Does Acupuncture Work?

• “Yes”

  

  “Insurance Coverage for Acupuncture is on the Rise”

• “Objection”

  

  “Another Argument From Authority.”
  

  Response

Another Argument From Authority.

Steven Novella, MD

New England Skeptical Society

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This is just nonsense. Insurance companies are companies - they will cover what is cheapest (whether it works or not, especially for symptomatic therapy, rather than preventive or curative treatments). Also, they want to attract customers and will jump on a fad to do so.

The most recent CDC survey on CAM usage shows that only 6.5% of people have ever used acupuncture, and this number has not been changing significantly over the years. The alleged popularity of acupuncture and other so-called alternatives is largely a myth of the media and proponents.

And - it is all irrelevant because it says nothing about the plausibility and efficacy of any treatment.

Evidence

Link

CDC survey for 2007

Response

Insurance Companies Use Actuarians For a Reason

Bill Reddy

American Association of Acupuncture...

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Dr. Novella, you're burying your head in the sand.  Actuarial science has a high degree of accuracy.  If you SMOKE, your automobile insurance will be higher than a non-smoker because statistically you'll be in more accidents due to the handling/lighting/tapping ashes of a cigarette while you're driving.  The same thing is true about acupuncture.  It wasn't covered well 15 years ago because of the lack of raw data.  Since that time, there has been data collected on the efficacy of treatments for a number of conditions and the actuarians used that information to cover our services.

I agree with you that it is not DIRECTLY stating that acupuncture works, it's demonstrating that insurance companies are covering acupuncture for a reason.

Next Argument

"Yes" Bill Reddy

• The WHO Supports the Use of Acupuncture in Treating Many Conditions
  4
• Those Who Question Scientific Basis Have Not Done Their Homework
  1
• A Proven System That is Less Dangerous Than Western Medicine
  2
• What About Common Sense Reasoning?
  0
• There ARE Limitations to Acupuncture
  0
• Should We Trust the #1 Ranked Medical School in This Country?
  0
• Insurance Coverage for Acupuncture is on the Rise
  0
• MRI's Don't Lie
  0
• You WANT Meta-Analyses? I GIVE You Meta-Analyses
  1
• Why Would Your Colleagues Be Drawn to Practicing QUACKERY?
  0

"No" Steven Novella MD

• Acupuncture is a Pre-Scientific Superstition
  1
• Acupuncture Lacks a Plausible Mechanism
  1
• Claims for Efficacy are Often Based Upon a Bait-and-Switch Deception
  3
• Clinical Trials Show That Acupuncture Does Not Work
  2

"No" Edzard Ernst

• The Ancient Chinese Theories are Not Correct
  1
• The Best Clinical Trials Fail to Demonstrate Effectiveness
  1
• Patients Experience Benefit Because of Placebo Effects
  1

Most Objections

• Acupuncture is a Pre-Scientific Superstition
  1
• Acupuncture Lacks a Plausible Mechanism
  1
• Clinical Trials Show That Acupuncture Does Not Work
  2
• The Ancient Chinese Theories are Not Correct
  1
• Patients Experience Benefit Because of Placebo Effects
  1
• The WHO Supports the Use of Acupuncture in Treating Many Conditions
  4
• Those Who Question Scientific Basis Have Not Done Their Homework
  1
• A Proven System That is Less Dangerous Than Western Medicine
  2
• What About Common Sense Reasoning?
  0
• Should We Trust the #1 Ranked Medical School in This Country?
  0
• Insurance Coverage for Acupuncture is on the Rise
  0
• MRI's Don't Lie
  0
• You WANT Meta-Analyses? I GIVE You Meta-Analyses
  1
• Why Would Your Colleagues Be Drawn to Practicing QUACKERY?
  0

Does Acupuncture Really Work?

• Yes
• No

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