Reply to: Acupuncture - have you tried it ?

[TimberWolf]

Hmm, you can't say ***** on here.

[TimberWolf]

Maybe he was worried that if he'd said "would you like some muscular electroconvulsive therapy", and you said "no", he'd have to have you sectioned for the procedure, and couldn't be bothered with the paperwork.

Wouldn't you feel a bit of a p r i c k after asking for that?

[NotAllThere]

It is?

Oh well, I'll sit out of this one then ... so why did he call it acupuncture instead of "muscular electroconvulsive therapy"?

Maybe he was worried that if he'd said "would you like some muscular electroconvulsive therapy", and you said "no", he'd have to have you sectioned for the procedure, and couldn't be bothered with the paperwork.

[martch]

There is scientific evidence that sticking needles into the skin close to pain receptors does have some benefits, but that doesn't mean acupuncture works. Acupuncture contains all sorts of totally unprovable ideas about 'energy' - only if you believe in that stuff are you performing acupuncture.

[snaw]

That's not acupuncture, it is muscular electroconvulsive therapy.

It is?

Oh well, I'll sit out of this one then ... so why did he call it acupuncture instead of "muscular electroconvulsive therapy"?

[BrowneIssue]

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

It's a shame they cannot spell sceptic.

Only creationism hasn't killed as many people as homeopathy.

Yet. Just give those Merkin baptists some more time...

I don't remember any of that - the Dr shoved a few needles in me, attached an electric thingy and zapped me for 15 mins. Et voila.

That's not acupuncture, it is muscular electroconvulsive therapy.

[snaw]

I had physio treatment after a slipped disk in my neck. Great stuff. And I'll readily concede that sticking needles into muscles and the subsequent manipulation might work. It's all the crap about Chi and meridians that's just "woo".

I don't remember any of that - the Dr (It was a real medical one, not the other kind) shoved a few needles in me, attached an electric thingy and zapped me for 15 mins. Et voila.

[NotAllThere]

Hay I've never had a lizzard up my

Why are your eyes moving that way then?

[FSM with Cheddar]

Are you a Zeity sockpuppet?

Hay I've never had a lizzard up my

[NotAllThere]

Mark Chapter 16 vs 15 to 19 Linky

Thanks FSM with Cheddar. I've now converted to Christianity, thanks to your evangelistic technique.

( But lets not derail the discussion - it's people who think that their wierd and wacky beliefs are amenable to science who need the ridicule, not people who accept that it isn't ).

[NotAllThere]

...FWIW, I also use a sport masseuse who can release pressure in muscles just by holding them in the right place (it's really quite an amazing effect). I can see how that might be related to a similar release of pressure in acupuncture but again, no proof that acupuncture relieves pain.

I had physio treatment after a slipped disk in my neck. Great stuff. And I'll readily concede that sticking needles into muscles and the subsequent manipulation might work. It's all the crap about Chi and meridians that's just "woo".

[NotAllThere]

So what you are saying is that you will only believe something works when someone has proof derived from first principles?

No. Not at all. Why do you think I am saying that? Is English not your first language?

Let me spell it out. Scientific trials have provided empirical evidence that supports the hypothesis that acupuncture is effective in pain. However, the evidence isn't that strong. The trials so far haven't produced an uneqivocal "yes, it's effective". If you go for acupuncture - good luck to you. But don't try and say that it's great and it really works.

For homeopathy there is overwhelming evidence that it is no better than placebo. If you go for that, you are stupid, ignorant, gullible and credulous. Just like creationists. Only creationism hasn't killed as many people as homeopathy.

[TimberWolf]

Acupuncture works well on shin lumps. A bucket load of clear fluid sprays out and then you is cured. It may depend on the variety of lump you have though, mine came up following a hard knock. Size of an egg it was.

[Moscow Mule]

I've tried acupuncture in conjunction with a bit of massage from a wrinkly old chinese bloke to resolve a problem with my knee.

It worked ok, but I've no proof that the pain relief was caused by the acupuncture or by the muscle manipulation - I just know there was pain relief.

FWIW, I also use a sport masseuse who can release pressure in muscles just by holding them in the right place (it's really quite an amazing effect). I can see how that might be related to a similar release of pressure in acupuncture but again, no proof that acupuncture relieves pain.

[snaw]

Yeah I totally agree with you. The Flying Spaghetti Monster changes all scientific results to look the way he wants them to. He does this because it is funny.

Acupuncture doesn't work, however sometimes (around the same % as the placebo effect) he changes the results to make it look like it did work.

Science pah. Obey your noodly master.

Are you a Zeity sockpuppet?