what do you think of acupuncture?

Answer 1

a PRICK of a idea

Answer 2

Personally, I feel that it is all a mind game. If you belive that it works for you, then it will probably do something positive and you will probably get some relief out of it. If you don't think that it will work, then you will just get stuck with a bunch of needles and not even get a cool tatoo out of it.

Below is a link to a great article that was published in the British Medical Journal earlier this year. In it, they examined two groups with chronic arm pain to see which treatment worked better: receiving sham acupuncture or receiving a placebo pill. For the sham acupuncture everything was set up just as it normally is for acupuncture and was conducted exactly as if the person was receiving true acupuncture--but the tip of the needle slid into its shaft and never punctured the patient's skin even though they thought that it did. The other group received a corn startch pill that looked just like a real pill for their pain. Although neither group had much improvement in function with their arms after several weeks, the group receiving sham acupuncture reported significantly greater relief of pain. The authors of the study hypothesized that the greater relief of pain reported by the sham acupuncture group, compared to the sham pill group, may be due to their having gone through the "ritual" environment to receive the treatment, versus just popping a pill at home. As an aside, before the trial began both groups were informed of possible side effects of the treatment--side effects that they might experience if they were receiving true therapy that is. Both groups complained of these side effects (including swelling and reddness to the acupuncture sites that were never really acupunctured) and some even dropped out of the study due to them. This is called the nocebo effect, if you are interested.

This study is pretty interesting. I won't lie, it is a boring read, but subject matter is pretty interesting. It greatly reinforces my belief that any benefits gained from acupuncture are totally psycosomatic.

Answer 3

I had it for hay fever and didn't find it great but my mum had it for back trouble. She had a terrible back for years then had acupuncture and its been way better since. I think it's better for physical problems rather than an illness as such. As in it's grand for a sore elbow but not very effective for a cold.

Answer 4

My experience in acupuncture is about nerve pains... well you don't feel the pain because it killed the nerve... but the pain is still there.

Answer 5

Listen: Anything some other country has done for THOUSANDS of years couldn't POSSIBLY be effective, because WE didn't invent it -- DUH!

You should be imprisoned for even thinking of alternatives to drugs, or doctors who have every right to pay cash for a BMW. How DARE you?!

really now...



sarcasm rules!

Answer 6

absolutely fantastic. I go every 4 months because of a neck problem. The relief is indescribable. Having suffered for years I thoroughly recommend it. If you haven't tried it don't knock it.

Answer 7

On the surface, it sounds hokey to me. Too many people are getting results, though... so there must be something to it. Perhaps the placebo effect?

'nuff said?

Answer 8

I see an acupuncturist whenever I sprain my ankle or something. They suck the blood out and I feel much better.

Answer 9

Well, I'm not sure, but I'll let you know. I'm going in October to help me quit smoking. (YIKES!). Seven of my friends have all agreed to give it a try together.

Answer 10

I found it relaxing but it didn't fix my problem. I feel if it does it is just a mask of the problem and not a cure anyway.

Answer 11

Heard great things from people who have it done. and it has been recommended!
Id like to try it out