What is Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)?

RA is a system inflammation that causes chronic inflammation around joints, tissues and organs.  It is a progressive disease and may cause permanent joint deformity.

What are the symptoms of RA?

Joint swelling, joint pain and tenderness, morning stiffness, fatigue, red swollen hands.  RA symptoms are often not static and can go into remission as well as relapse.

How to approach treatment holistically?

• Nutrition:  good nutrition is essential for autoimmune disease including limiting processed foods, cutting simple carbohydrates, limiting red meat, and cooking with anti-inflammatory herbs such as paprika, garlic, ginger, cayenne, and curry.
• Drink green tea which also helps reduce inflammation
• Chinese herbal medicine also helps.  We recommend Arthro-Aid.  Read about Arthro-Aid here.
• Acupuncture is an effective treatment for autoimmune diseases which provides symptomatic treatment for pain and discomfort while also providing system care for the autoimmune component.
• Call to find out how Wildwood Acupuncture can help.

Latest Research on RA & Acupuncture (from HealthCMI webpage)

Acupuncture and electro-acupuncture were tested for their efficacy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Researchers measured key blood factors responsible for rheumatoid arthritis. The study measured that both acupuncture and electro-acupuncture significantly reduced both blood and synovial joint levels of tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Electro-acupuncture was shown to have a greater effect in lowering VEGF than non-electrical acupuncture.

In this randomized controlled study, 63 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were split into two groups. One group received electro-acupuncture and the other received non-electrical acupuncture. Acupuncture points were selected on pain related points (Ashi points) and related Yang acupuncture channels. The patients were treated every other day for a total of ten treatments per course. Each patient received three courses of treatment. The researchers concluded that electroacupuncture “could effectively lower the contents of TNF-α and VEGF in peripheral blood and joint synovia to improve the internal environment for genesis and development of RA, so as to enhance the clinical therapeutic effectiveness.”

Reference: 
Ouyang, Ba-si; Gao, Jie; Che, Jian-li; Zhang, Yin; Li, Jun; Yang, Hai-zhou; Hu, Tian-yan; Yang, Man; Wu, Yuan-jian; Ji, Ling-ling. Effect of electro-acupuncture on tumor necrosis factor-α and vascular endothelial growth factor in peripheral blood and joint synovia of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine. 2011-07-01. Chinese Association of Traditional and Western Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. 672-0415, 505- 509 v17 issue 7.

Fibromyalgia in the US:

• Affects estimated 5.8 million Americans
• Estimated that 2%-4% of the population is affected
• Effects mostly women
• No known cause or effective western treatment

Symptoms of Fibromyalgia:

• Chronic muscle pain, muscle spasms or tightness, and leg cramps
• Moderate or severe fatigue and decreased energy
• Insomnia or waking up feeling just as tired
• Stiffness upon waking or after staying in one position
• Difficulty remembering & concentrating

How Chinese Medicine Can Help:

• The National Institutes of Healthformally recognized acupuncture as part of mainstream medicine in 1997, saying the procedure is safe and effective at treating a wide range of conditions, including fibromyalgia.
  • Treats the “root cause” in each individual
  • Unblocks the body’s internal flow of healing energies
  • Facilitates the free-flow of healing energies throughout the meridian networks
  • Reduces inflammation
  • Alleviates pain
  • Treats fatigue

 What RESEARCH shows:

• Releases neurotransmitters that inhibit nerve impulses in the brain such as pain.
• In this way, the patient’s pain tolerance is increased. One acupuncture treatment in some patients may last weeks to help alleviate chronic pain.

Aug. 24, 2005 — Acupuncture significantly improves fibromyalgia symptoms, according to a study by Mayo Clinic scientists. The biggest improvements were seen in pain, anxiety, and fatigue.

• 50 fibromyalgia patients whose symptoms hadn’t improved with other treatments.
• Half of the patients got six acupuncture sessions over two or three weeks. The other patients got the same schedule of fake acupuncture treatments.
• Those who got true acupuncture had notably bigger improvements in fibromyalgia symptoms than those who got fake acupuncture
• The largest benefit was seen one month after the treatments ended, the researchers note. They write that acupuncture was well tolerated, with minimal side effects.

See full research article Improvement in Fibromyalgia Symptoms

Did you know that Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis?

AND that half of all people will develop OA of the knee in their lifetime?

Due to the breakdown of the cartilage, OA causes pain, swelling, and stiffness which may greatly limit activity and quality of life.  Symptoms can start as early as age 40 and often progress.

Western treatment often includes pain medication, surgical joint replacement, physical or occupational therapy, and steroids.

Eastern treatment often includes acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine.

This blog will report on a blinded randomized trial of acupuncture compared to sham (“placebo”) acupuncture for OA of the knee.  Highlights of the study:

• 68 participants were randomized into two groups
• Treatment was twice per week (with one day in between)
• Treatment length was 5 weeks; follow up was 9 weeks
• Both groups had similar demographics and pain symptoms
• Results: the acupuncture group compared to the placebo group showed statistically significant pain reduction which lasted through the 9 weeks. The sham group did not.

