Acupuncture Clinic NJ
One of the most common conditions treated in the Acupuncture clinic is chronic joint pain. Whether the diagnosis is rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, patients seek Acupuncture as an alternative to medications with side effects or harsh invasive procedures that often result in minimal pain relief. Most of the common medications for joint pain focus exclusively on anti-inflammatory action.
Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis cauation has shown that in many cases, joint degeneration is due to impaired blood flow to the joint tissues, not solely chronic inflammation. The condition have blood clots and fat droplets in the small veins near osteoarthritic joints, raised blood lipid levels, an insufficiency of enzymes necessary to dissolve blood clots, and small areas of avascular necrotic joint tissue.
When we look at these unique symptoms through the lens of Acupuncture, some interesting treatment protocols emerge. While we know that Acupuncture to supplement the liver and kidneys play a vital role in joint health, this new research points to the importance of targeting blood stasis and phlegm when treating chronic joint pain. We can easily turn to some basic Acupuncture statements of fact to support this approach.
According to Acupuncture Treatment, one of the most important physiological functions of blood is to “moisten the four limbs and hundreds of bones.” Acupuncture Treatment, also states, “Phlegm and stasis are mutually involved,” “Qi depression engenders phlegm,” and “Blood vacuity leads to network vessel pain.” These statements of fact in Acupuncture Treatment, all support the new research of the vascular theory of osteoarthritis and provide insights into how herbal protocols can be formulated to more effectively treat chronic joint pain.
In Acupuncture Treatment,, chronic joint pain is typically categorized as “recalcitrant bi,” and several of the above TCM statements of fact play key etiological roles. Recalcitrant bi symptoms include joint pain that is aching, intense and in a fixed location; joints that are stiff, numb and deformed; a tongue that is purple with static spots; and a pulse that is fine and choppy. None of these symptoms typically responds to long-term treatment. Therefore, the treatment principles are to quicken the blood and transform stasis, transform/resolve phlegm, warm the yang and open the bi in order to stop pain.
With this information in mind, it’s easy to see that TCM can provide significant help to the typical Western patient who has taken glucosamine sulfate and/or Cox-2 medications without appreciable results. It also suggests that treating any chronic joint issue without addressing blood stasis, qi stagnation and phlegm will provide only limited relief.
In light of the research indicating many patients with chronic osteoarthritis also have elevated blood lipid levels, the use of high doses of dan shen, which both invigorates blood and has been shown to lower blood lipid levels, can be a key addition. Dan shen also calms the shen and clears heat from the heart. When combined with the aforementioned ye jiao teng, it can assist in targeting sleep disorders caused by chronic joint pain.
I hope this short article has elucidated some ways to treat patients with chronic joint pain above and beyond the standard anti-inflammatory approach and expanded the practitioner’s clinical repertoire to improve patient outcomes.
Quesiton give us a call for more information:732-422-7101 www.AcupunctureClinicNJ.com
