Interesting Publications

In a study run by the United States National Institute of Health, acupuncture for arthritis was shown to be effective. When the arthritic joint was the knee, acupuncture used in addition to conventional treatment was found to decrease pain by 40% as well as increasing mobility by 40%. This study was a scientifically sound experiment in which neither the patients nor the providers were aware of which treatment group they were in. Some participants received no treatment; some received a placebo acupuncture treatment and the third group received the natural arthritis treatment of acupuncture.

In previous studies, the usefulness of acupuncture for alleviating arthritis pain has been inconclusive. The conclusions of some studies have been limited by an insufficient sample size of sessions or patients. In contrast, Dr. Madeline Devey finds the new study as very "well conducted", with "extremely encouraging" results.

Acupuncture, a natural arthritis treatment, should be considered not a cure, but a way of managing pain. It does nothing to stop deterioration of joints. Acupuncture had its origin many centuries ago in China. By inserting tiny needles, the practitioner can refocus and guide the Qi, or natural energy of the body.

The use of acupuncture for arthritis does require standard medical treatments and is most effective when a patient does not have significant relief from the standard approach. Modern experts in physiology are studying if acupuncture affects the patients' electromagnetic fields. Other studies have pointed to the placebo effect as a possible source of the successful outcomes but they were not ads well conducted as the most recent study.

Acupuncture in Bristol, England is a long established practice with many traditional practioneers. Acupuncture has mixed effects at various levels: mental, emotional and physical.

When choosing a practioneers of acupuncture in Bristol it is wise to find someone who is a member of the British Acupuncture Council. The members of this organization are subject to a professional code of practice. Acupuncture carries risk and it is most likely to give positive results in the hands of someone experienced. Students should spend a significant amount of time working under supervision However, for those lucky enough to live in Bristol it is not too much to say that acupuncture in Bristol is among the best available in the western world.