Comparison of Analgesic Effect of Specific Acupuncture and Moxibustion in Rheumatoid Arthritis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the analgesic effect of specific acupuncture and moxibustion in Rheumatoid arthritis. BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic auto immune connective tissue disease with unknown etiology.RA is characterized by nonspecific, chronic progressive inflammation of joints that leads to progressive destruction of the joints and periarticular tissues. and is the most common persistent inflammatory arthritis.RA causes inflammation in the affected joints which leads to intense pain and decreased range of movement leads to disability and affects day today life. This study was planned to evaluate the analgesic effect of specific acupuncture and moxibustion in Rheumatoid Arthritis. DESIGN AND METHOD: A comparative study performed among 80 patients with Rheumatoid arthritis age ranging between 30-55years from IP and OP dept of Govt.yoga and naturopathy medical college ,Arumbakkam. They were randomly assigned into two groups. Experimental group (n=40) and control group after satisfying the inclusion and exclusion criteria and ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria.Experimental group was given moxibustion at selected acupuncture points and ah-shi points of the affected joint. Control group received acupuncture on the same acupuncture points.Both groups were assessed at baseline and immediately after treatment by using visual analogue scale(VAS). RESULTS: The result when seen with in the group there is significance,but when compared between the groups the datas are not significant. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSION: Experimental group and control group showed significant improvements in pain reduction in onetime exposure to the treatment. Hence, immediate effect moxa and acupuncture in RA patients has shown a positive influence on pain reduction of the human body.when it compared between the groups it shows that both are equal in reducing pain in RA