To access to full research publication: Read research on OA and acupuncture

to :Read more about OA statistics

Wildwood Acupuncture Center can help you and your loved ones who are suffering with OA- Call us today to schedule a consultation: 301-530-5308

Resolve- the National association says: “This year’s theme is Don’t Ignore Infertility. We chose this important message because every voice that speaks out about the realities of infertility, and every act that acknowledges infertility as a medical condition with far-reaching social and emotional implications, helps tear down the wall of ignorance and silence that surrounds this devastating disease.”

Did you know that Chinese Medicine offers powerful treatment for infertility?

Even the World Health Organization lists fertility as one of the conditions that acupuncture is effective in treating.

Doing IVF?- we can help there too:

American Society for Reproductive Medicine  October 2004) studies 114 women using IVF and randomized them into two groups. Half received acupuncture, half did not.  For the Acupuncture group:

* 51% pregnancy rate compared to 36%

* 8% miscarriage rate compared to 20%

* Reduced risk of tubal pregnancy and increase live birth rate (23% higher than control)

And treatment works for MALE partners as well:
*  Increases normal sperm ratio and motility

* Fertilization rates higher (66% vs 40%)

(Published in: J Huazhong University Sci Technology Med Sci. 2002: 22 (3): 228-30.)

At Wildwood Acupuncture Center–we are a family owned medically based clinic who will work in collaboration with other treatments you are receiving to enhance your fertility and the chances of a successful full term pregnancy.

Call us today to schedule a consultation: 301-530-5308

Dr. Tian received his medical degree from Beijing Medical University in China. He completed postdoctoral fellowships in bone pathology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and in biochemistry and ultrastructure at the National Institute on Aging and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. He obtained the certificate of Doctor of Chinese Medicine issued by the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies.
What are the most common symptoms and conditions that you treat in your acupuncture clinic?

We treat over 80 symptoms and conditions in our clinic. From most to least common, the top 12 are
1. Chronic and acute pain
2. Osteoarthritis
3. Fibromyalgia
4. Sports injuries
5. Sciatica and neuralgia
6. Automobile-accident injuries
7. Autoimmune diseases
8. Allergies and asthma
9. Depression, anxiety, and stress
10. Bell’s palsy and paralysis
11. Skin rashes and eczema
12. Side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer.

Most of our patients seek acupuncture treatment for pain and pain-related conditions. In my experience, acupuncture can be used for a number of symptoms and conditions, most often as a complementary therapy. For example, I have found acupuncture to be very useful to cancer patients, primarily for symptom management, but also to enhance immune function through increasing lymphocyte and natural killer cell activity. In arthritis, I have often found acupuncture beneficial as well—for joint pain, swelling, stiffness, and joint function, such as range of motion. I find that it is best used in the early stages of disease.
In some cases, we have used acupuncture as an alternative therapy—for example, in sciatica. Many of our patients come to acupuncture as a last hope, after limited progress with other therapies.
How does acupuncture help people who have chronic pain?

In traditional Chinese medicine theory, pain is described as the stagnation of qi, or vital energy, in the meridian system. Acupuncture is intended to enhance the free flow of qi and remove obstructions in the meridian in order to reduce pain. In Western medicine, several scientific theories have been advanced to explain the effects of acupuncture in treating pain and inflammation, such as the gate theory, the endorphin theory, and the adrenocortotrophic hormone (ACTH) hypothesis.

In addition to pain management, patients in our practice may experience other benefits from acupunc-ture—such as increased energy, better mood, improved sleep quality, and feeling less stressed. Our clinic takes a holistic, comprehensive approach that includes recommendations on keeping a healthy diet and exercising regularly. We also recommend the practice of qi gong or tai chi, with a goal of balancing the mind and body. Many of our patients continue with acupuncture on a maintenance basis.
How do you work with other health care providers?

I believe that it is important to work with the patient’s physicians and other medical professionals in order to provide the best care and service for patients. We do this through open communication, providing progress reports, and making referrals as needed. We find that acupuncture works well in conjunction with conventional treatments—such as surgery, physical therapy, chemotherapy, and radiation—and with chiropractic therapy.

For More Information
Selected References

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM Clearinghouse)
* Acupuncture: An Introduction
* Acupuncture for Pain
* Traditional Chinese Medicine: An Introduction
* Resources for Health Care Providers
* Acupuncture (PDQ®): health professional version. National Cancer Institute Web site. Accessed at www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/acupuncture/healthprofessional/allpages on January 7, 2010.
* Li A, Lao L, Wang Y, et al. Electroacupuncture activates corticotrophin-releasing hormone-containing neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus to alleviate edema in a rat model of inflammation. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2008;8:20.
* Roberts J, Moore D. Mapping the Evidence Base and Use of Acupuncture Within the NHS. Report no. 59. Birmingham, UK: University of Birmingham; 2007.
* Zijlstra FJ, van den Berg-de Lange I, Huygen FJ, et al. Anti-inflammatory actions of acupuncture. Mediators of Inflammation. 2003;12(2):59–69.