Acupuncture helping ease pain in the elderly

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/page.arcview.php3?
clid=3&id=88924&usrsess=1

Published on Nov 14, 2003



The use of acupuncture alongside modern treatment is proving to
be "very" effective in helping elderly people overcome pain
typically caused by physical degeneration in old age.

Up to 70 per cent of patients undergoing acupuncture therapy at the
Phra Mongkutklao Hospital clinic for elderly people in Bangkok have
recovered fully from many of the physical pains commonly associated
with the body wearing out in old age, said Dr Varayut Stitstian.

Varayut is the president of the Acupuncture Medical Association of
Thailand.

He said the clinic had used alternative medicine alongside regular
modern medicine for the past two years and the outcome had
been "very successful".

He said that before the introduction of acupuncture, curing these
types of pain had been very difficult.

"This time they have a headache, next time they come with an ache on
another part of their body," he said about the patients.

He said the use of acupuncture at the hospital's clinic for the aged
was administered on a case-by-case basis depending on the health of
the individual.

Some patients received regular acupuncture, whereas some reacted
better to electro-acupuncture.

Electro-acupuncture is a combination of acupuncture and stimulation
with low-voltage electricity.

Treatment costs Bt250 per person per time and usually lasts two to
three months.

However, continued sessions after the treatment course has finished
helps prevent reoccurrence of pain.

During treatment patients need to see the doctor twice a week, after
which they should have a session every three or six months.

The cost of acupuncture treatment is covered by the Social Security
Fund and the Civil Servant Healthcare and Welfare Funds.

In Bangkok, people can seek treatment at large hospitals including
Rajavithi, Chulalongkorn and Siriraj in addition to Phra
Mongkutklao.

There are also acupuncture treatments available at every provincial
hospital, Varayut said.

Arthit Khwankhom

THE NATION