Comments on: Pulse debate on acupuncture – Part II http://northerndoctor.com/2009/06/30/pulse-debate-on-acupuncture-part-ii/ "Science is the great antidote to the poison of enthusiasm and superstition" Adam Smith. A blog from a British doctor. Mon, 06 Sep 2010 14:32:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: northerndoctor http://northerndoctor.com/2009/06/30/pulse-debate-on-acupuncture-part-ii/#comment-906 northerndoctor Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:27:23 +0000 http://northerndoctor.com/?p=1175#comment-906 It's gone! Do you have a cached copy at all? I wonder why it has disappeared - I'm now officially intrigued. I'd like the chance to write a piece for The Times but failing that if they all allow comments it could be a Neal's Yard opportunity... Edit: No conspiracy theory - has magically reappeared again. It’s gone! Do you have a cached copy at all? I wonder why it has disappeared – I’m now officially intrigued. I’d like the chance to write a piece for The Times but failing that if they all allow comments it could be a Neal’s Yard opportunity…

Edit: No conspiracy theory – has magically reappeared again.

]]> By: draust http://northerndoctor.com/2009/06/30/pulse-debate-on-acupuncture-part-ii/#comment-905 draust Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:36:26 +0000 http://northerndoctor.com/?p=1175#comment-905 Euan, there is a <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/alternative_medicine/article6623351.ece" rel="nofollow">rather limp article</a> about acupuncture over at the <i>Times</i>, with Dr Mike Cummings (somewhat predictably) puffing needling. Euan, there is a rather limp article about acupuncture over at the Times, with Dr Mike Cummings (somewhat predictably) puffing needling.

]]> By: Ruth Seeley http://northerndoctor.com/2009/06/30/pulse-debate-on-acupuncture-part-ii/#comment-904 Ruth Seeley Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:24:22 +0000 http://northerndoctor.com/?p=1175#comment-904 Acupuncture definitely does *something* though. Treatments to help quit smoking and for Achilles tendonosis induce a marvellous and long-lasting (several hours) hypnagogic state in me - but oddly, only when the acupuncture is performed by people who've learned how to do it in China. It seems to have the same effect as a relaxing massage while being cheaper and faster than massage. The other strange thing is that it works most dramatically on the relaxation front if you only go once every three months or so. So it would be nice if we could figure out what the benefits of acupuncture really are and how it really works. Acupuncture definitely does *something* though. Treatments to help quit smoking and for Achilles tendonosis induce a marvellous and long-lasting (several hours) hypnagogic state in me – but oddly, only when the acupuncture is performed by people who’ve learned how to do it in China. It seems to have the same effect as a relaxing massage while being cheaper and faster than massage. The other strange thing is that it works most dramatically on the relaxation front if you only go once every three months or so. So it would be nice if we could figure out what the benefits of acupuncture really are and how it really works.

]]> By: damien bodnarchuk http://northerndoctor.com/2009/06/30/pulse-debate-on-acupuncture-part-ii/#comment-903 damien bodnarchuk Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:33:52 +0000 http://northerndoctor.com/?p=1175#comment-903 These questions definitely do have to be asked! It is difficult to do scientific trials with Chinese Medicine. However there are some definite results from trials and there are good patient results from IVF acupuncture as an example. There is something happening and possibly beyond placebo! TCM has been "scientised" since the 1940s communist government. Whether it is a science I am not sure, as in the modern interpretation of that word; however TCM is a response to observation and experimentation of the physical and natural world and there is no denying that. Even when you reflect on the Chinese "semi-divine" classics from a few centuries back there are issues too. The classics are the next stop in the line of defense in TCM! They can be obscure in language and ideas and can contradict each other as well. So I guess the point I'm trying to make is that there should be clear answers and I want to know them too. I have personally felt benefits from TCM and the other point is the general public are seeking it out. There seems to be a loss of faith in Western medicine and there are definitely issues with Eastern medicine. Ideally the energetic theory behind TCM should be proved, witnessed and documented. At the moment the only way I can think of that being possible would be through new way in thinking. Some Einstein has to come along and say this is possible like this and here's the logic and here's my new test and go check it out! However in both Western medicine and Eastern medicine we still have to have trust and hope in the practitioner’s ability and with what can be achieved… These questions definitely do have to be asked! It is difficult to do scientific trials with Chinese Medicine. However there are some definite results from trials and there are good patient results from IVF acupuncture as an example. There is something happening and possibly beyond placebo! TCM has been “scientised” since the 1940s communist government. Whether it is a science I am not sure, as in the modern interpretation of that word; however TCM is a response to observation and experimentation of the physical and natural world and there is no denying that. Even when you reflect on the Chinese “semi-divine” classics from a few centuries back there are issues too. The classics are the next stop in the line of defense in TCM! They can be obscure in language and ideas and can contradict each other as well. So I guess the point I’m trying to make is that there should be clear answers and I want to know them too. I have personally felt benefits from TCM and the other point is the general public are seeking it out. There seems to be a loss of faith in Western medicine and there are definitely issues with Eastern medicine. Ideally the energetic theory behind TCM should be proved, witnessed and documented. At the moment the only way I can think of that being possible would be through new way in thinking. Some Einstein has to come along and say this is possible like this and here’s the logic and here’s my new test and go check it out!
However in both Western medicine and Eastern medicine we still have to have trust and hope in the practitioner’s ability and with what can be achieved…

]]>