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?
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Systematic Reviews Show the Evidence is Negative
- From Steven Novella MD
By Steven Novella, MD - New England Skeptical Society
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Understanding meta analyses
There are 4 meta analyses done in 2008 examining the effect of acupuncture on IVF outcomes. 2 have been published, a third is about to be published as a Cockrane Review. The fourth is one done by researchers in Adelaide Australia, who published some of the acupuncture and IVF outcomes research in 2006 in Fertility and Sterility.
3 out of the 4 show a significant positive effect for acupuncture.
The only one to show a negative effect is the one mentioned by Steven Novella.
This particular meta analysis included one trial of quite different design, which all the others excluded because it introduced such significant heterogeneity as to make a meta analysis unreliable.
- MJL
September 14, 2008 4:54AM
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Side: Yes
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Study quality?
So, explain to us how the one positive outcome (citation needed) is reliable, and compare it to the others (citations needed). Vague references to "studies" shield people, such as you, from scrutiny.
I don't blame you for avoiding citations, others, who have given genuine references, have been embarrassed.
- JJM
September 19, 2008 1:13PM
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Side: No
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Negative Results?
One curious thing is that a common protocol for acupuncture with IVF (obviously a modern protocol) includes the very points that have traditionaly been contra-indicated in pregancy (Spleen 6 and Large Intestine 4). I have not been able to find the rationale for this treatment explained, and it seems very peculiar to me - but it is interesting that actual negative results have been reported; i.e. increased misscarriage, in the recent meta-study.
- AAPrescott
October 8, 2008 1:51PM
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Studies are published in reputable journals.
I cant imagine why you think giving citations is embarrassing.
FYI the references are
1 Effects of acupuncture on rates of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing in vitro fertilisation: systematic review and meta-analysis.
Manheimer E et al. BMJ 2008;336 pg 545-549
British Medical Journal
describes a positive effect for acupuncture given to IVF patients
2 Acupuncture and Assisted Conception
Cheong Y et al, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews Nov 2008, Issue 4.
Cochrane Review
describes a positive effect for acupuncture given to IVF patients
3 A Systematic Review and Meta -analysis of the effect of Acupuncture on Outcome of in Vitro Fertilisation Treatment
El-Toukhy T et al BJOG 2008 115 (10); 1203 -13
British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecolgy
doesnt describe a positive effect for acupuncture given to IVF patients ........ since this analysis included a paper which was rejected by the other authors because of significant methodological differences.
4 Meta analysis done by Prof Smith, UWS, Australia. Unpublished.
describes a positive effect for acupuncture given to IVF patients
- MJL
November 4, 2008 12:15AM
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