Needles get thumbs up for arthritis treatment

By MAXINE FRITH

Acupuncture is more effective than drugs in treating osteoarthritis, shows a study published last week.

The needle therapy helped to reduce pain and stiffness and gave patients a better quality of life, research published in the British Medical Journal found.

The findings add to the growing body of medical evidence that some complementary therapies should be used with conventional medicine.

Researchers at the Pain Treatment Unit in Spain tested 88 patients who had osteoarthritis of the knee with either acupuncture and conventional anti-inflammatory drugs or a dummy, placebo form of the ancient Chinese medicine.

Almost one in 10 people over the age of 55 suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee, a condition which can restrict movement and cause constant pain. Although some have claimed that acupuncture relieves their symptoms, doctors have remained sceptical about its benefits.

The Spanish researchers found that the genuine acupuncture patients reported a greater reduction in pain and stiffness, as well as improved physical movement and better quality of life.

Lead researcher Jorge Vas said: "Osteoarthritis is the most common form of joint disease and its most common location is the knee.

"Acupuncture as a complementary therapy to pharmacological treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee is more effective than pharmacological treatment alone."

Acupuncture has been practised in China for more than 3000 years and was first brought to Europe by missionaries in the 17th century.

It works on the ancient oriental theory that all life is based on the interplay between the Yin and Yang forces in the body.

Yin and Yang are regulated by energy flows in 14 main channels, known as meridians, which connect to different organs and pressure points in the body.

Needles are inserted into these 300 pressure points to treat different problems. The needles remove blockages and promote the flow of "Qi" energy along the meridians.

Acupuncture is now frequently used to treat a variety of conditions, from stress and insomnia to infertility and asthma.

The World Health Organisation now recognises more than 100 conditions that can be helped by acupuncture.

- INDEPENDENT