In Traditional Chinese Medicine acupuncture treatment of arthritis is performed according to the symptoms of arthralgia (Bi syndrome), pain, heat and stiffness. In addition to the nature of pathological changes, the local and distal points on the channels can be selected according to the different location of the diseased area. Ah shi points (local areas of tender pressure) can be applied (Gongwan 1996). Treatment principles of wandering arthralgia are to eliminate Wind, regulate circulation of vital energy and blood, disperse Cold and resolve Damp. Painful arthralgia is treated by expelling cold, and warming the meridians, dispelling wind and resolving damp. Fixed arthralgia treatment is to resolve damp and activiate blood circulation in the collateral’s, expelling cold and dispelling wind. Heat arthralgia treatment clears heat and resolves dampness, dispels wind and regulates blood circulation. Wandering arthralgia, heat arthralgia and tendon arthralgia are mainly treated by the reducing method (Xinnon et al 1987). According to (Gongwan 1996), acupuncture is effective in treating arthralgia syndromes.
In conclusion of this section it can be seen that there are considerable differences between the orthodox understanding of arthritis and its treatment and that of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Acupuncture appears to hold great promise to effectively treat arthritis according to the literature in Traditional Chinese Medicine, while orthodox medicine seems to offer little hope apart from pain relief accompanied by undesirable side effects.
Studies on Acupuncture and Oesteoarthritis
Acupuncture is one of the most commonly used complementary therapies for OA, according to (Ernst 1997). A recent survey from Britain suggested that about 50% of all indications treated by traditional acupuncturists were composed of OA. Acupuncture has been proven to have a short term, pain-relieving effect for the treatment of OA (Ernst 1997) and 1 study will be described regarding OA patients receiving acupuncture treatment.
Study 1
Research carried out by (Berman et al 1999) for acupuncture treatment of rheumatological conditions, included a randomised, controlled trail of acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy in osteoarthritis of the knee. Seventy-three elderley patients with symptomatic OA of the knee were randomly assigned either acupuncture or standard care (control). Patients self scored Western Ontarion and McMasters Universitites Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and Lesquesne indices at baseline and at 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Patients in the control group were offered acupuncture after 12 weeks.
The authors concluded that acupuncture is a safe, effective, adjunctive therapy to conventional care for patients with OA of the knee.
Patients received acupuncture twice weekly over a period of 8 weeks. These patients were asked to remain on their baseline analgesics anti-inflammatory regimes.
There was a large sample size of 73 patients, which was randomised by computer. There was claimed improvement on the WOMAC and Le Quesne indices (Berman et al 1999). Both of these are validated pain rating scales. If acupuncture can increase function and decrease pain without any side effects, it is also important to regard the benefit of decreased NSAIDS as a secondary benefit.
by John Gradwell
