Can Acupuncture Treat Arthritis Pain Properly?

The origins of acupuncture are buried in myth and mystery going back thousands of years, at least to the time of China's Yellow Emperor in the fifth century B.C. One often-told story is that acupuncture was discovered accidentally in battle, when warriors pierced by arrows felt a sudden release from long-standing pain or illness. But no one can verify the story, orexplain how that chance observation got translated into a complex philosophy of medicine, based on universal harmony, with a whole new view of anatomy.

Acupuncture goes beyond the body as Western science knows it. East and West both see the musculoskeletal system, the digestive system, as well as the reproductive, respiratory, and circulatory systems. Acupuncture also recognizes a grand independent network of channels called 'meridians' that unite all those other systems, and unite mind with body, too. A vital energy courses through these meridians, acupuncturists say, and they can tap into it by stimulating one or more of the 360 distinct acupuncture points charted along the meridian pathways. Inserting needles into these precise points restores energy imbalances, breaks up energy blockages, and charges the body to heal itself.

Modern medical scientists have been trying to explain how acupuncture works, in their terms, because they simply couldn't live with the concept of 'vital energy' moving inside invisible anatomic structures. Electricity makes more sense to them, since the nerves are known to carry electrical impulses, and acupuncture points lie near peripheral nerve endings. They suggest that acupuncture electrifies the nerve endings, which then signal the brain and spinal cord to release their own internal pain-blockers and painkillers. Other chemicals that may shower into the blood­stream in reaction to acupuncture are the body's own anti-­inflammatory agents, and this may further explain why acupuncture sometimes helps people with arthritis.

If you are going to try acupuncture, look for a well-versed practitioner.

For reasons they cannot explain, some arthritis sufferers who enjoyed acupuncture found that it helped some joints but not others. The risk of acupuncture is minor. If the needles are sterile, there is scant possibility of infection, and there are no other known physical side effects.

Traditional acupuncture is practiced with very fine needles, which may be inserted in places fairly far removed from your painful parts. The acupuncturist may then twirl the needles in place, for added effect, or burn moxa (an herb) in a small cup atop the needle. Some practitioners prefer to attach electrodes to the needles and turn on the juice.

Modern acupuncture can even be performed by beaming laser light on the acupuncture points instead of needling them. Another needleless variation, called acupressure, or Shiatsu, substitutes fingertips for the fine needles. The practitioner prods the spot, or spots, or shows you where they are so you can treat yourself.