10/1 Acupuncture: real medicine or bullshit? Does it work and if so
how? I personally think it's bullshit, but I've never had it done.
Does anyone think it actually works? If so, how?
\_ I realize that this is anecdotal, but I know several people who've
been helped by it quite a bit, and they were not new age hippie
types who would just say that--this was in mainland china.
I think it may be bullshit in some contexts, but for chronic back
pain, it definitely does something when done right.
\_ http://nccam.nih.gov/health/acupuncture/#work
\_ I would say it works, and the mechanism has something to do with
creating pain in one part of the body, numbing your body to that
sensation of pain, which happens to numb your body to the pain you
really want to remove. You are then able to articulate the
afflicted limb/area of your body, increasing blood circulation and
relieving mental stress, which is all good.
It's kind of like when you have a back or neck ache, you take an
Advil, you can relax again, and by the time the Advil wears off it's
better 'cause you moved around. Compared to having a stiff neck for
three straight days.
Then again I could be completely BSing you.
\_ only reason this thing survived is the fact that it simply works.
however, the system of credential is not well established, thus,
you really need to get refered by someone who really knows what
is he doing. I know a lot of Chinese American who failed to
get into medical school end up doing this. Not exactly the
best breed out there.
\_ Definitely. It works, but you have to find the right
practitioner.
\_ Can't you use this argument (longevity) for all kinds of wacky
stuff from tarot cards to Christianity?
\_ It works, but only in a certain group of people. it's one of
those phenomena/therapies where it works if you believe it
will (as opposed to traditional western medicine where people
believe it when it works). if you go in dead set with the
opinion that it won't help you, then it simply won't. if you're
open to new types of therapy, then there's a good chance it
will. Also, accupressure is best for chronic pain (e.g. back
pain, headaches, etc.), as opposed to acute pain (sudden
onset stomach pain), which is why it fits in well with current
medicine. Western medicine treats acute pain well, but fails
miserably at chronic pain management.
\_ I think it's real medicine, but I won't go for it because it's so
under-regulated. Basically I believe in acupuncture, but I don't
believe in most of the "doctors" who practice acupuncture.
-- Chinese
\_ A few months ago I heard on NPR that there was a huge sample size
(n=15000) and the results were that accupuncture had definite
benefits when used on the knees of those who have arthritis. |
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