Firstly, I would like to point out that although I have classified arthritis into nice neat groups, in clinical practice I often see joint pain which is a mixture, in fact this tends to be the norm rather that the exception.
Different types of arthritis respond differently to acupuncture, however acupuncture is an excellent treatment choice for all types of arthritis because arthritis is characterised by obstruction and acupuncture moves obstruction!
Why do different types of arthritis respond differently to acupuncture?
Well, all joint pain is on the external aspect of the body, along the acupuncture channels. However, there is always a more general (and deeper) systemic imbalance within the body that allows the arthritis to develop. For treatment to be effective both the manifestation (i.e. the joint pain) and the root need to be treated.Success of treatment depends on how effectively acupuncture can re-harmonise the body. If the arthritic process is very deep-seated then at best, acupuncture may be able to offer pain relief and help prevent the disease from progressing further. If the systemic imbalance is not so severe, or if the patient is strong, then acupuncture maybe able to offer a cure.
(published with permission in writing from:http://www.gloucesteracupuncture.co.uk)
