Dear Deborah:

I am sorry to hear about your mother, but praise God that she is cancer free now.

I am very disappointed in the lack of scientific approach hospitals are taking these days with their use of many alternative medical techniques that have little or no scientific verification. Then, even those that may have real effects, have spiritual side-effects sometimes.

As far as acupuncture is concerned, this Chinese Medical technique is based on a false cosmology and a false physiology of the body. Acupuncture, like the other Chinese techniques, is focused on non-existent meridians in the body the energy flow of which needs to be balanced within the body and with the cosmic flow of the universe. All hogwash.

But....

...scientific studies have shown that acupuncture can be effective for pain relief. The procedure releases endorphins  (the body's natural pain killer). Most of the other claims that practitioners of acupuncture make, however, are not proven and generally false. But, acupuncture can be effective for pain.

However, those same studies show that traditional medicines will be just as effective if not moreso in the relief of pain.

Even when some of these alternative approaches are effective and useful one needs to be VERY careful since most of the people who practice these alternative approaches are New Agers with philosophies and approaches that we should avoid.

Your mother will most likely find just as much relief from traditional therapies for arthritis. If, however, for some reason, she cannot take the traditional therapies, or hasn't the money for them, acupuncture may help (but she needs to avoid any other New Age blather that the practitioner may spew).

Acupuncture, like traditional methods, does not cure the arthritis; it provides only temporary relief. Thus, she will need repeated ongoing treatments.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary