Acupuncture's Many Benefits For Those Who Suffer From Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) affects more people than you might think. In fact, according to PubMedCentral, out of every 100,000 people, 41 are diagnosed with RA each year amounting to over 1.3 million people in America alone.

The disease is rooted in inflammation, and Healthline explains some of the most common symptoms include:

  • low-grade fevers

  • fatigue

  • pain and stiffness for longer than 30 minutes in the morning or after sitting

  • anemia

  • weight loss

  • rheumatoid nodules, or firm lumps, beneath the skin, primarily in the hands, elbows, or ankles

Those who suffer from RA don’t only have to deal with specific symptoms. Rheuamtoid Arthritis is a chronis condition that results in a dip in quality of life and increased medical costs, as medications and doctor visits have to be kept up with regularly.

Acupuncture is a an effective treatment for those suffering from RA because it is able to treat just about all of the disparate symptoms that the disorder brings about. Acupuncture is the safest and most natural treatment for inflammation in general, regardless of where in the body it is occurring. A study conducted last year concluded that acupuncture, when targeted specifically for RA, proves effective because of three specific effects: anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and immune system regulation.

Acupuncture isn’t a cure for RA, but it can help change the life of someone who has it. When inflammation is reduced, so is pain. When pain is reduced, quality of life increases and the seeking of treatments and the costs associated with that pursuit reduce. That’s a formula for a better future.

How Acupuncture Can Help Arthritis

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Arthritis is a painful, often life-altering condition that is suffered by far too many.

According to The Arthritis Foundation (Arthritis.org), conservative estimates say that about 54 million adults have doctor-diagnosed arthritis. Of these, 300,000 are babies or children with arthritis or rheumatic condition, babies and children have arthritis or a rheumatic condition, and the most common type of arthritis — osteoarthritis, affects an estimated 31 million Americans.

Thankfully, like many other conditions, acupuncture can help.

By reducing swelling, restoring blood flow, balancing qi and releasing pain-relieving hormones called endorphins, regular acupuncture treatment can help to reduce pain and increase mobility. Research supports this, too.

A 2012 study sought to provide supportive research, as acupuncture is often a bit controversial among eastern medical professionals — unfortunately. Researchers said, “We aimed to determine the effect size of acupuncture for four chronic pain conditions: back and neck pain, osteoarthritis, chronic headache, and shoulder pain.”

The results? Exactly what we’d predict. Acupuncture was, “superior to both sham and no acupuncture control for each pain condition.”

Researchers added, “We believe that our findings are both clinically and scientifically important.”

We also know that acupuncture and herbs is actually more effective than prescribed pharmaceuticals in treating spinal arthritis, and how it helped Bubba the Komodo Dragon restore mobility and reduce pain, too!

(Yes, acupuncture really does help animals just as much as humans!)

Acupuncture is a minimally invasive procedure that is certainly worth trying for anyone suffering from an arthritic condition.