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Alternative Arthritis Therapies: Acupuncture

Summary & Participants

Conventional medical treatments for arthritis have come a long way in recent years. But many people suffering from arthritis pain have found additional comfort in so-called "alternative" or "complementary" therapies. How effective are they? And more importantly, how safe? Join our panel of experts as they discuss these therapies, and how they should be used.

Medically Reviewed On: July 10, 2008

Webcast Transcript

DAVID MARKS, MD: Welcome to our webcast. I'm Dr. David Marks. Alternative or complementary medicine has become increasingly popular over the last few years, especially in the treatment of arthritis. What are these alternative therapies, and do they work?

Joining us to answer these questions is Dr. Allan Gibofsky. He is Professor of Medicine and Public Health at Cornell, and a Rheumatologist at the Hospital for Special Surgery. Welcome.

Next to him is Dr. Ifeoma Okoronkwo, or Dr. O., who is Clinical Instructor at NYU School of Medicine and is an attending physician at the Rusk Institute. Thanks for being here.

What are the different types of alternative therapy that we have to deal with?

IFEOMA OKORONKWO, MD: Well, there is really a broad spectrum of therapies and interventions. One could look at it as that there are mechanical interventions and there are non-mechanical interventions. Some of the more common mechanical interventions would be acupuncture, massage therapy, chiropractic. More esoteric ones would be healing touch, Reiki, etc.

Some of the non-mechanical interventions include some of the oral modalities and medicines, such as herbs. Glucosamine is a very common vitamin or supplement. And also magnets.

DAVID MARKS, MD: Let's talk about acupuncture to start. Does it work?

IFEOMA OKORONKWO, MD: Yes it does. Every day I'm increasingly surprised as to how well it works, particularly to address pain issues and arthritis pain.

As you may or may not know, acupuncture is a very old tradition, over 2,500 years old. It's roots lay in a philosophy based on Taoism. Taoism says, briefly, that we are one with nature. As one, as a unit, when there is a pathology or pathologic factor inside us or even outside of us, grief, trauma, this can translate into imbalance in that unity. Acupuncture seeks to diagnose the imbalance, and through stimulation of various points in the body, heals that imbalance.

DAVID MARKS, MD: A lot of people, I think, may have the impression that acupuncture hurts because they are being stuck with needles.

IFEOMA OKORONKWO, MD: I do have some tools here. I will say that no it doesn't hurt, but you do feel it. There is a sensation that we call "chi" that upon insertion of a needle into an acu-point, you feel the initial little prick. It's negligible for most. But then you feel a sensation, and that sensation can range anywhere from a warmth, an electricity, even an achy-ness. But ultimately, people feel this almost elation, and somewhat of a surprise based on the stimulation of that point, particularly important points to the Chinese diagnosis.

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