Acupuncture For Arthritis

May is Arthritis Awareness Month and a great time to discuss how acupuncture can be an effective treatment for this condition that plagues over 53 million Americans. There are actually over 100 different types of joint disease that fall under the umbrella of the label “arthritis.” The most common type is osteoarthritis.

Arthritis can occur due to a variety of factors. It can be inherited through our family history. Some foods cause inflammation in the body, so there can be nutritional factors. Structural imbalances can result in “wear and tear” on our joints. Arthritis is an autoimmune disease, so there may also be immune factors. Because our immune system is affected by stress, there can also be stress factors. In most of these cases, a course of ten or more acupuncture treatments can be quite effective in reducing inflammation in affected joints, thereby lessening the pain.

Several research studies prove that acupuncture works as a treatment for arthritis. That is why most insurance companies now cover acupuncture for arthritis of the knee and various regions of the spine, and some insurance companies also cover acupuncture for many kinds of muscle or skeletal problems.

What I love about 5 Element Acupuncture is that it treats the whole person. Rather than limit treatment to a specific disease such as arthritis, 5 Element Acupuncture treats the person who has the arthritis. That is why I never treat any two people alike, even if I am treating 100 people with arthritis in the same joint.

5 Element Acupuncture functions with the understanding that no two peoples’ symptoms result from the same cause. We are each unique, with our own particular blend of factors that lead to our symptoms. Since 5 Element Acupuncture treats the person as a whole, my arthritis patients typically experience an increase of energy, and relaxation of mind and body after receiving treatment.

The Arthritis Foundation is a national resource for people suffering with this painful condition. This year, the Arthritis Foundation Jacksonville Chapter is sponsoring the Walk to Cure Arthritis at the University of North Florida on Saturday, May 30, 2015. To learn more, click on this link: http://bit.ly/Arthritis2015Walk.