Can Acupuncture Help Aching Joints?

Is the cold damp weather making your joints ache?

Does your arthritis flare up at this time of year?

It is not unusual for joint aches and pains to feel worse in winter.  Many patients say their symptoms improve when they go on holiday somewhere warm and sunny.  Why, even an English summer can ease some of the pain and stiffness!  

Winter, with the sort of cold that seeps right into your bones, can make joint pain a lot worse.  So, what can be done to help?

Acupuncture and Joint Pain

The British Acupuncture Council has conducted extensive research and concluded that acupuncture can be helpful in alleviating pain in both osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis.  Over 8 million people in the UK are affected by osteoarthritis, with more women being affected than men.  This is the ‘wear and tear’ type of arthritis caused by joint injury or overuse of certain joints. 

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation and damage in connective tissue throughout the body including the joints.  It often appears first in smaller joints like those of the fingers or wrist, while osteoarthritis is commonly felt in hips, knees, and neck.

Standard treatments for both forms of arthritis include painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs.  These medicines can have adverse effects on the stomach and digestive tract though, increasing the risk of gastric bleeding and ulcers.

Acupuncture for joint pain has no such adverse side effects.  It is exceptionally well tolerated, and can be safely used alongside any other treatment – both complementary and conventional.  In fact, one study found Acupuncture to be more effective in treating osteoarthritis in the knee than physiotherapy!

How Does Acupuncture Relieve Joint Pain?

Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture eases joint pain and arthritis by;

• Stimulating the release of pain-killing endorphins in your nervous system

• Inhibiting the actions of inflammatory chemicals in your body
  

• Altering the way your brain processes pain by modulating natural opioid chemicals in your nervous system
  

• Aiding microcirculation to ease swelling and fluid retention in joint tissues
  

Your Joint Pain Is Unique

As an Acupuncturist I am trained to treat you as a person, not just the diagnosis you walk in with.  My treatments are personalised to suit your individual needs and you will find that I place needles in several locations, not just at the site of pain.  

I also like to offer nutrition and lifestyle tips to support your healing.

Top tips for joint pain include:

• Drink plenty of water; at least 1.5l of plain, room temperature (or warm) water each day to support the production of synovial fluid in your joints 

• Include warming and anti-inflammatory herbs and spices in your diet: ginger, black pepper, cinnamon and turmeric are all helpful

• Ensure you have a good intake of omega-3 oils from oily fish like salmon, sardines, mackerel, anchovies, pilchards and trout.  Vegetarian sources include walnuts, flaxseed oil, hemp seed oil and pumpkin seed oil.

If you would like a personalised and holistic approach to managing your joint pain and arthritis get in touch TODAY on 07788 633292 or email info@yorktraditionalacupuncture.co.uk

See what my patients are saying

Find out more about the amazing benefits of Acupuncture with these independent client testimonials at Free Index – I am rated one of the TOP 3 Acupuncturists in the UK.