CHICAGO IL - Fake acupuncture works nearly as well as the real thing for low back pain, and either kind performs much better than usual care, German researchers have found.
The theory of acupuncture holds that stimulating specific points on the body can release blocked qi, or vital energy.
Almost half the patients treated with acupuncture needles felt relief that lasted months. In contrast, only about a quarter of the patients receiving medications and other Western medical treatments felt better.
Even fake acupuncture worked better than conventional care, leading researchers to wonder whether pain relief came from the body's reactions to any thin needle pricks or, possibly, the placebo effect. Full Story - Alternative Medicine Magazine - True Cigarettes - Health Center for Better Living
The theory of acupuncture holds that stimulating specific points on the body can release blocked qi, or vital energy.
Almost half the patients treated with acupuncture needles felt relief that lasted months. In contrast, only about a quarter of the patients receiving medications and other Western medical treatments felt better.
Even fake acupuncture worked better than conventional care, leading researchers to wonder whether pain relief came from the body's reactions to any thin needle pricks or, possibly, the placebo effect. Full Story - Alternative Medicine Magazine - True Cigarettes - Health Center for Better Living
