Can acupuncture and Chinese medicine help treat osteoarthritis symptoms?

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can help with the symptoms of osteoarthritis. The usual treatment course will be one to three months of weekly treatments, dietary and herbal prescriptions, and tai chi or qigong exercises. There are various etiologies and variances of this condition, so a thorough evaluation with a licensed practitioner will assist in determining the proper course of action.

There has been substantial research on the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Most studies focus on knee, cervical, and hip osteoarthritis symptoms. In recent years, the evidence has improved and is now considered strong for the use of acupuncture in osteoarthritis of the knee.

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In 1997, a National Institutes of Health consensus panel concluded that acupuncture is an acceptable alternative or adjunct for treating many kinds of pain, including that from osteoarthritis. Since then, a number of studies have offered positive results specific to knees and hips. One study indicated that acupuncture may be useful for patellofemoral pain syndrome, and a small trial looking at people with hip osteoarthritis showed that acupuncture helped them more than exercise did.

Another large study found that people with knee osteoarthritis who had acupuncture for six months reported less pain and better function than people who received sham acupuncture or participated in an arthritis education program. But a meta-analysis published in Annals of Internal Medicine had conflicting results.

While acupuncture for osteoarthritis of the knee led to significant improvements in pain and function compared with usual care or being on a waiting list for acupuncture, it did not provide a significant advantage over a sham procedure. This suggests that some of the benefits of acupuncture might be attributed to a placebo effect. If you decide to try acupuncture, find a certified acupuncturist.