Acupuncture is a practice based in Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM, which teaches that networks of energy flow through the body along channels called “meridians,” and that imbalances in the network lead to illness. Acupuncture has been proven effective in treating chronic pain and may be an effective alternative treatment for the pain resulting from lupus. Consult your doctor before using acupuncture or any alternative treatment, to ensure safe care.
Lupus
A chronic illness affecting multiple body systems, lupus exists in four different forms: discoid lupus erythematosus, drug-induced lupus erythematosus, neonatal lupus and the most common form, systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE. Lupus causes the body to turn its immune system against itself, resulting in widespread inflammation that can affect the joints, organs, skin and blood cells. The symptoms of lupus, which may include pain, stiffness and fatigue, are commonly treated with anti-inflammatory medications and corticosteriods.
Acupuncture Theory
Acupuncture is used to restore the body to health by stimulating acupuncture points with needles inserted into the skin. This is thought to help balance the flow of “qi,” or vital energy, within the body. This ancient modality has been practiced for thousands of years, and more than one million people currently use acupuncture in the United States. Contemporary acupuncture practice may employ modern techniques, such as the use of electric currents in electroacupuncture.
Research on Acupuncture for Lupus
According to the Lupus Foundation of America, not enough scientific studies have been done to show conclusively that acupuncture effectively alleviates the symptoms of lupus, despite anecdotal accounts supporting acupuncture’s use for the illness. A 2008 pilot study published in the journal “Lupus” found some benefit to acupuncture for managing the pain and fatigue associated with SLE. There was little difference, however, between the effects reported by the group that received acupuncture, compared to a group that received sham acupuncture with needles inserted at non-acupuncture points. According to the authors of the study, this suggests that needle penetration may be responsible for the analgesic effects, regardless of the use of traditional acupuncture points.
Considerations
Acupuncture is generally thought to be a safe procedure, but there may be special considerations for lupus patients. The authors of the 2008 study observed a higher rate of adverse effects for lupus patients, compared to studies of acupuncture for other conditions. The adverse effects reported in the study included lightheadedness during treatment, bruising at the needle insertion sites, transient bleeding and slight fever. The side effects were not severe enough to prevent the patients from continuing the treatment.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Lupus; March 2011
- Hospital for Special Surgery; Acupuncture for SLE: Can It Work for You?; Charis F. Meng, M.D.; August 2010
- Lupus Foundation of America: Complementary and Alternative Medicine Therapies
- “Lupus”; Acupuncture for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Pilot RCT Feasibility and Safety Study; C.M. Greco, et al.; December 2008
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