Acupuncture - have you tried it ?

[snaw]

You have no proof it worked for you unless you managed to do what many scientists do and that is proper scientific testing. You just THINK it worked. Chances are your body healed itself (the human body is well capable of doing that you know).

For another view based on a scientific approach why not try some real skeptics view of acupuncture here: http://www.ukskeptics.com/acupuncture.php

Nope, I don't.

But if it healed itself it was pretty ******* quick, as as soon as I was finished the pain lessened by about 90% and never really jumped back to a measurable level after.

And as I said, I was a complete sceptic but given my Dr said tried it, I thought why not? And you know what, it worked.

Sorry for the UK sceptic society, but if it makes me fell better that'll do me.

Plenty of science around it these days to prove it, but I could care less either way to be honest, I have no vested interest in any particular outcome.

[NotAllThere]

but if it makes me fell better that'll do me.

But it didn't necessarily make you feel better. You just think it did. That's the point.

The science tentatively suggests that it may be useful in reducing pain.

[cailin maith]

But it didn't necessarily make you feel better. You just think it did. That's the difference.

Works for me.... bit like a bottle of wine or a new handbag - doesn't necessarily make you feel better. You just think it does

[minestrone]

It is scientific arrogance to think that because you do not understand how something works that it will not work. Acupuncture actually has a very good reputation with doctors, esp for joint and muscle pain.

[NotAllThere]

It is scientific arrogance to think that because you do not understand how something works that it will not work.

That's a pretty dumb statement, often rolled out by practioners of woo, who don't understand the scientific method. Science takes the hypothesis: "acupuncture reduces pain", and then performs experiments to see whether the hypothesis is supported. The tests, and there have been many, show that it may be useful in treating pain. Possibly.

If they establish firmly that is really does work, then they'll look for causitive factors to try to understand HOW it works, and ways of using the effect.

[TimberWolf]

It is any good for swine flu?

[NotAllThere]

Works for me.... bit like a bottle of wine or a new handbag - doesn't necessarily make you feel better. You just think it does

Which is perfectly fine. So long as you don't try to treat cancer by buying a new handbag.

[minestrone]

That's a pretty dumb statement, often rolled out by practioners of woo, who don't understand the scientific method. Science takes the hypothesis: "acupuncture reduces pain", and then performs experiments to see whether the hypothesis is supported. The tests, and there have been many, show that it may be useful in treating pain. Possibly.

If they establish firmly that is really does work, then they'll look for causitive factors to try to understand HOW it works, and ways of using the effect.

There are whole branches of science that rely upon empirical formula, basically guess work because they cannot derive the proof from first principles. Fluid dynamics for one. Becasue we do not understand something does not mean that it should work as we expect it should.

[cailin maith]

Which is perfectly fine. So long as you don't try to treat cancer by buying a new handbag.

That wasn't what I was getting at!

[NotAllThere]

There are whole branches of science that rely upon empirical formula, basically guess work because they cannot derive the proof from first principles. Fluid dynamics for one. .

But the scientific trials have shown, empirically, that if acupuncture does work, the effect is slight.

Becasue we do not understand something does not mean that it should work as we expect it should

wft does that mean? Something like "Becasue we do not understand something does not mean that it should work as we expect it to be scientifically testable"?