• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Daily Vitamina

Daily Vitamina

Bilingual Health News

  • Health Conditions
  • Healthy Living
  • Food
  • Weight Loss
  • Fitness
Home / / Relieve Arthritis Pain With Alternative Medicine

Relieve Arthritis Pain With Alternative Medicine

Acupuncturist inserts needle into patient's backThe idea of sticking needles in your body as a remedy for pain may seem like it would hurt more than help. But acupuncture is gaining attention as a successful alternative arthritis treatment, especially for those with knee arthritis. Recent studies point to an encouraging “risk-benefit” profile of acupuncture for arthritis pain relief, drawing many to this ancient Chinese healing modality.

“The features of arthritis are pain and inflammation, which is why Western patients are often put on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications or steroids,” says Lixing Lao, MD, PhD, LAc, director of Traditional Chinese Medicine research at the University of Maryland Center for Integrative Medicine. “Acupuncture can have effects similar to those produced by drugs, but it happens endogenously — your body produces the chemicals that allow it to heal itself. It is more natural.”

Acupuncture for Arthritis Pain Relief

How does acupuncture work? According to the theory of Chinese medicine, the body has 14 “meridians,” or channels, that are responsible for transporting energy. The idea is that when energy is flowing smoothly through these meridians, the body will be free of pain. When the meridians get blocked and energy cannot flow through, you’re more likely to experience pain. The goal of acupuncture is to stimulate points throughout the body using very thin needles, which causes the meridians to reopen and allows for a smooth flow of energy, aiding in arthritis pain relief.

From a Western perspective, research has shown that acupuncture may improve arthritis pain by stimulating the brain to release endorphins, one of the body’s natural pain relievers. Acupuncture also has been shown to stimulate the release of cortisol, an anti-inflammatory hormone, which in turn eases the inflammation associated with knee arthritis. Since acupuncture also increases local blood circulation, using it on the knee in a patient with knee arthritis can help bring fresh blood to the area, which may also provide arthritis pain relief.

Arthritis Pain Relief With Fewer Meds

“The majority of knee arthritis patients respond well to acupuncture,” says Dr. Lao. Typically, Lao sees knee arthritis patients two or three times a week for the first three weeks. If there is noticeable arthritis pain relief, the sessions will decrease to once a week, followed by once every other week, depending on the patient’s level of improvement.

Knee arthritis patients are advised to continue their arthritis medication regimens when beginning acupuncture treatment. “We tell people to maintain their medications because otherwise it’s hard to know whether the acupuncture is working or whether they’re just reacting to going off drug treatment,” says Lao. “If they start feeling better, the patient can cut down on medications as needed, under the supervision of their physician.”

Arthritis Pain Relief from Magnetic Field Pulses

Another emerging arthritis remedy is pulsed magnetic field therapy, a non-invasive treatment for joint pain.

This 60-year-old healing modality involves delivery of magnetic field energy to the outside of the body via an electromagnetic field generating machine. It treats the source of arthritis pain rather than the perception, or feeling, of pain, which is what pain medications address.

“Medications are delivered in very high doses in order to deliver the necessary amount to the patient,” explains Marko Markov, PhD, an expert in biophysics with special interest in magnetic fields. “But once the action of the medication is gone, the pain perception is back because drugs do not treat the source of the pain.

With magnetic field therapy, it is possible to treat just the area of the body where the pain originates. In most cases, pain is a result of inflammation, which creates extra liquid that compresses the nerve endings. Magnetic field therapy allows the blood vessels and lymphatic system to drain the area. The extra liquid is absorbed, the pressure is gone, and the patient is free of pain.”

If you have osteoarthritis and are considering alternative arthritis remedies, talk to your doctor about whether it’s safe for you to consider acupuncture or pulsed magnetic field therapy, and where you might find practitioners in your area. Many people find that these therapies can be helpful additions to an already existing arthritis treatment plan.

For the complete article, click here.

February 10, 2013 by Mateo Rosado, Staff Writer

Read Next Article

The Latest In

La presión arterial es más alta y más difícil de controlar en los días fríos

En un pintoresco pueblo al pie de una montaña nevada en Ushuaia, sur de Argentina, residen dos buenos amigos: Alex y Ethan. En una tarde invernal, Ethan compartió con Alex un desconcertante fenómeno. Con una expresión de inquietud, exclamó: "Jamás [Read More...] about La presión arterial es más alta y más difícil de controlar en los días fríos

Keys to Iron Health: The Real Foods that Strengthen Our Defenses

Pablo used to turn his back on the vegetables, relegating them to a corner of his plate without considering their flavor. As his best friend, I decided to teach him how to lead a healthy life through a balanced diet. [Read More...] about Keys to Iron Health: The Real Foods that Strengthen Our Defenses

Secretos científicos. ¿Cómo la música impacta en nuestras mentes?

En su infancia de niña inquieta y divertida, la música era la llama que encendía la pasión de Victoria. Mientras tarareaba canciones de moda, sus padres veían en sus ojos una chispa de alegría deslumbrante. A medida que creció, la [Read More...] about Secretos científicos. ¿Cómo la música impacta en nuestras mentes?

Habits to Live a Healthier Life, Like the World’s Longest-Lived Communities

When life expectancy in developed countries and the Third World has declined, it is no surprise that Dan Buettner's exploration of the centenarians of the longest-lived communities on Earth is attracting a lot of attention. Dan Buettner is an American writer, [Read More...] about Habits to Live a Healthier Life, Like the World’s Longest-Lived Communities

Leche, ¿amiga o enemiga? Pros, contras y datos que debe conocer

Érase una vez un pequeño pueblo enclavado en el campo. Un día, Lily, una joven curiosa, se encontró inmersa en un animado debate entre los aldeanos. El tema: "Los efectos de la leche en la salud". Poco después, Lily visitó [Read More...] about Leche, ¿amiga o enemiga? Pros, contras y datos que debe conocer

Alert! The 7 Health Tests That All Men Should Not Ignore

Juan, 37, had been feeling bad for several weeks, but he kept putting off seeing the doctor. He feared what he might discover, but his wife finally convinced him to undergo a checkup. Speaking with his doctor, Juan was surprised [Read More...] about Alert! The 7 Health Tests That All Men Should Not Ignore

Primary Sidebar

Popular Posts

  • LIFE-1Why do Men Live Shorter Lives Than Women?
  • Silhouette of man and woman kissing during sunset10 Tips to Stay Healthy And in Love
  • BLIND-2Un mundo sin luz. ¿La ceguera se cura?
  • ACU-2How Acupuncture Helps Lose Weight
  • MARATON-28 consejos para ganar su primera maratón

Copyright © 2025, BlackDoctor, Inc. All rights reserved.