Is acupuncture woo?

[SmallHope]

I really want to try something to help with my fertility and mental health.

I eat a very healthy diet, I practice a bit of yoga and mindfulness, I exercise a lot, and I've finished a 3-month course of CBT so I'm doing everything I possibly can but I'm still struggling with low mood and awful periods due to endometriosis.

I'm very unwoo, but has acupuncture helped anyone and is it worth a try?

Here's a link to a page with all the Cochrane reviews on acupuncture - acupuncture and fibromyalgia (sp?), acupuncture and fertility ...

www.cochrane.org/search/site/acupuncture

Mostly seems to support the woo school of thought, though I haven't read them all.

I did acupuncture for 1 out of two fresh cycles of IVF and 1 out of two frozen embryo transfers. It seems to have made no difference - neither the FETs worked and both of the fresh cycles worked! I found it unenjoyable and the costs and time involved stressed me out. I have concluded it's woo, except that it can come with a placebo effect for those open-minded to it and the thing about placebo effects is that they can actually have a real effect

“BertrandRussell
maybe it doesn't work for you, but it works for some of us ”

It doesn’t work for anyone. It’s been tested and it doesn’t work.

I don't think so, my mum tried it once and even though it did not cure her condition (she only tried it the one time), she felt a lot more energetic afterwards.

I've done Chinese medicine in the past and I would swear by it as it worked, so acupuncture to me is not a long way off..

BertrandRussell

well, clearly it does. So maybe more tests should be run then.

You can stubbornly keep repeating "it does not work" throughout the thread, you won't impress or convince anyone

I don't believe the NHS not paying for something (when they still do btw, but let's pretend) is any kind of argument when the NHS doesn't pay for a lot things anyway!

I went to two different Acupuncturists in fertility. The first time I was pregnant after the 2nd/3rd treatment. And the first treatment was just before the Acupuncturist went on holidays for a month so I really don't think it counts
The second time I was pregnant after the first treatment.
Could be a coincidence but I really don't think so

Some of the studies I linked to looked at over 3,000 patients. Acupuncture does not work.

Why don't we teach proper critical thinking in schools?? It's appalling how much these quacks make from ignorance.

You can stubbornly keep repeating "it does not work" throughout the thread, you won't impress or convince anyone grin
Maybe not but the ones she won't impress or convince are the ones that made up their minds and won't listen to the NHS, their doctors etc, but she might prevent some other people from wasting their money.

scaryteacher - how did it work on your cat? how did you know it had worked on the cat?

I’ve used it as one of an arry if things, including therapy, for my mental health. It really helps me as I have anxiety and often find I’m in overdrive with my thoughts and my adrenaline is pumping. The sessions sort of reset me in some way, which gives me an opportunity to remember to use my coping strategies from therapy (when I’m in anxiety over drive I don’t seem to be able to get to a place where I can use them effectively).

Also used for fertility. I did conceive DS when having acupuncture but there is no way of knowing if it helped. Feels nice though!

@TonTonMacoute it also worked for me following MC and subsequent issues I had due to missed retained products and infection as a result.

It helped regulate my cycle and left me feeling in a better place emotionally (I know this is likely a placebo, but it still worked). I had mine done by an ex-midwife who knew her stuff.

Acupuncture is funded for infertility treatment by most healthcare insurers in the States. I don't think they fund stuff for a laugh! But they recommend using it alongside other treatments - so doing acupuncture alongside traditional IVF improves pg rates. I think it's by around a third, but don't quote me on that.

My friend's dog had acupuncture for arthritis and it made a huge difference, which was what convinced me. Don't think dogs know about the placebo effect.

won't listen to the NHS, their doctors etc, but she might prevent some other people from wasting their money.

when even doctors recommend acupuncture to ease some issues, and even to cancer patients to get some kind of relief, it's a pretty shit thing to do.

When acupuncturist are officially affiliated to a GP surgery, there's a reason! And why some patients go to see them because they trust them.

randomasbreuse - I totally agree homeopathy is rubbish - I saw a homeopathy practitioner years ago for PMT and can't quite recall what else - for about a year. If I did feel less stressed or cured I don't think it was down to the homeopathy.

It's got Prince Charles fooled though...

Placebo works on babies and animals because it works on their parents and owners. It’s a fascinating subject!

This Guardian article helped me understand why it's so popular yet when it's really just quackery.

www.theguardian.com/science/2013/jul/26/acupuncture-sceptics-proof-effective-nhs

worth a read.

I hate seeing desparate people being duped. And saying that acupuncture works for infertility is duping desperate people.

What I enjoyed about acupuncture was someone pleasant taking the time to talk to me about how I was feeling, both physically and mentally, before she did the needle stuff. Probably worth paying just for the tlc.

@AnAC12UCOinanOCG
and @Zilla1

Actually, NICE guidelines on treatment for lower back pain and sciatica were updated in 2016; they now state that acupuncture should NOT be used - see 1.2.8

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG59/chapter/Recommendations#non-invasive-treatments-for-low-back-pain-and-sciatica

@Percypigparade I agree with you there.

Accupuncture works

for migraines
for period problems
for infertility
for pain
for so many things

for some people. But then again, modern medicine is hardly 100%, so you are not going to start rejecting all medical treatment that hasn't got a 100% success rate are you?

“But then again, modern medicine is hardly 100%, so you are not going to start rejecting all medical treatment that hasn't got a 100% success rate are you?“

Nope. Because it objectively works most of the time. Acupuncture objectively works at the same level as placebo all of the time.

Crickey, that list ostrichrunning! I’m amazed I got any treatment for sciatica, seems like they’re just telling the patient to suck it up. then again I went private for it through work healthcare which makes a difference I guess.

I’ve seen a range of people and i’d say it was 70/30 on those who used acupuncture / dry needling. It really helps me, periods when I don’t have it are worse than when I do.

If you compare the description of homeopathy and acupuncture by the NHS, you might notice that it's not as easy as stating "It doesn't work".