We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Medicine

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

How Effective Is Acupuncture for Arthritis?

By Jacob Queen
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 2,892
References
Share

Studies have generally shown that acupuncture for arthritis can be very effective, but there are still questions about the exact reason for this effectiveness. Science has mostly shown that the use of acupuncture can have a positive effect in treating many illnesses, and arthritis has been one of the main ailments it is often used for. In fact, for some arthritis patients, acupuncture may have more effectiveness in relieving their symptoms than many of the prescription medications they take. Some people who believe in the traditional explanations for acupuncture think this effectiveness comes from improvements in the flow of energy around the body, while others think it is because of the endorphin system, and others think it is primarily due to the placebo effect or a combination of factors.

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medical practice that has been used for many centuries for a huge variety of illnesses. Many Chinese people over the centuries have traditionally believed in the idea that energy flow around the body is a very important factor in health, and over time, this led to the creation of an entire system, explaining the key spots on the body and various pathways for energy. Acupuncture involves the use of tiny needles inserted at strategic points to help unclog or correct flow problems in these pathways, which would theoretically help the person’s health improve. There has been a lot of skepticism at times about whether or not acupuncture is a viable way to treat people, but studies have continually shown that it has worked very well on certain ailments, especially when used as a complementary therapy. Over the centuries, many other ancient medical practices have been tossed aside after being disproved by science, but acupuncture is one of the treatments that has defied that trend and has even become more universally accepted in some cases after further research.

Not all scientists have accepted the traditional explanations for acupuncture, and many believe that the effectiveness of acupuncture for arthritis may be due to other physical or mental factors rather than energy flow. Since acupuncture generally involves inserting a needle into a person’s skin, it tends to stimulate the individual’s endorphin system to release the body’s internal pain-relieving chemicals, something that naturally happens in reaction to almost any injury. Some experts think this chemical release is the primary reason why clinical trials have almost universally shown that acupuncture for arthritis is a good treatment method. These natural chemicals, which are almost like morphine in terms of the body’s reaction to them, can help dull pain and have the potential to stimulate the person’s overall mental state as well, sometimes creating a euphoric effect.

According to skeptics, another potential reason for the effectiveness of acupuncture for arthritis is due to the placebo effect. This phenomenon can potentially lead to an actual physical reaction, and many experts believe it happens because the person’s body has become conditioned to react in advance to an expected stimulus. For example, when people smell food, they may begin to produce saliva in their mouths before they even start eating, and some experts think that the expected pain relief from an acupuncture treatment may cause the body to release endorphins as a similar kind of anticipatory reaction.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/how-effective-is-acupuncture-for-arthritis.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.