Unconventional treatments
Arthritis represents a frustrating experience for most of the people who face it. They may often be depressed because of the obviously progressive character of this disease and of the inefficiency of certain medications. These factors determine them to use alternative, unconventional therapies that sometimes can be risky. To determine whether a treatment is effective or not, its benefits should be greater then its disadvantages.
Two medicines Glucosamine and Chondroitin sulfates are very controversial and gained an alarming popularity. These nutritive supplements that are not approved by FDA pretend to regenerate the tissues affected by osteoarthritis or even to halt it. The NIH plans a study referable to their effects.
Glucosamine and Chondroitin sulfates are also produced inside the body and they are very important structural elements of the cartilage. What is in fact questioned by the Arthritis Foundation is the relationship between swallowed Chondroitin and the articulations. A certain disadvantage of nutritive supplements consists in the fact that the concentration of the effective substances is unknown, since the law doesn't demand the nutritive supplements' producers to follow the standards of production claimed for medicines. As the December 1999 Berkeley Wellness Letter says “it's a hit – or – miss proposition because there is no standardization and no guarantee that you are getting what the label says”.
The Arthritis foundation warns the persons that think of such possibility to weigh the benefits and disadvantages and to consult their doctors regarding nutritive supplements. And, by no chance give up proper medications in favor of unconventional treatments.
Other unproven therapies include also mineral springs, magnets, bracelets made of cooper, vitamins etc. Some of them are harmless and they should remain so by not preventing you to get proper medication.
The treatment based on acupuncture
Acupuncture extracts its origins from ancient China and provides an alternative to standardized treatments to the persons affected by arthritis. It can not regenerate or cure the articulations but is a most strong pain reliever. But it must also be accompanied by medical treatment.
Acupuncture gained increasing popularity in western medicine from both patients and therapists because it helps many diseases. In the case of arthritis is helped and is helping a large number of people affected by RA, psoriatic arthritis, degenerative arthritis and gout by the relief of pain.
What is the specific procedure?
Many very small needles are inserted in different regions of the body. The acupuncture focuses especially on the affected articulation's area. But acupuncture also uses in the treatment for arthritis body places that are situated at certain distance from the inflamed zone, called distal points. Two to twenty needles are used for this procedure.
The needles are extremely fine, about the size of a hair and stay in your body for about twenty minutes. But it usually takes 3-6 sessions to even feel an improvement of your symptoms. The total necessary sessions' number depends on each particular case of arthritis. It may even require 2 weekly sessions that should be taken for several months.
The initial sessions' duration varies around one hour. The next ones will be shorter. The fact that the twenty needles are stuck in your body for about twenty minutes won't cause more then a slight sensation of stinging in the beginning, and then – no pain. These needles may be stimulated by turning and rotation performed by the therapist.
There are very few cases of allergy, but besides that, no side effects of the acupuncture appear. However, the first sessions may cause you certain dizziness. Considering all its benefits, this method is highly recommended as an additional treatment.
Most Popular Therapies Used For Arhtritis - Acupuncture and acupressure represent two of the most ancient Chinese techniques that relieve pain. Several points are stimulated by means of needles in case of acupuncture. Acupressure replaces the needles with the fingers of the practitioners.
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