Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Ojuice5001 · 02-23-2002, 04:16 PM

Has the medical profession dismissed acupuncture too quickly? It's a strange idea, but a lot of people in history have claimed to have been healed by it. It might well be a good option.

tronvillain · 02-23-2002, 05:07 PM

Well, it may release endorphins or possibly even affect the brain, but like a lot of chiropractic, it appears to have delusions of grandeur.

Jeremy Pallant · 02-23-2002, 06:08 PM

I have to disagree with your assessment of chiropracty. After conventional medicine failed to do anything for my Father's sciatica, a chiropractor was able to cure it, and I mean it took a man who was bedridden because of the pain, which was tremendous, and returned him to a degree of health superior to before the onset of the sciatica.

alek0 · 02-23-2002, 09:26 PM

Whether acupuncture is viewed as scientific or not depends where you are. Our Univ. has a chinese medicine research center, and in mainland chinese medicine is fully covered by health insurance. I am guilty as charged in trying some of chinese herbal preparation for my health problems (endometriosis), and it helped a lot.
I'm now pain free (mostly unless I lapse to my evil old ways of unreasonable caffeine consumption), while before my doctor insisted that hysterectomy is my only option.

So I don't like the idea of dismissing alternative medicine as unscientific, useless, or just placebo effect. Sure, there are plenty of quacks out there which propose quite ridicilous "treatments", but on the other hand, conventional medical research often does not satisfy strict criteria for good scientific research. Not to mention that some harmful practices, such as episiotomy, persist even decades after they have been shown to be harmful.

I would also like to add smth. about acupuncture.
Some researchers at our Univ. are investigating acupuncture of the tongue. Wouldn't you recommend this wonderful treatment to any religious fundamentalists you know?

tronvillain · 02-23-2002, 11:43 PM

Hey, did I condemn all of chiropractic? No, I did not. Still, have a look at <a href="http://www.chirobase.org/" target="_blank">Chirobase</a>.

[ February 24, 2002: Message edited by: tronvillain ]</p>

Francois Tremblay · 02-24-2002, 03:44 AM

Chiropratic is a scam, much like acupuncture, with the only difference that acupuncture may have some benefits. It is much like theism, pursuing non-existing ethereal entities (in this case, subluxations) purely on belief.

tronvillain · 02-24-2002, 03:28 PM

I'm not sure you should paint all chiropractors with the same brush - they are not all pursuing "subluxations."

Francois Tremblay · 02-24-2002, 03:52 PM

Those who don't, what distinguishes them from other doctors then ? I thought subluxations were pretty much the distinctive sign of chiropractors.

Viti · 02-24-2002, 10:31 PM

Chiropractic has kept me from two surgeries, one to fix TMJ (involves breaking the jaw) and having surgery on my spine (I have an inverted vertabrae due to a chilhood trampoline incident).

The other day I sprained my neck (turned over funny in bed, heard a crack, and suddenly couldn't move my head)...in a weird coincidence my assistant sprained her neck the same day. I went to a chiropractor, she went to ER. I was back at work the next day with only a little residual soreness, she was in bed for 3 days looped on painkillers and muscle relaxers.

My SIL was referred to an acupuncturist after a car accident...as a complimentary treatment, not an alternative. It helped with her pain.

Francois Tremblay · 02-24-2002, 10:43 PM

Wow, anecdotal evidence ! I sure am convinced now !
(note the sarcastic tone)

02-23-2002, 04:16 PM	#1
Ojuice5001 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: A city in Florida that I love Posts: 3,416	Acupuncture Has the medical profession dismissed acupuncture too quickly? It's a strange idea, but a lot of people in history have claimed to have been healed by it. It might well be a good option.

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02-23-2002, 05:07 PM	#2
tronvillain Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 5,658	Well, it may release endorphins or possibly even affect the brain, but like a lot of chiropractic, it appears to have delusions of grandeur.

02-23-2002, 06:08 PM	#3
Jeremy Pallant Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA Posts: 1,242	I have to disagree with your assessment of chiropracty. After conventional medicine failed to do anything for my Father's sciatica, a chiropractor was able to cure it, and I mean it took a man who was bedridden because of the pain, which was tremendous, and returned him to a degree of health superior to before the onset of the sciatica.

02-23-2002, 09:26 PM	#4
alek0 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 640	Whether acupuncture is viewed as scientific or not depends where you are. Our Univ. has a chinese medicine research center, and in mainland chinese medicine is fully covered by health insurance. I am guilty as charged in trying some of chinese herbal preparation for my health problems (endometriosis), and it helped a lot. I'm now pain free (mostly unless I lapse to my evil old ways of unreasonable caffeine consumption), while before my doctor insisted that hysterectomy is my only option. So I don't like the idea of dismissing alternative medicine as unscientific, useless, or just placebo effect. Sure, there are plenty of quacks out there which propose quite ridicilous "treatments", but on the other hand, conventional medical research often does not satisfy strict criteria for good scientific research. Not to mention that some harmful practices, such as episiotomy, persist even decades after they have been shown to be harmful. I would also like to add smth. about acupuncture. Some researchers at our Univ. are investigating acupuncture of the tongue. Wouldn't you recommend this wonderful treatment to any religious fundamentalists you know?

02-23-2002, 11:43 PM	#5
tronvillain Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 5,658	Hey, did I condemn all of chiropractic? No, I did not. Still, have a look at <a href="http://www.chirobase.org/" target="_blank">Chirobase</a>. [ February 24, 2002: Message edited by: tronvillain ]</p>

02-24-2002, 03:44 AM	#6
Francois Tremblay Banned Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Montreal, QC Canada Posts: 876	Chiropratic is a scam, much like acupuncture, with the only difference that acupuncture may have some benefits. It is much like theism, pursuing non-existing ethereal entities (in this case, subluxations) purely on belief.

02-24-2002, 03:28 PM	#7
tronvillain Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 5,658	I'm not sure you should paint all chiropractors with the same brush - they are not all pursuing "subluxations."

02-24-2002, 03:52 PM	#8
Francois Tremblay Banned Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Montreal, QC Canada Posts: 876	Those who don't, what distinguishes them from other doctors then ? I thought subluxations were pretty much the distinctive sign of chiropractors.

02-24-2002, 10:31 PM	#9
Viti Contributor Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Down South Posts: 12,879	Chiropractic has kept me from two surgeries, one to fix TMJ (involves breaking the jaw) and having surgery on my spine (I have an inverted vertabrae due to a chilhood trampoline incident). The other day I sprained my neck (turned over funny in bed, heard a crack, and suddenly couldn't move my head)...in a weird coincidence my assistant sprained her neck the same day. I went to a chiropractor, she went to ER. I was back at work the next day with only a little residual soreness, she was in bed for 3 days looped on painkillers and muscle relaxers. My SIL was referred to an acupuncturist after a car accident...as a complimentary treatment, not an alternative. It helped with her pain.

02-24-2002, 10:43 PM	#10
Francois Tremblay Banned Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Montreal, QC Canada Posts: 876	Wow, anecdotal evidence ! I sure am convinced now ! (note the sarcastic tone)

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