Is needle acupuncture basically a placebo?

Question

Yes, I know lots of folks say that it works on pain; but here's my take: I work for an acupunturist and have found that he doesn't use needles as much as acupressure. This has led me to believe the acupressure (a kind of massage) is actually what's helping his patients rather than needles. Basically, he knows that and only uses the needles if a patient requests it.

lindajun... See, I'm not following you. Here's what the dic says about placebo which is also my understanding of it's meaning:
1. Medicine/Medical, Pharmacology. a. a substance having no pharmacological effect but given merely to satisfy a patient who supposes it to be a medicine.
b. a substance having no pharmacological effect but administered as a control in testing experimentally or clinically the efficacy of a biologically active preparation.

Answer 1

Based on tested research, they both work in certain circumstances, apparently by doing some kind of nerve distraction. Since some acupuncturists are careful not to apply pressure, but just insert the needle, the pressure doing the work for the needle theory doesn't work well

Answer 2

Yes it is a placebo....but that is NOT the same as saying it doesn't work. Placebo works 30% of the time.

Usually all of the extras (the oils, the soothing music etc) play as much a role in acupuncture as doe the needles.

Advocates like to say that acupunture has been used for thousands of years...but so was blood letting. Chinese life expectancy was about 40 years of age until the late 1800's when they began to adopt Western medicine practices. Listen to the "Quackcast" podcast episode.

Answer 3

So if he uses acupressure its still a treatment.
A placebo is when absolutely NOTHING is done and the patient improves.
Acupressure is as much a therapeutic treatment as massage, aromatherapy, or any other technique that influences the body's healing powers through some kind of interaction.

Answer 4

Basically, any type of massages or needles or whatever is to just bring more pain to your body. Yes, seems weird that you want to bring pain to your body. For example, when you bump your knee, you grab it and you dig your nails around the area that it hurts; it feels better right?
So, to answer your question, needle acupuncture is not a placebo. It is causing your body pain, which your body reacts to by sending endorphins, which makes that area feel better; it makes the area youre "needling" feel better while also relieving the pain around it.

Answer 5

They both work to a certain degree.