Acupunctire shown, again, to be no better than placebo.

[piratebrido]

Deleted as it wasn't relevant.

[Joat-Mon]

I know what you mean about gp's.

My mates 16yr old daughter went to the quacks cos she was upset when her boyfriend bombed her off, she was prescribed prozac !!!!!

Her mum is a nurse so she went round there & played fuck with em.

[andyt1992]

even if it is just a placebo effect, if the person whos had the acupuncture feels relief from the pain whether its in their mind or whateva, job done!

[Rosi]

I wonder how many people have actually read what the study says?

It's certainly interesting. Does it say that acupuncture is useless? Not at all. The problem with studies is that they ask a very specific question - and then people tend to over generalize the results.

For a meta analysis, the total number of patients is pretty small and focuses mainly on the treatment of a limited number of conditions. The majority of the people in the meta analysis were being treated for osteoarthritis, for example. There were also some studies looking at the effects on lower back pain, migraine, fibromyalgia.... all pretty complex and often poorly understood conditions. I haven't gone as far as to read all the original studies, but to really get a feel for what this is saying that's what you'd need to do.

I personally don't think there's much evidence to support TCM (traditional chinese medicine) theory. However, the technique of acupuncture can be separated from that background, and used in combination with other manual therapy approaches. Personally, I think that dry needling - like many other things - is a useful tool, when used in combination with other techniques and by a practitioner who knows what they are doing.

But that's a whole different set of questions.

[Waterboy]

I wonder how many people have actually read what the study says?

It's certainly interesting. Does it say that acupuncture is useless? Not at all. The problem with studies is that they ask a very specific question - and then people tend to over generalize the results.

For a meta analysis, the total number of patients is pretty small and focuses mainly on the treatment of a limited number of conditions. The majority of the people in the meta analysis were being treated for osteoarthritis, for example. There were also some studies looking at the effects on lower back pain, migraine, fibromyalgia.... all pretty complex and often poorly understood conditions. I haven't gone as far as to read all the original studies, but to really get a feel for what this is saying that's what you'd need to do.

I personally don't think there's much evidence to support TCM (traditional chinese medicine) theory. However, the technique of acupuncture can be separated from that background, and used in combination with other manual therapy approaches. Personally, I think that dry needling - like many other things - is a useful tool, when used in combination with other techniques and by a practitioner who knows what they are doing.

But that's a whole different set of questions.

Look Rosi, if you're not gonna use the initial post as an excuse for a cognitive reasoning battle on the nature of knowledge itself, thinly veiled as a debate about the actual subject matter, we don't want you round here, mmmkay?

[Rosi]

Look Rosi, if you're not gonna use the initial post as an excuse for a congnitive reasoning battle on the nature of knowledge itself, thinly veiled as a debate about the actual subject matter, we don't want you round here, mmmkay?

I'll get my coat

[Smiler]

Ah...the joys of 'Bad Science'...

Acupuncture works. Whether its down to the placebo effect or not, it still works in many cases.

I've had it and it worked wonders with my severe back pain following a car accident, and almost miraculously cleared up an elbow problem. It works for me.

I asked my practitioner what she believed was happening. Honestly, she said she didn't know, she didn't care, she just saw the good results!

I've also had reiki that worked wonders on me in just 5minutes, totally clearing a shut eye without being touched. I've seen Reiki done on the stunt horses that I used to ride, again with great effect. Science to back it up? Nope. Works? Yep, for me and my horses!

So thats why I'm always asking for the background reading, the papers etc, even if its just anecdotal...science is moving forward, and explanations may well be coming.

And it is definately without doubt a good idea to look at the research being offered - conclusions published by journalists or through hearsay often don't relate at all to the actual study...

Smiler

[piratebrido]

I have done my level 1 reiki. I think it's all bollocks, but I gave it a bash. I'm am supposedly opened up to the reiki energies now though wooooooooooo.

[piratebrido]

Will acupuncture help ease pain? Absolutely. This is the nature of placebo and the Hawthorn Effect. This isn't controversial in the slightest. What is in question is whether acupuncture does anything beyond this effect. This is why we have control groups. Does actual acupuncture provide significantly better results than placebo acupuncture? No, time and time again it is shown to have no significant medical benefit beyond placebo.

[DetoxGuru.com]

i think reiki is bollocks, reiki isnt acupuncture, totally different , whats with all these stupid names"the hawthorn effect"?? . people talk about placebo , acupuncture has been used for 1000s of years , just cos it doesnt involve drugs and "the beloved science" you slag it off , im not gonna sit here letting you post bullshit trying to put people off stuff that you know fuck all about and not respond , until you stop doing it and find , acupuncture is the real deal FULL STOP.

my acupuncturist from vietnam did 7 years full time at saigon uni , this is no bullshit micky mouse qualification.