He went for knee pain, and an x-ray found hundreds of gold threads

The woman had previously been diagnosed with arthritis and had failed to respond to conventional treatments such as painkillers and steroid injections. She stopped taking her medication due to stomach pain and began attending acupuncture sessions several times a week.

THE SECRET OF GOLDEN THREADS: ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT

Hospital tests revealed that the gold threads in the X-rays were intentionally left in place during the woman's regular gold thread acupuncture sessions. This procedure involves inserting short, sterile gold threads into the tissue to provide continuous stimulation.

Doctors stated that the threads are left in the body, but based on previous cases, this could pose risks. Cysts have been observed in patients who have undergone similar treatments before. There's also a risk that the threads could migrate over time.

THE SCIENTIFIC BASIS OF THE TRADITIONAL METHOD IS WEAK

According to experts, gold thread acupuncture is widely used in Asia to treat both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. However, it's noted that there's no scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness, and it sometimes prevents patients from accessing appropriate treatment at the right time.

In fact, in a similar case, it was stated that another 58-year-old woman resorted to gold thread acupuncture to relieve her wrist pain, but her disease worsened because she did not take the medications that would stop the progression of her rheumatoid arthritis in time.

HEALTH RISKS AND IMAGING DIFFICULTIES

Experts note that gold threads can migrate within the body over time. For example, threads placed in the back of a 75-year-old woman were recorded to have migrated into her lower leg within 10 years, causing a serious skin infection.

These threads can also have negative effects on imaging techniques. In addition to making X-rays difficult to interpret, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans carry the risk of the threads moving and damaging blood vessels.

WARNING FROM EXPERTS: DOCTORS MUST BE INFORMED

Doctors advise that the presence of gold threads should be considered in patients undergoing these traditional treatments. Fortunately, the threads are easily visible on X-rays, allowing their location to be tracked over time.

Still, experts warn that both healthcare professionals and patients need to be aware of the risks such alternative practices may pose.