Do you suffer from chronic pain? Maybe acupuncture is just what the doctor ordered. Millions of people say that acupuncture has alleviated their suffering and boosted their bodies, but others insist that it's more rooted in belief than scientific fact. Is acupuncture really the cure for what ails you, or does it only turn you into a human pincushion?
Please select the category that most closely reflects your concern about this content,
so that we can review it and determine whether it violates Civility 101 or isn't
appropriate for some other reason.
Abusing this feature is also a violation of Civility 101.
Explanation:
4
1
2
0
1
1
1
1
2
0
0
0
1
0
Biweekly updates on new debates and experts
Please check your email to confirm your subscription.
© 2008 Opposing Views, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Opposing Views, Inc. is not responsible for the content posted on this website. Please view full disclaimer under Terms
Acupuncture is a Pre-Scientific Superstition
- From Steven Novella MD
By Steven Novella, MD - New England Skeptical Society
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
Superstition
And yet willow bark tea was also a "Pre-Scientific Superstition." Science-based medicine is still an embarrassingly pragmatic operation, and we do not truly understand why many of our accepted treatments work, especially in the area of pain perception. I'd love to hear a scientific explanation of why anesthesia works. We use it because it does work, and it is scientifically proven to work, but we don't always know why. It is accurate to say that acupuncture has not held up in scientific trials, but don't argue against it on the basis that its proponents don't know how it works.
Every time a physician gets on the high horse about how great our knowledge is, and then gets proven even slightly wrong, it undercuts the public trust in both medicine and science. You suffer from a lack of humility while standing at the edge of a sea of undiscovered knowledge.
- Adam Hammond
September 4, 2008 4:34PM
Reply to this Recommend (1)
Side: Uncommitted
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
Fallacious arguments
Mr. Hammond, your argument is off topic. Other things that are proven to work have no bearing on acupuncture.
The acupuncturist's task, here, is quite simple- cite high-quality research published in high-quality medical journals that support the use of acupuncture for any ailment. That does not prove "acupuncture works," except in the case of that particular ailment; but it is a start. (Take note that a single publication, even if it stands up to scrutiny, is rarely convincing.)
What physicians feel or think is also irrelevant. What is known is all that counts, and there is no experimental support for the use of acupuncture.
- JJM
September 5, 2008 2:03AM
Reply to this Recommend (0)
Side: No
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
Arrogance
You can call me Adam, or Dr. Hammond, and I did not attempt any proof of acupuncture. My point is that your lack of humility is damaging to our side, the side of rational thought.
- Adam Hammond
September 5, 2008 6:47AM
Reply to this Recommend (0)
Side: Uncommitted
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
apologies to JJM
I do mean Dr. Novella's arrogance, not yours. I did not find the JJM post arrogant, nor damaging to the side of rational thought.
- Adam Hammond
September 5, 2008 7:10AM
Reply to this Recommend (0)
Side: Uncommitted
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
Different Worlds
Won't you acknowledge that there is a strong prejudice on the part of western medicine against TCM? I remember how even as late as ten years ago, "traditional" herbal medicines were a laughing stock by many physicians, but today have gained some semblance of acceptance. It seems to me that it took a long time before the medical establishment allowed for "high-quality research published in high-quality medical journals" to be produced on the topic of some 'traditional' herbal remedies, therefore why is it a surprise that few have yet to emerge on acupuncture?
I too wish to see such studies on acupuncture. However, I also recognize that the western medical establishment is slow to change, inflexible when it comes to differing paradigms, and holds deep prejudices against notions that fall outside of its predefined realm.
We can talk about the scientific method all day, but we all know that there are a myriad of competing interests in the medical establishment the prevent it from being an altruistic pursuit of science; interests that often exclude traditional herbal treatments, nutrition as the best form of prevention, and TCM, in part because they all don't utilize the latest and greatest medical surgeries or wonder drugs. Is it any surprise why it's difficult for a drastically different medical perspective to even be given the chance to prove itself under the standards predefined by the western medical establishment?
- etbarker
December 18, 2008 12:02PM
Reply to this Recommend (0)
Side: Yes
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
Knowledge evolves...
Our knowledge evolves and that's fine - knowledge in science that is. In TCM, knowledge does not evolve but adheres to outdated philosophies of chi etc.
- Edzard Ernst
September 15, 2008 3:28AM
Reply to this Recommend (0)
Side: Uncommitted
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
Doe acupuncture work
Ah, but there is reason to expect results from acupuncture!
The acupuncture points are in most instance the very same spots that are Triggerpoints in Mtofascial pain disease or tender points in Fibromyalgia.
I have had the experience of getting relief from the ravaging pain of the knotted up muscle fibers affected with the flaring of a "trigger point".
With these trigger points it is often possible to self treat by applying pressure to the flared up spot.
unfortunately they are likely to redevelop in a few hours, making self treatment ability desirable.
My first experience with acupuncture was treatment of a flared up left scapula with a few trpt. One of the practitioners needles was definitely in one of the affected spots, which felt a bit sore, but not with the usual excruciating pain that often develops in these eschemic areas. The whole affected area improved that day snd I had a month remission from the Myofascial pain.
When I had an appointment for treating myofascial pains in another area at another time I did not experience much relief. The Acupuncturist had embarked upon pursuing possible causes of these ischemic occurrences rather than pain relief.
With this chromic disease I have also used the services of some physical therapists trained in trigger point release. Some degree of pain relief resulted but the trigger points would re-form in 3 or 4 hours.
I have switched to therapists trained in J Barnes Myofascial relief. There approach often leaves the trigger points untouched but instead explorrd the myofascial system of the body seeking causes for the trigger point flareup,
I have had some remissions up to 4 months following a treatment or two or three.
It has been necessary to self treat trigger points as they happen to develop.
It would not surprise me that if I were to absorb the expense of having a series of acupuncture procedures done to purse "cause" - this might be successful.
Also I believe the acupuncturist was able to improve an ankle condition for me.
Hal 84
- Hal 84
December 14, 2008 4:43PM
Reply to this Recommend (0)
Side: Yes
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.