Can anyone give me a good reason why acupuncture doesn't work?

Answer 1

Depends what you're trying to achieve. It won't heal a broken leg.
Properly conducted acupuncture has been shown to raise endorphin levels by up to 50%. Endorphins are a sort of natural morphine - they reduce stress, alleviate pain and cause a feeling of general wellbeing. Since this effect counters the stress that so often results in unpleasant symptoms there is a chemical answer to the effectiveness of acupuncture.
One of the other replies suggests that it works because you think it will - I can't think of a better way of healing!
Do you really believe in all those little coloured pills your doctor gives you?
The human body is phenominally complex and it is stretching credulity to think that one medicine system alone has all the answers. As part of a holistic approach to health I think you need to accept that accupuncture has a place, even if only peripherally in the West.

Answer 2

No - I can't give you a good reason why acupuncture doesn't work because it truely does. Animals & small children will show instant positive affects so don't buy into this placebo, voodoo lark that the conventional (well, some of them [Dr Frank]) think all alternative medicine is. The health of this country could be vastly improved it the conventional doctors would only take off their blinkers. Well said JS - nice to hear your point of view on these things.
I was unfortunate enough to need acupuncture as an emergency! I was on holiday and an old back injury was completely ruining the trip. The analgesics I was prescribed gave me chronic abdominal pain & did little to ease the pain in my back. I took myself to a chiropractor in the town but he felt that there was too much inflammation & I could barely move so he asked if I would accept acupuncture. I was willing to give anything a try as I was in AGONY. Well, 20 minutes later, I positively skipped from his office!! It was amazing and the effect lasted 24 hours by which time I was much more comfortable. I know that conventional medicine has its place & this is at times of trauma & emergency surgery. At other times, there are many other things that can help. I can only assume that the conventional doctors deny this as either they are completely ignorant of the facts, or they only believe the word that is The Lancet or BMJ, or - they are threatened by what else is on offer as they won't get their cut from the drug company if patients take their ills elsewhere. My thoughts are that the patients best interest should be central and maybe we should all accept that some things work well for some people and as long as they get better, that's the most important thing. I spent over 20 years working in the NHS as a senior practitioner & now having spent over 10 years working in the alternative field, I can say the people who have been let down by conventional medicine get even better under alternative treatment, don't have to put up with gross side effects of drugs and can regain total health that is denied them.

Answer 3

No - I can't give you a good reason why acupuncture doesn't work because it truely does. Animals & small children will show instant positive affects so don't buy into this placebo, voodoo lark that the conventional (well, some of them [Dr Frank]) think all alternative medicine is. The health of this country could be vastly improved it the conventional doctors would only take off their blinkers. Well said JS - nice to hear your point of view on these things. I was unfortunate enough to need acupuncture as an emergency! I was on holiday and an old back injury was completely ruining the trip. The analgesics I was prescribed gave me chronic abdominal pain & did little to ease the pain in my back. I took myself to a chiropractor in the town but he felt that there was too much inflammation & I could barely move so he asked if I would accept acupuncture. I was willing to give anything a try as I was in AGONY. Well, 20 minutes later, I positively skipped from his office!! It was amazing and the effect lasted 24 hours by which time I was much more comfortable. I know that conventional medicine has its place & this is at times of trauma & emergency surgery. At other times, there are many other things that can help. I can only assume that the conventional doctors deny this as either they are completely ignorant of the facts, or they only believe the word that is The Lancet or BMJ, or - they are threatened by what else is on offer as they won't get their cut from the drug company if patients take their ills elsewhere. My thoughts are that the patients best interest should be central and maybe we should all accept that some things work well for some people and as long as they get better, that's the most important thing. I spent over 20 years working in the NHS as a senior practitioner & now having spent over 10 years working in the alternative field, I can say the people who have been let down by conventional medicine get even better under alternative treatment, don't have to put up with gross side effects of drugs and can regain total health that is denied them.

Answer 4

If it is TCM style acupuncture as practised by my GP. Might have something to do with the fact he took acupuncture as an extra at the end of his medical studies though. He's absolutely useless!

PS: i prefer classical acupuncture from a proper chinese trained acupuncturist that understands their 5-element theory but had to try the GP once. Can't kock it till you tried it :-)

PPS to DR Frank: Maybe the WHO can give you the logical scientific explanation you are looking for on acupuncture :-)
http://www.who.int/topics/acupuncture/en/
They also have some guidelines for clinical research in acupuncture. http://www.wpro.who.int/publications/pub_9290611146.htm
And this: "Acupuncture has been proven effective in relieving postoperative pain, nausea during pregnancy, nausea and vomiting resulting from chemotherapy, and dental pain with extremely low side effects. It can also alleviate anxiety, panic disorders and insomnia."from here: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs134/en/

Answer 5

I don't think anyone can give you a good reason, because I don't think there is one. By all reports, it does work. If it didn't, I doubt that it would still be in use after thousands of years.

Answer 6

Nope, I can't... acupuncture works WONDERS!

Answer 7

It works great for everything that I've tried it for.backache 'headache and even leg pain...i wish we had more clinics that do it here in Seattle .i usually stay at least 45 min.if you only did it for 10 or 15 min i don;t think that would work.it didn;t when i went that little bit of time.....LOL

Answer 8

sorry to hear you have had no joy, usually it takes between 3-5 sessions to feel any benefit, (you didnt state why you were having the treatment) but you need to ensure the person who is doing the treatment is highly recommended & has all the relevant qualifications & experience.

Answer 9

When i had acupuncture it hurt so much that i couldn't relax and that didn't help my back problem!

Answer 10

I might ask someone to give me a logical, and scientific rather than pseudo scientific reason why on earth it should work!