Things You'll Need:
- Acupuncturist
- Medical records
- Medication
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Step 1
Choose a licensed acupuncturist in your area with in-depth experience in arthritis treatment. You can find an acupuncturist through various means, but tru to get friend and family recommendations if you can. Research each acupuncture organization before meeting one of them.
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Step 2
Schedule an appointment with your acupuncturist to talk about what treatment options are available. Give your full medical history or a copy of your medical records in order to choose what form of acupuncture therapy is right for you. Some treatments entail needles, magnets or bee stings. Decide on a treatment option once you have all the facts.
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Step 3
Change your diet as part of your continued therapy because certain foods can block proper blood flow and worsen your arthritis symptoms. Consult with your acupuncturist and a nutritionist to develop a diet plan for you. Remove or reduce certain foods from your diet such as red meat, wheat and dairy products. Follow your diet for a few weeks to see if it relieves your arthritis symptoms at all.
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Step 4
Choose some exercise to do when your arthritis symptoms flare up if you can't get to your acupuncturist right away. Strengthen your joint muscles through doctor-recommended exercises as yoga, walking or riding a stationary bicycle. Do your exercises for the same length of time as a regular acupuncture session, usually 30 minutes.
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Step 5
Attend your sessions regularly and track your progress. Adjust your treatment if any part of it isn't right for you or doesn't help relieve your arthritis. Consult your acupuncturist about what other options are available. If you want to get treated without the needles, try acupressure; it applies manual pressure on your body. See how the new treatment works before making any more changes.
