Is acupuncture pseudoscience?
Acupuncture is an essential part of traditional Chinese medicine, its usually used as an alternative treatment in the international medical field. Long, thin spines are put in the surface of skin on specific points to make the Qi flow free. It is organized to be a diagnosis and treatment in The Yellow Emperor 's Classic of Internal Medicine from 100 BC. In the twentieth century, it began to spread in European and gradually used by patients when western medical treatments do not work. Some people believe that the acupuncture is effective for curing pain. According to balanced yin yang and promoted blood recycling. However, some other people have a different argument that acupuncture is
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It is due to that there is not enough evidence to confirm it due to most acupuncture plays the placebo effect in treatment. Mental power also plays an irreplaceable role in the results, since people are appealing to believe that the existence of acupoints, Qi and meridian. Now, whether acupuncture is pseudoscience or not has become a debatable argument.
People believe that acupuncture plays an irreplaceable role in alternatives. James Reston, a famous reporter from New York, travelled to china and got his appendix removed in China. He felt uncomfortable after the surgery (Ingraham 2016). The doctor encouraged acupuncture and it turned out his discomfort relived tremendously. it’s the start for the popularity of acupuncture in America. Around 26% of retired soldiers suffer from chronic pain, and it costs 560 billion for taxers’ money. In order to relief pain and decrease money cost,
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Besides, the soldiers might fall into the fallacy of “appeal to tradition” since they believe that acupuncture have ancient origin and it is even older than Morden science itself even if the “Qi” has never been detected or measured ever in experiments. What’s more, it 's impossible to do a real double-blind test on acupuncture even if it were shown to be having a direct physical effect causing the relief of the pain. Therefore, it will always be pseudoscientific to claim that acupuncture works unless the points of “Yin” and “Yang” can be identified, which is possible and never will be possible. The use of personal anecdotes also contributes to the promoting of acupuncture, as an alternative medicine, since it so powerful that individuals tend to believe those first-hand experience and emotional stories true even if those individuals
The results of these actions can be relieved pain. “A National Institutes of Health trial has found that acupuncture decreases pain associated with osteoarthritis of the knee, when combined with standard medical treatment” (“Acupuncture”). While these results show that some of the pain can be relieved, other studies reveal that the received advantages are nearly nonexistent. Disease therefore cannot be cured. “The benefits of acupuncture are likely nonexistent, or at best are too small to be of any clinical significance.” ( “Why acupuncture is giving sceptists the needle”, David Debyshire) This is a statement made by pharmacologist David Colquhoun and neurologist Steven
Auricular acupuncture has a variety of uses, some with more documented success than others. Auricular acupuncture is an alternative medicine with some documented success in treating anxiety, insomnia, smoking, drug addictions and obesity. Not all studies have generated conclusive positive results and more research is needed to accurately evaluate the efficacy of the procedure in treating multiple ailments. Acupuncture is an ancient medicinal practice that originated in China. The name comes from the Latin acus, or “needle”, and from pungere, or “prick,” and involves the insertion of superfine needles into specific points on the body. Once inserted, the needles can be manipulated to stimulate the body for healing effects. Auricular acupuncture is acupuncture performed on the ear. The treatment of auricular acupuncture is preformed on the ear using stimulators such as different types of needles, staple-punctures, probes, magnetic beads, fingers, or harmless electrical impulses. The most common is method is inserting needles. For auricular acupuncture, there are different type of needles that can be used such as a regular half or whole inch needle, press needles, and interdermal needles. Press and interdermal needles are pressed into an acupuncture point and tape is used to keep them in place, as well as give constant stimulation. The ear is thought to contain an innumerable amount of important and potentially therapeutic acupuncture points. This is why it is believed that by using these types of stimulators on acupuncture points in the ear, problems and/or dysfunctions will be revealed throughout the body. (Suen 135)
Acupuncture is believed to be highly effective. In a nation-wide survey of acupuncture users, conducted by Dr. Claire M. Cassidy, 91.5% reported "disappearance" or "improvement" of symptoms after their treatment, 84% see their MDs less often, 79% use fewer prescription drugs, and 70% were able to avoid previously recommended surgery (http://www.acupuncture.com/Acup/AcuStats.htm). Said one man from San Francisco:
Alternative medicine could attractiveness to metaphysical beliefs so will the medical care however on milder and additional scientifically primarily based approach. nonetheless the information applied in medical care still cannot hide the actual fact that it tends to take hold non-scientific
Public Health Reports (Interagency Team at NIMH and NIDA Studies How Acupuncture Works.) (1974-) , Vol. 95, No. 5 (Sep. - Oct., 1980), pp. 503-504
It gives an equivalent effect of tranquilizers in cases of insomnia, depression, worry, and nervous disorders, and its action is swift and lasting. Studies analyze that acupuncture manipulates the production of and distribution of a great many neurotransmitters and neuromodulators and that in turn, alters the perception of pain. Most patients of acupuncture will need several sessions, may be once a week. Patients feel the effect within 2-3 sessions. If the condition is acute, it is typically resolved within 4 to 8 sessions; otherwise, if the condition is chronic, it may take longer. While acupuncture certainly isn't a cure-all therapy, but gathering evidence suggests that it can be beneficial to a degree. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes acupuncture treatments for a wide range of medical problems. A study, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, finds that a 7-week course of acupuncture helped many patients to ease chronic lower back pain. For lower back pain, the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society, in a joint statement, recommended acupuncture as one nondrug option when standard treatments don't
Mendelson G, Selwood TS, Kranz H, Loh TS, Kidson MA, Scott Ds. (1983). Acupuncture treatment of chronic back pain. A double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Medicine, 741), 49-55.
