to consider acupuncture- woo or valuable?

[Edenspirits]

I am considering acupuncture to help with my perimenopause symptoms and was wondering about peoples experiences of it.

I have a friend who credits acupuncture with curing her infertility so I have heard some strong opinions of it. And another that says it prevented her from taking HRT.

Aibu to ask for your experiences as balance- good and bad!

Acupuncture is helpful. It’s used on the NHS. It’s not woo. However, the cure doesn’t last and you would need to keep up appointments about once or twice a month to maintain the improvements.

I was super sceptical about acupuncture. I had a spinal injury and was offered it at the NHS pain clinic.
Honest to god I nearly declared the nurse a witch when I felt the result! When she put the needles in I felt a warm sensation rising up my body and it helped the pain.

I’ve just started on HRT (43 with perimenopausal shite) and it’s helped me immensely. You could try both?

Proven to work for some ailments.
It's worth giving it a go.

The evidence for temporary pain relief and particularly helping back problems is fairly strong, but otherwise there isn't conclusive evidence it works for other conditions, although you will hear many anecdotes.

I’m a big fan.

Have had it a few times for various ailments.

Hayfever - worked very well.
Bad PMS - worked really well. I was out of control at times and after some sessions of acupuncture I was much calmer and the PMS was hugely reduced.
Hayfever again but in another country so different therapist - less effective.
Pain relief - I went to a chiropractor who uses acupuncture for pain and found it very good.

Also took DS for acupuncture for recurrent migraines. Seemed to help in that he stopped being sick with them but they still happened.

I think it is definitely worth trying.

Acupuncture has worked for me for some stress-related conditions, but as PP said you need to have it regularly and it gets expensive.

But nothing has changed my life as much as HRT! Why don't you want to take it OP? There is a lot of misinformation about health risks etc.

And a very helpful menopause board on here.

I went after years of suffering with Moreton's Neuroma in my feet and having cortisone injections between my toes at the hospital which made little difference. My acupuncturist had never heard of it but he did some research and I had about 5 treatments. I returned to the hospital as I had an appointment booked for ultrasound and injections in the middle of the treatment. The ultrasound showed that it had completely dissapeared. After more than 10 years of numb and painful feet so bad that I could not walk for more than 500 metres without my toes and ball of foot going numb, I am now pain free and no sign of it returning. I was gobsmacked by it- I really did not expect it to not only treat the symptoms but get rid of the nodules that were growing around the nerve- but it did.

So, not woo at all in my opinion. However, do your research, go to someone who knows what they are doing, mine was an ex PdD research physicist who had trained for many years in China and Taiwan and qualified here in the UK and in China. I would not go to a newly trained person unless they were under strict supervision.

The reason that I mention his being a physicist was the security of knowing that he was also a scientist .

He also treated my dislocated shoulder which the hospital told me could leave me unable to swim for up to two years. I was back in the pool in the fast lane swimming freestyle in 6 months. He used electrostim on my shoulder, it was weird but it worked.

He also uses Tuina (pronounced tweenar) a Chinese acupressure massage which is a bit hard on the body but it really feels like you are being treated. I honestly put my recovery of both ailments down to the treatment by acupuncture. I am a scientist and very sceptical of anything woo.

Yes, it is indeed witchcraft. It's the only thing that helps my migraines, after a course of acupuncture they are so less frequent and severe.

I have horrible sciatica sometimes and have found acupuncture is absolutely amazing at releasing spasming muscles.

I also had it while going through IVF - I don't know if it helped, but it certainly helped me deal with the emotional rollercoaster so I'm also considering it for perimenopause.

Not woo, some physiotherapists offer it.

I had it along side physio for a bad knee injury. The acupuncture really reduced the swelling behind my kneecap , allowing me to actually sleep 😅😅 I thought it was bs at first as well but it really saved me from going insane from pain

I think recent studies had largely discredited it. No harm in it though.

It's one of those things that's very hot and miss. Some will swear by it and others will say it's nonsense.

As it's something that's harmless and with no side effects, then why not give it a try? If it works happy days, if it doesn't then all you've lost is a few £'s for the experience.

Hit and miss*

It's wonderful. Energy points aren't woo. It's physiology.

Had it after whiplash injury to cure headaches. It was amazing.

I once pulled my neck so badly that I was unable to walk without swearing my head off - happened at work so paramedics we called and was taken to a&e. I was given a mother load of painkillers but nothing touched the sides. Managed to get an acupuncture appointment a few days later and he did something with Moxa and honestly it was like a miracle - all the pain went. I’ve also heard of moxa being used to successfully turn breach babies into the correct position!

The NICE guidelines recommend acupuncture for tension headaches and there is proven and accept research it helps to have it on day of IVF embroy transfer.

I had acupuncture for hemiplegic migraines, essential tremor, chronical back pain. Made no difference for me unfortunately, it's interesting though and I'd definitely get it done again.

It's a legitimate treatment for certain things. However like anything you need to use a properly qualified person and ensure the treatment is right for you.

I had acupuncture to help keep my body temperature up when I was in the early stages of my last pregnancy- I don’t know if it was that that worked as I was having other treatment too! But what it did do as a side effect was give me a few days’ pain-free asI had SJD.

Have recently had it for an msk issue and it brings temporary relief.

I think it's one of those placebo wins. I don't mean that dismissively but it's effectiveness is rooted in how your brain responds to pain, sensation and stimulus. It hasn't been effective for my hayfever symptoms but has given me relief from knee pain temporarily.

I had it from an nhs physio for back pain from very mild scoliosis resulting in muscle spasms. Did nothing for me.

Private sports physio sorted me right out though, with 10 sessions and lots of home stretches and strengthening work.

I had acupuncture for infertility as the practitioner felt my core body temp was too low. It didn't help with the fertility as I went on to have IUI and IVF but I did feel warmer (always cold) for about 6 months afterwards. I definitely feel it has its place and I would try it again.

GP gave me acupunture for severe back pain it was brilliant, but GP warned me the effect wouldn;t last forever, however the respite after weeks of chronic pain was brilliant.
I would suggest HRT for menopause symptons, life changing for me!