Acupuncture Alleviates Knee Arthritis Pain

Acupuncture Alleviates Knee Arthritis Pain

Acupuncture combined with herbs is effective for the relief of knee osteoarthritis pain. Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) researchers conducted a controlled trial and concluded that acupuncture with herbs is both safe and effective. No harmful side effects resulted from the treatment regimen and patients demonstrated significant improvements. The researchers document significant reductions in knee pain with concommitant joint function improvement.

The researchers conducted a highly controlled experiment wherein acupuncture point prescriptions were standardized to a set of specific acupuncture points with predetermined manual acupuncture stimulation procedures. This protocolized approach to treatment eliminates variables from the clinical trial and is often employed in modern research. This varies somewhat from standards of clinical care in that licensed acupuncturists may customize an acupuncture point prescription based on differential diagnostics.

Two acupuncture protocols were compared between treatment groups. One group received acupuncture with herbs in what was termed the Shi treatment procedure. The other protocol of care employed only a standard set of acupuncture points without the use of herbal medicine. The researchers cited Li et al. noting that acupuncture and TCM approaches to patient care for knee osteoarthritis are increasing in common usage and produce significant positive patient outcomes. This experiments tests and confirms the patient outcome aspect of Li et al.

The researchers detailed the acupuncture point procedures and the TCM theory underlying the protocols of care. According to TCM principles, knee osteoarthritis is related to an imbalance in the tendons and bones. This is due, in part, to deficiencies of liver blood and kidney qi. In TCM, the liver is responsible for nourishing the tendons. The kidneys strengthen the bones. In biomedical terms, internal organ insufficiencies lead to the body’s inability to deliver nutrients necessary to maintain the tendons and bones.

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