Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, and it affects more than 21 million Americans and many more worldwide. OA is commonly called called wear-and-tear arthritis, because it occurs when the protective cartilage on the ends of your bones wears down with use and time. Although osteoarthritis can damage any joint in your body, the disorder most commonly affects joints that are frequently used and injured, such as your hands, neck, lower back, knees and hips. Factors that can increase your risk include: injury to a joint, genetics, aging and being overweight. It is very important to maintain a healthy weight and diet, as this is beneficial to your health in many ways. Losing just ONE pound of weight will take four pounds of stress off your knees. New York Acupuncture can help you achieve your weight loss goals, while managing your arthritis. 
Osteoarthritis is a gradual and chronic disease that worsens in the long term, and no biomedical cure exists. However, there are treatments that can decelerate the progression of the disease, relieve pain and improve the function of the joints.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis is another common type of arthritis, it affects 2.1 million Americans and many more worldwide. An autoimmune disorder, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks your own body’s tissues. In addition to causing joint problems, rheumatoid arthritis sometimes can affect other organs of the body, such as the skin, eyes, lungs and blood vessels.
RA is a chronic inflammatory disorder that usually starts by affecting the small joints in your hands and feet. Symptoms include:
Swollen, warm, painful joints
Joint stiffness that is worse in the morning
Muscle pain and weakness
Unlike the damage from overuse of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis affects the lining of your joints, causing a painful swelling that can eventually result in bone erosion and joint deformity. Although rheumatoid arthritis can occur at any age, it usually begins at middle age. The disorder is 2-3x more common in women than in men. Biomedical treatments focuses on controlling symptoms and preventing joint damage.
Acupuncture In The Treatment of Arthritis In the Traditional Oriental Medicine, arthritis correlates to one of a number of classical disease patterns. Most of these patterns of arthritis fall under the disease heading of “Bi Syndrome.” "Bi" loosely translates into english as "pain", an apt description of the condition, as pain is the primary complaint associated with arthritis. Sometimes Osteoarthritis can be considered to be “Kidney Deficiency,” which occurs with the aging process. If you are interested in knowing more, please make an appointment to learn about these conditions.
Acupuncture can help with both OA and RA related pain, just as it does with other types of pain, through the stimulation of endorphin and dynorphin production. Acupuncture can be used as an effective additional treatment method, along with lifestyle modifications and medications prescribed by your Medical Doctor. In conjunction with medical treatment, acupuncture is a powerful tool to fight pain with minimal side effects. Acupuncture offers a safe and natural way to control joint pain and other symptoms that stem from arthritis. A study in 2004 showed that patients with Osteoarthritis of the knee experienced a 40% increase in function after receiving a series of acupuncture treatments.
Acupuncture works to decrease pain by increasing the release of chemicals that block pain, called endorphins and dynorphins. Many acupuncture points are near nerves and when stimulated, these nerves cause a dull ache or feeling of fullness in the muscle. The stimulated muscle sends a message to your brain to release natural chemicals up to 500x more powerful than morphine. These chemicals, along with other neurotransmitters (body chemicals that modify nerve impulses), block the message of pain from being delivered up to the brain.
Tips to Help You Manage Arthritis
Cook with turmeric- this delicious yellow spicy has been used in both Chinese and Ayurvedic Medicine for centuries to treat illness, and now studies are showing it relieves arthritic pain. 
Exercise to increase flexibility, strengthen muscles and bones and maintain a healthy weight.
Keep a healthy diet with organic foods. Our acupuncturists may also suggest adding all-natural anti-inflammatory foods to your diet.
De-stress. Acupuncture not only reduces pain and keeps you limber, but it also reduces stress levels.
Qi-gong, yoga, and meditation are three different methods that are very beneficial for emotional and physical health.
What Can We Do For You? New York Acupuncture and Chiropractic has 3 locations in NYC and 1 in Bergen County, New Jersey. We are dedicated to helping you reduce arthritic pain, and keep your joints mobile. Whether you are a commuter from the tri-state area, a New York City resident, or a visitor, we strive to improve your health as efficiently as we can. Give us a call and schedule an appointment to find out how we can help you: 212-293-1722.