Comments on: Can Acupuncture Have Real Effects?

By: Giles

Giles — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 14:24:57 +0000

First, I don’t like the use of damaging rats fro validating acupuncture – there are much better methods for this.

There are may studies – some a more water tight methodology than others – a more interesting one was the use of a point classically used to treat pain (Hegu LI4) – when this point was stimulated it turned part of the brain off. This was detected by scanning the brain and its changes in activity. The part of the brain was said to be to do with the recognition of pain.

Then there are numerous theories and evidence to see the chemical changes in the body when fine needles are inserted into acupuncture points. These have been shown to reduce inflammation.
The point I make is Acupuncture is complex. One experiment will not pigeonhole it -

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 19:49:38 +0000

Funny one for me – I am a sceptic with pretty much everything, and as per some comments above, I don’t believe in Chi, meridians and all that. In saying that, I was randomly given acupuncture when I was younger on my shoulder – I didn’t know what it was or what it was supposed to do, but it did something – probably what Fred said in the first post around aggravating the area.

Would be interesting if there was anything to it.

By: Acupuncture NYC

Acupuncture NYC — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 05:45:04 +0000

Of course this is acupuncture. The points used in this study are points used on humans and would be indicated for similar health problems. Furthermore, acupuncture points are not necessarily inserted where the problem is. The point “between the snout and mouth” is on the Du meridian which traverses the spine.The advantage to using animals is that you eliminate the possibility of the placebo effect,

By: Kate Gould

Kate Gould — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:17:39 +0000

I’ve been having acupuncture for the treatment of epilepsy and have found it hugely beneficial, both in the reduction of seizures and the anxiety associated with having them. Medication has a multitude of scientific credentials, yet I’ve found it to be far less helpful than acupuncture which has little to no scientific endorsement.

By: Emma

Emma — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:59:32 +0000

I was given acupunture for my CRPS/ RSD (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome/ Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy ) in right ankle. I was apprehensive & sceptic about it, thinking that it would most likely make things worse by over stimulating the area.
I was wrong and after a 2 treatments started to notice a difference. After 4 treatments the swelling had reduced & discoloration had improved. I had a reduction of pain & pain meds became more effective. Treatment only lasted for a few weeks before i needed a ‘top up’ for pain but 9months on and the swelling and discolouration is still much better.
I’m not saying acupuncture is a miracle cure & is for everyone but it does help in some cases. More research is needed to find out why & how it helps & the the benifits it can have for some people.

By: Hez

Hez — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 13:15:07 +0000

I just finished a blog post about this New Scientist article (link in my name), where I point out that if you look at the human study that’s linked to in the paper, it’s not actually double blinded. There is no sham acupuncture in the control group. It’s useless as far as I’m concerned. Another thing is that New Scientist doesn’t mention that the human study is about *electrical* acupuncture, a difference which would have been worthy of noting.

In regards to the animal study, I agree with Fred. The explanations given for the positive results are entirely physiological in nature. There’s no mention of chi or anything, so how can the the results be credited to acupuncture?

By: roz

roz — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 12:26:02 +0000

i wonder if this is yet another thing we can cure in rats but not people.

anyway, it helps to be the nationality of the modality you are using.

By: denice stout

denice stout — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 12:04:36 +0000

I agree Peter.

By: James Houston

James Houston — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 11:50:46 +0000

It has the same effect as homeopathy or praying.
I didn’t expect to find something like this on derrenbrown.co.uk

By: Peter

Peter — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 09:44:05 +0000

Humans seek for accupuncture theirselves .. these rats don’t.

I myself dont reallly believe in accupuncture. But I dont dislike the fact that the article mentions the fact that it might be simply stress due to the sharp needles that triggers something in those rats. Although accupuncture needles are not really painfull. But if they used the same needles on rats .. considering the size of rats .. to them those needles are huge ofcourse and might indeed cause pain and stress.

Awfull to read how they damage animals for this. They could have used humans for experiments. Spinal cord injuries?? That’s something you never would try to cure with sticking needles into someone. Only in a few cases perhaps, if surgery is not an option. But then you should also experiment on those humans.