a week.
Side effects of acupuncture:
Most people experience no side effects acupuncture treatment for arthritis. However, some people experience problems like mild allergy or bleeding. You may have a dizzy feeling if you are undergoing acupuncture treatment for the first time.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory and an autoimmune disease that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s tissue (Rheumatoid arthritis, 2017). This disease affects the entire body, which is called a systemic (means entire body) disease. Arthritis is derived from the word part arthr-, which means “joint,” and -itis, which means “inflammation,” so altogether it means “inflammation of the joints.” It creates inflammation that causes the tissue that lines the inside of joints (synovium) to thicken. About 1.5 million people in the U.S. are affected. It affects all races, but it affects three times as many women than men (What is Rheumatoid Arthritis, n.d.). Overtime, rheumatoid arthritis causes painful swelling that can potentially result in bone erosion or joint deformity, which leads up to physical disabilities. RA can affect more than just your joints, but can spread to body systems, skin, eyes, lungs, heart, blood vessels, e.t.c (Rheumatoid arthritis, 2017).
Zelman, D. (2014) Joint Stiffness and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Available at: http://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/guide/joint-stiffness-and-rheumatoid-arthritis (Accessed: 12th May 2014).
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, it affects millions of people around the world. It is also known as Degenerative Joint Disease or Degenerative Arthritis or Wear & Tear Arthritis. Osteoarthritis occurs when the protective cartilage in the joints wear down over time. While osteoarthritis can affect any joint in your body, it more often is seen in the knees, hips, hands, neck, and lower back it worsens as you grow older and has no known cure.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, affecting more than 27 million Americans (LeMone, Burke, Bauldoff, 2011). It is caused when the cartilage in the joints breaks down, causing the bones of the joint to rub against one another. This causes pain, stiffness, and loss of motion in the joint. Osteoarthritis is most prevalent in those 65 and older, but can affect those of any age. In addition, African Americans and Hispanics report a higher incidence of arthritis than Caucasians (LeMone, Burke, Bauldoff, 2011). Although the cause is unknown, it is believed that the increasing age of the population, prevalence of obesity and injuries add to the progression of the condition. Osteoarthritis can affect any joint in the body; however, those of the hand, hip, and knee are often the most common. This condition may be asymptomatic, or may present symptoms including soreness, stiffness and pain. The symptoms are more common in the older population, those with limited activity levels, and those who are obese. Joint cartilage thins over time, causing an increased risk for symptoms in the elderly, and obesity puts extra pressure on the joints during activity. Osteoarthritis is commonly diagnosed with the use of a physical assessment along with results of radiology testing such as X-Ray and MRI.
Auricular acupuncture has a variety of uses, some with more documented success than others. Auricular acupuncture is an alternative medicine with some documented success in treating anxiety, insomnia, smoking, drug addictions and obesity. Not all studies have generated conclusive positive results and more research is needed to accurately evaluate the efficacy of the procedure in treating multiple ailments. Acupuncture is an ancient medicinal practice that originated in China. The name comes from the Latin acus, or “needle”, and from pungere, or “prick,” and involves the insertion of superfine needles into specific points on the body. Once inserted, the needles can be manipulated to stimulate the body for healing effects. Auricular acupuncture is acupuncture performed on the ear. The treatment of auricular acupuncture is preformed on the ear using stimulators such as different types of needles, staple-punctures, probes, magnetic beads, fingers, or harmless electrical impulses. The most common is method is inserting needles. For auricular acupuncture, there are different type of needles that can be used such as a regular half or whole inch needle, press needles, and interdermal needles. Press and interdermal needles are pressed into an acupuncture point and tape is used to keep them in place, as well as give constant stimulation. The ear is thought to contain an innumerable amount of important and potentially therapeutic acupuncture points. This is why it is believed that by using these types of stimulators on acupuncture points in the ear, problems and/or dysfunctions will be revealed throughout the body. (Suen 135)
Acupuncture is a treatment with few, if any, reported side effects. The most common side effect is deep relaxation and a slight, temporary heaviness. In the treatment of stress, the side effect of deep relaxation is often a desired result. In these cases, very few side effects are noticed.
