A Knee Full of Gold: When Acupuncture Goes Beyond Pain Relief
When a 65-year-old woman in South Korea visited her doctor complaining of routine knee pain, the expectation was simple: osteoarthritis, a common condition that gradually wears away joint cartilage. What doctors discovered, however, was far from ordinary—and raised eyebrows about a little-known acupuncture practice that literally leaves gold inside the body.
The Pain Behind the Needles
Osteoarthritis is notoriously slow and debilitating. For many, even small movements—bending, climbing stairs, or carrying groceries—can become daily struggles. Traditional treatments like anti-inflammatory drugs often help, but they can also cause unwanted side effects such as stomach irritation.
Seeking relief, the patient turned to acupuncture. In her case, the therapy involved inserting needles made of gold directly into her knees, a method intended to provide ongoing stimulation. These needles were not meant to be removed, effectively leaving them embedded in the joints.
A Golden Surprise
While acupuncture has been practiced for centuries, leaving objects in the body is not without risk. “Foreign objects can trigger inflammation, infection, or abscess formation,” explained Dr. Ali Guermazi, professor of radiology at Boston University, who was not involved in the case. He also warned that embedded needles can complicate X-rays or other imaging, and make MRI scans potentially dangerous if the metal shifts.
Indeed, the body often reacts to these foreign objects by forming fibrous tissue around them—a natural attempt to isolate the intruder. For this patient, her knees became a literal treasure trove, with tiny gold threads embedded in the joints as a permanent reminder of her alternative therapy.
Acupuncture and Its Modern Use
Though scientific evidence for acupuncture’s effectiveness is limited, it remains widely practiced, especially in Asia. Some practitioners use gold threads as a long-term strategy for managing arthritis, while in the U.S., millions turn to acupuncture for pain relief. In 2007 alone, 3.1 million adults and 150,000 children tried acupuncture as a treatment for various ailments, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Lessons Beneath the Surface
This extraordinary case highlights both the allure and the risks of alternative treatments. The embedded gold reflects cultural traditions and patient demand, but it also underscores a critical point: “natural” or “ancient” therapies can carry consequences that modern medicine must consider carefully.
Conclusion
What started as a routine orthopedic visit turned into an unexpected discovery that literally shone under X-ray. Embedded gold needles serve as a reminder that alternative therapies can leave more than just impressions—they can leave lasting, sometimes risky, traces inside the body. For patients seeking relief, the key is balancing potential benefits against hidden dangers—one golden knee at a time.