Illustration By Jonny Mendelsson

The Tao of Pain By Melissa Gotthardt, March-April 2003 Get arthritis relief by mixing Eastern and Western medicine

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently upped its estimate of arthritis sufferers from 43 million to 70 million. That's a lot of hurtin'. To defeat pain and stiffness, many experts say the best approach is a mix of Eastern and Western remedies. Your best options:

• Acupuncture. Western scientists aren't sure why it eases pain, but they believe acupuncture may stimulate the nerves and trigger the release of the body's natural painkillers. In China, where it's been used for more than 2,500 years, it's believed to correct imbalances in an essential form of life energy called qi (pronounced "chee"). The World Health Organization endorsed acupuncture in 1980 for treating osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis; the National Institutes of Health gave it the nod in 1997 for conditions such as fibromyalgia and postoperative pain.
• Tai Chi. A marriage of martial art and dance, tai chi teaches a series of flowing, graceful movements—and it doesn't stress your joints. In a 2001 study, self-reported pain scores dropped from an average of 3.25 to 1.75 in arthritis sufferers who learned tai chi. "It strengthens muscles and gets joints moving, increasing range of motion and flexibility," says John Klippel, M.D., the Arthritis Foundation's medical director. (For a copy of "Tai Chi from the Arthritis Foundation," call 800-283-7800.)
• Yoga. Traditionalists believe that yoga brings balance to your body, mind, and spirit. "It also builds strength and helps stabilize joints—even if you don't buy into the spiritual aspects," says Sharon Kolasinski, M.D., a University of Pennsylvania rheumatologist. Research shows yoga can help rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis patients; a yet-to-be-published study by Kolasinski found that two months of yoga cut pain by 50 percent among patients with knee osteoarthritis. For a free guide on yoga and arthritis, go to www.raacademy.com.