Osteoarthritis can be known as, or sometimes called, degenerative joint disease. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease that affects not only the elderly and sick, although those 55 and older are most commonly affected, people of all ages may receive osteoarthritis (OA). Approximately 27 million Americans share the same common chronic condition of the joints. Every disease is known to have its own cycle or process; well as for Osteoarthritis its process is pretty complex. In osteoarthritis (OA), at the end of the bone where they meet to form a joint, allowing movement, the cartilage covering the bone begins something called breakdown.
Arthritis affects people of all age groups. More than 100 types of arthritis are known. Among these osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis having the highest incidence. One of the major causes of chronic debilitation in industrialized nations is Osteoarthritis which results from damage to the joints, which may be due to trauma, infection, or age-related wear. Rheumatoid arthritis is encountered less frequently than osteoarthritis and is estimated to affect around one per cent of the world’s population. Amongst patients of Rheumatoid arthritis, women are three times more likely to be affected by this condition than men. This condition is caused by an inflammatory process where the body starts attacking itself. Rheumatoid arthritis also affects several joints, with inflammation sometimes seen in and around the lungs, the heart, the eyes and the skin. The most commonly reported complaint by arthritis patients is pain. The pain might be from the joint itself and be a result of inflammation, damage from the disease, or through daily wear and tear. Muscle pain is also common and is caused by having to force movements against stiff and painful joints. Although range of movement in the affected joint may be limited and uncomfortable, physical exercise has been shown to benefit those with arthritis. Physical therapy has been shown to significantly improve function, decrease pain in the long term and delay the need for surgery in advanced cases. The majority of arthritis cases occur among theelderly, however the disease can occur in children as well. Over 70% of the population that get affected by arthritis in North America are over the age of 65 (4). The disease occurs more commonly in females than males in all races, age groups, and ethn...
Bibliography: Arthritis Foundation, Understanding Arthritis (1986); Kelley, William N., et al., eds., Textbook of Rheumatology, 2d ed., (1985); McCarty, Daniel F., ed., Arthritis and Allied Conditions, 11th ed. (1988); Moll, J. M. H., Rheumatology in Clinical Practice (1987).
Mendelson G, Selwood TS, Kranz H, Loh TS, Kidson MA, Scott Ds. (1983). Acupuncture treatment of chronic back pain. A double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Medicine, 741), 49-55.
This is when pressure is applied to the hands or feet by a thumb technique with no lotion. There are different points on the feet are related to different parts of the body. It has been shown that reflexology helps with pain and stiffness in Rheumatoid Arthritis sufferers. The patients also claim that due to reflexology they have used less painkillers and generally feel healthier.
Acupuncture originated in China and it has been practice for more than 2000 years now. This modality is considered the main treatment within the traditional Chinese medicine. Its main concept is the conviction that the body possesses hidden channels identified as meridians. These channels allows for the flow of energy which is considered a vital life force through all the body. Acupuncture modality believes that when this energy becomes obstructed or imbalanced, sickness and symptoms can build up. It is only when this energy becomes unblocked by stimulating focal points in the meridians that health can be achieved again (Cherry & Jacob, 2010).
Arthritis affects the hips, knees, spine, hands, lower back, neck, and knuckles. Osteoarthritis spreads throughout the body damaging organs and connective tissue. Osteoarthritis cannot be cured. Physicians seek only to relieve the pain and prevent the patient from becoming disabled. A surgeon may...
This oriental medicine is one of the safest ways to be cured of a sickness. It has no major side effects. One might experience a little pain or dizziness during the first few seconds of the first treatment, but this is rare. These side effects only occur if a patient is nervous or scared to be treated (RH). Acupuncture can cure everything Western medicine can, from diseases to back pain, without the dangerous, sometimes life-threatening side effects. Many patients turn to acupuncture as a last resort and find closure in its effectiveness. “My daughter and son have never taken a pill in their lives; acupuncture has cured all of their [health] problems” (Dr. Michael.).
The herbs and bamboo cups are put into a deep pan and covered with water (glass cups become too hot and are therefore not suitable for this method). The water is brought to boil for 30 minutes. The patient is prepared and the part to be cupped is exposed. When the practitioner and the patient are both ready, one cup is lifted at a time out of the pan with a metal clamp. The practitioner should wait briefly to ensure that the cup is not too hot and then apply the cup. The herbs are absorbed by the bamboo cups, which in turn transfer their analgesic properties to the patient. This method is usually employed when cold, damp and wind attack the body causing stiffness and aching, particularly in the neck and the shoulders. Cups can be left on for 11 and 20 minutes.