Marwick, Charles. "Acceptance of Some Acupuncture Applications." The Journal of American Medical Association 3 Dec. (1997): 1725-1727.
Acupuncture originated in China and it has been practice for more than 2000 years now. This modality is considered the main treatment within the traditional Chinese medicine. Its main concept is the conviction that the body possesses hidden channels identified as meridians. These channels allows for the flow of energy which is considered a vital life force through all the body. Acupuncture modality believes that when this energy becomes obstructed or imbalanced, sickness and symptoms can build up. It is only when this energy becomes unblocked by stimulating focal points in the meridians that health can be achieved again (Cherry & Jacob, 2010).
Medicine plays an eminent role in healing and treating illnesses and dates back to ancient times where people would use herbs, oils, massage, and other natural means to heal their sicknesses. Medicine has evolved and pills, vaccines, and conventional forms of cancer treatment, are common within the medical industry. Now, the medical industry relies heavily on pharmaceutical drugs to treat their patients’ illnesses and diseases, but many of the drugs cause a great number of side effects and can even do more harm than good. This has sparked my interest in finding ways to cure illnesses with an alternative to conventional medicine without the harmful side effects. Realizing I am in my late teens, and I am free to change my mind, the professional
Reid: Inside Ayurvedic Medicine”, it describes the experience of a veteran journal reporter and his trip to India in order to seek an alternative approach in his chronic condition that was occurring in his shoulder (Second opinion, 2008). Reid did a variety of tasks while traveling to India, such as a book project on the way other countries provided health care, but also as a patient to be treated for his shoulder condition. Originally, Reid received an opinion from his primary provider for treatment in his shoulder, and it was suggested that he should receive a shoulder replacement, which was considered an invasive procedure. After his discussion with his physician, he realized that he wanted to try an approach that did not involve surgery that was well researched about and was consistent in the world of medicine. He decided to then travel to India for this curiosity and skepticism that he had (Second opinion, 2008).
Acupuncture doesn’t allow people to get ahead of themselves like Victor did; the way of thinking brought about is that of a natural sense. The techniques of the alternative medicine allow people to remember how magnificent and sacred the human body is and realize that it cannot be created through lab work or perfected through medicine. With Western medicine, patients can take up to four or five medications before finding one that suits their needs and most can have many life threatening side effects. With acupuncture, it is one procedure and one attempt to heal a patient with NO major side effects. Acupuncture is a unique ancient art that is backed by thousands of years of Chinese thought and research and has been proven affective for many people and their illnesses.
Of all the controversies over medicine, alternative medicine is one of the biggest. Some say alternative medicine is not medicine at all because it hasn’t been scientifically proven or it is not part of the conventional teachings. Why are so many people seeking alternative medicines? Alternative treatments are not being recognized or considered enough for children with serious medical conditions. There are many different types of alternative medicine. Acupuncture, herbal supplements, medical marijuana, manipulative therapy, reflexology, and yoga are a few different types of alternative medicines. There are several reasons why the conventional medical community is often dismissive of alternatives. There has been little scientific research into such medicine, so there is very little evidence to support the claims of their supporters.
Homeopathy is a type of alternative medicine. The beneficial effects of homeopathic medicines are controversial (1). Homeopathic medicines are based on the premise that like is cured by like. This premise states that a disease can be treated with a substance that causes the same signs and symptoms in a healthy individual.
Herbal products are medicinal agents obtained from the plants. It’s all started 100 years ago by ancient people. Since synthetic medicine are not yet invented by that time, ancient people had invented medicine out of the plants. Through generations the original herbal medicine had been modified due to the new knowledge discovered and technologies invented.