does acupuncture really work?

And if you're really interested, there is a book called The Spark in the Machine by Dr Daniel Keown, a medical doctor who studied acupuncture too. It's readable and fascinating, full of anecdotes about how he used acupuncture to stop problems developing before Western medicine could get there, how effective he thinks it is and how he believes it works. It's available on Amazon and comes highly recommended.

Let me explain about trials, a trained acupuncturist does not put needles in at random, there are VERY specific places which are used depending on what is being treated and on the patient him or herself.
So in a double blind trial, they have people inserting needles at random so unless the patient has an understanding of acupuncture, they won't know the difference.
If you want to know more, acupuncture works on a theory of meridians or lines of what the Chinese call chi (energy) running through the body. There are 12 of them, they relate to the organs, to the physiology of the body and to the mental and emotional state of the patient, amongst other things.
It has now been scientifically validated that there are such pathways in the fascia, the web that wraps us up inside our skin, and that acupuncture points where needles are inserted are measurable points of lowered electrical resistance.
How do I know all this? Because I studied acupuncture for my anthropology undergraduate dissertation (in the 1990s) and was so impressed that I went on to study it at Masters level and to have acupuncture regularly myself.
Acupuncturists have always completed years of study and now complete a degree course in order to practice. They undertake regular CPD. Physiotherapists now sometimes take acupuncture courses but usually only for a few days so their depth of knowledge is much less. Just like conventional doctors, some will be better than others. What amazes me is how the Chinese knew what they did 2000 years ago.

Fingers crossed travelsafar!

Had my first session yesterday and as expected no real difference as yet. I am booked to return for another session so will give it a fair trial and see how things go.

I have finally got around to booking some treatment. Going in 2 weeks time i will let you know how i get on.

Acupuncture can help what is dysfunctional but cannot mend that which is broken.

I have used it a lot in my life but for somethings you need a lot of sittings. Migraine = 20 to 25 sessions.

travelsafar you don't say what other treatment you've had? I'm assuming you've tried all the usual routes - physio, traction etc. I had acupuncture on my ankle years ago and I'm sure it helped me.

I think you have to give it a go and see if it does anything for you!

travelsafar, I had forgotten that I used to have that 'crumpled sock' feeling as well as the sore hip. I have never had it again, since having the acupuncture and, as I said, my hip is hugely improved.

I suppose some acupuncturists must be more skilled than others. It would be good if you could get some info on the person who might treat you.

The people giving the treatments could be non-acupuncturists who have been specially trained for the trial, and told which points to use?

I found this article about needles being penetrating or non-penetrating. It seems that wasn't entirely a success.

dj I agree that it must be difficult to double blind trials for acupuncture, much easier with drug trials, but I have read that sham needles can be used where even the practitioner is unaware. Hard to believe that it can be totally unbiased, and I wish there was hard evidence for more complementary treatments because I think big pharma has too much power. Trouble is conventional medicine can save lives, and I am unaware of any complementary treatments that do. Of course conventional medicine can kill also!

But the double blind means you do nothing to one group.
A double blind also means the person who is doing it doesn't know if the person is getting the treatment or not.
It is possible with giving tablets, but not acupuncture, I wouldn't think.

"I do not understand how you can do double blind trials on a therapy which requires you to put needles in people's skin.
How can you have a control?"

You could put needles in at wrong places, intended to be ineffective, I'd think.
Unless the patient is an acupuncture expert, they won't know if it's right or wrong.

I had Chinese acupuncture for a frozen shoulder. It took quite a few sessions but it did work, of that I am convinced.

There are scientific studies that show acupuncture does work in relieving certain types of pain - there are studies comparing treatment with acupuncture and controlled group of patients who did not have acupuncture, for example. You can google it there are numerous examples. What science cannot explain is how acupuncture works, so it is often dismissed as “ it must be all in the mind”, well we don’t understand how the mind works either, so science doesn’t have all the answers.

giulia
I can second that.
I know for a fact that a racehorse who had colic was taken to Liverpool to have this surgery.
The horse was strapped (whilst standing) to a table top which was on it's side, then winched to the flat position where the animal had a breathing tube fitted to a kettle of steaming water (this is what I remember)
Acupuncture needles were then inserted into the legs at various points then an incision made along the belly. The horse was awake throughout the operation and, after the wound was closed, the breathing aid (to keep airway moist) was removed and the operating table winched to allow the horse to stand and walk away...which it did without any problem.

I've never experienced acupuncture but, after reading all the replies, I can reasonably assume that it works for some but not all.
I suppose that, like hypnosis, it depends on your mindset. I have never been susceptible to having suggestions implanted in my mind.

My DD2 had acupuncture for the first time this afternoon, hopefully it will help with her Osteoarthritis, I’ll keep you posted.

Stella14, I’m not certain I’m right. I’m simply commenting that it seems strange to insist something doesn’t work when lots of folk can tell you, from personal experience, that it does. I don’t say science is wrong, but I think it may not have found sufficient fact through scientific research and hence may assume it doesn’t work because it isn’t scientifically defensible - science is incomplete though, and continues to discover and learn more. I dare say that at some time on the future science will be able to explain acupuncture in it’s own terms. I’m not sure what I think about the so called placebo effect - seems to suggest that we can improve our health simply by some sort of auto suggestion or self hypnosis. Sounds much better, cheaper and safer than taking drugs or having surgery. So why don’t we harness it as a therapy?

It worked for me when I had chronic pain in my forearms. A lot depends on the person who administers it.

I swear by acupuncture for a various conditions from physical pain to sleeplessness and anxiety. My acupuncturist helped me through the worst effects of PTSD.

I have seen my DD go in to her practitioner ( also a GP) with severe allergy symptoms and leave perfectly well, sore eyes and sneezes gone.

Definitely worked for me, and I'm a complete sceptic. Ruptured disc with resulting sciatica and nerve damage. Acupuncture relieved the pain and stopped spasms which let my disc repair. The alternative was major surgery.

Lazigirl, I know there have been reports on blind trials, but I do not understand how you can do double blind trials on a therapy which requires you to put needles in people's skin.
How can you have a control?

Funding into research for alternative therapies is a drop in the ocean compared to the billions squandered by big Pharma so I’d take anything western medical experts say with a huge pinch of salt.
Eastern medicine is fascinating and thankfully, a few western GP practitioners aren’t so blinkered.

There is no way that it was a placebo for me. Over the years I had 3 injections for my tennis elbow. All three worked for a short time only. I self referred for physiotherapy and after many sessions,with no improvement, acupuncture was suggested. The basic acupuncture brought a 75 % improvement, but then I had something called pecking. Painful but worked fantastically, and almost 3 years on my elbow is still 99% better.

Travelsafar Having spent money on acupuncture for what I was informed was sciatica and had not obtained any relief I went to my doctor. He arranged an exray A hip replacement was needed I was told and eventually carried out That would be the first time I had a full nights sleep.