(woo hoo!) Acupuncture Offers Short-term Osteoarthritis Relief -Study

[HuckleB]

Acupuncture Offers Short-term Osteoarthritis Relief

http://www.forbes.com/lifestyle/health/feeds/hscout/2005/07/07/hscout526726.html

"Acupuncture can offer short-term pain relief and improved joint functioning for people with osteoarthritis of the knee, a new study finds.

To date, there is only limited scientific evidence that acupuncture actually works. But many osteoarthritis sufferers are turning to the ancient Chinese treatment as an alternative to pain medications, some of which have recently been linked to increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Some of the most powerful of these drugs, such as Vioxx, have been pulled from the market because of their potential danger.

In this new study, researchers tested the effects of acupuncture on nearly 300 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, the joint most often affected by the disease.

"Acupuncture treatment had significant and clinically relevant short-term effects," said lead researcher Dr. Claudia Witt, deputy administrative director of the Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology, and Health Economics at the Charite University Medical Center in Berlin, Germany.

..."


Good news, after the negative study regarding Fibromyalgia and acupuncture treatment.

[havocmom]

1. OK, who wants to stick pins in me?

:shrug: anybody? Common, this shit really hurts...

Actually, I got a bee sting on one wrist and that hand feels much better. Bee venom holds some promise also.

[Spinzonner]

2. Yes, but you might get hives from an overdose

[havocmom]

3. What worries me is that two of my 3 siblings have violent allergies to it.

One will be dead the next time she gets stung. This was my first sting. Have looked into it. They do recommend one gets a bee sting shot kit before going out to get stung deliberately. Sounds like good advice as one can develop an allergy at any time.

My problem is the moral dilemma: Is my need for pain relief more important than the lives of some bees? THAT is my real concern.

[Spinzonner]

4. Worker bees are essentially clones of one another

so you aren't killing individuals.

What other living things do you not kill for some physical need ?

[havocmom]

6. Take as little as possible

Am omnivorous but don't consume much meat. Won't do HRT cuz I do not like the way the mares get treated to pee for profits. Won't wear diamonds cuz that industry is particularly bad to workers. Try to avoid the normal American consumption rate in just about all things, but drinking water and pretzels ;) I like the idea of fat free snack food that has the good sense to topple poor leaders.

[Liberty Belle]

5. Acupuncture shouldn't hurt if done correctly.

I'm completely needlephobic but tried acupuncture after a car accident. I closed my eyes, lay still, and asked the acupuncturist to tell me when he was ready to insert the first needle.

"It's already in," he said.

Really--the needles are smaller in diameter than a hair and you generally don't feel them at all.

Previous studies through the National Institute of Health have found acupuncture to be more effective on certain knee conditions than surgery, with virtually no side effects or adverse reactions. I highly recommend it.

FYI, acpuncture also cured my daughter of wheezing after pneumonia--she literally got up after the table with no more wheezing after 4 months of gasping for breath. She's a competitive skater who hadn't been able to skate her routine once straight through in many weeks. The next day, she ran it through four times back to back without stopping!

[havocmom]

7. Yes, I know. The pain I refered to is the arthritis in many of my joints

THAT is the shit that hurts. Needles do not bother me in the least.

[Liberty Belle]

9. There are lots of things to try for arthritis, besides drugs.

I'm an editor of a nutrition publication, and I have several bad joints in my neck/back from accidents.

I found ginger supplements to be most helpful, although many people find relief from glucosamine/chondroitin (not for those with shellfish allergies), MSM (sulfur), fish oil/omega fatty acids, or tumeric, to name just a few natural anti-inflammatories.

[HuckleB]

10. Can you link us to studies that show how those agents work in the body?

Hey, you're an editor, one has to ask those who have access to the information.

Salud.

[Liberty Belle]

12. Here's a link to the National Institute of Health's

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. You'll find many of the herbs and supplements listed here (if there's been NIH-funded research). There are also links to other helpful sites on with scientific research data on supplements: http://nccam.nih.gov/health/supplements.htm

Of course, some supplements have a long history of traditional use but have not yet gone through the rigors of clinical testing. I haven't seen many clinicals on ginger for arthritis, but it worked the best for me personally. Many of those that have recently been tested by NIH and proven effective and safe were chosen because of a long history of traditional medicine usage in the past.

[havocmom]

11. I have done them for years

I recognize foods as drugs. The condition is beyond their ability to stop the inflamation. There are other problems and actual joint deformaties involved. I live with ginger and tumeric and have for years. Can't cook without good additives which are natural anti-inflamatories. Condition is well beyond the help they bring me.

That bee sting did the most good. I use every weapon in my arsenal just about every day. The condition is well beyond ...

[HuckleB]

8. It doesn't hurt.

Where did you get that idea?