21 Unexpected Ailments You Never Knew Acupuncture Could Tame
3. Arthritis
Arthritis is a very common disorder and osteoarthritis is the most common type. Almost all individuals develop some degree of arthritis as they get older as wear and tear causes it. As people use their joints over the decades, the cartilage at the end of the bones that protects them starts to wear down. Once it is gone, the bones rub against each other. This is what causes the tenderness, flexibility loss, pain, stiffness, grating sensation, and in some cases, bone spurs. Medications and physical therapy can help patients to retain their mobility. However, acupuncture has also been shown to be an effective complement to traditional therapies. A recent study performed by the National Institutes of Health concluded that acupuncture might improve mobility by approximately forty percent and reduce pain by forty-four percent. It helps patients to relax and may stimulate blood flow to arthritic areas to promote healing and to reduce the speed at which joint damage is progressing.
4. Sciatica
Sciatica is a condition that is characterized by pain associated with the sciatic nerve and its location in the body. In most cases, only one side of the body displays symptoms. The path the pain takes can start in the buttocks or lower back and travel into the hips and then down the leg. A herniated spinal disc is the most common cause because the disc can protrude and press on this nerve. In addition to pain, numbness in the leg can also occur as a result of the compression and inflammation. The pain can be excruciating for some people, and traditional treatments might not help all patients. Acupuncture is quickly becoming a common treatment for this condition. It may aid this condition by releasing natural painkillers to make the pain more tolerable. These natural painkillers include enkephalins and endorphins. This complementary treatment may also help to deliver more blood to the affected area and relax the muscles that are located near this nerve.
