To think acupuncture is pointless?

[beastlyslumber]

It pains me to say I've been acupunctured today and lying there on the table with pins in my face for 20 minutes (then parting with 50 quid) all I could think was, god I am a gullible fool.

I'm not trying to needle anyone but really, what is the point?

If it’s pointless the needles will not go in.
(I’ll get my coat)

It's woo. But at least you won't get fleeced again :)

It seems to work for some people... but yes expensive for something that might not help!

@Twickerhun

If it’s pointless the needles will not go in. (I’ll get my coat)

YABU

It's not woo. Its one of the few "alternative" treatments that has a lot of studies and research behind it that prove it works.

Most physiotherapists now use it for pain management to good effect. Some midwives are now using to help bring on labour.

I’ve had Bowen before which I can only explain as acupuncture without the needles. Totally woo, I even laughed at the practitioner. OMG!!! Best money I ever parted with, I had incredible (expensive) results.

It isn't woo at all. It's pure ignorance to suggest that it is.

I have acupuncture to help with PCOS and it really does help. I’ve not had the needles only in my face though and find that odd. My DS used to suffer with migraine really badly (twice a week have to lie in a dark room for several hours in lots of pain) the acupuncture really helped, he now only has the occasional migraine.

I had it for hayfever at a cost of £15 and it's 90% better 2 months later. Pretty good result really.

Nice puns, OP. And @Twickerhun

I've studied Chinese Medicine and it's far from pointless. The thing that worries me is that because it's unregulated, people who don't know what they're doing will dilute the overall effectiveness of treatments en masse. Make sure your practitioner is properly qualified.

Another thing to note is that it's not (always) like taking an Aspirin. If you've had an issue building up for years, it can take a few sessions before you notice any difference. This means a lot of people leave after one or two sessions, saying 'Didn't make any difference!'

It's a dear do having a session a week for the first few weeks, and especially if you're not sure you've got a decent practitioner.

I think if it's not working you're probably not seeing a very good acupuncturist. I saw one that was awful - it hurt, didn't really have any benefit and cost a fortune. The second one has cured my migraines completely - she's much more gentle and intuitive.

No it can work. I had a course in my shoulder and neck area because I used to get awful pain there. Exercises didn't help as the muscles were so tight. The acupuncture course did something to release that tension and I now very rarely get pain there and when I do it isn't anywhere near as bad.
Give it time though it won't be an instant fix on the first go b

Acupuncture cleared my baby’s tissue after a missed miscarriage. Due to the composition of what was in my womb, the consultant thought it would take a few months. I was at serious risk of harming myself having to carry that around.

Acupuncture sorted it in days.

I thought it was woo- proven wrong.

It is the only thing that ever worked for my intense back pain. You're entitled to think what you want, but it isn't pointless for everyone.

Not woo, either.

I found it the most relaxing and de-stressing experience. Like hitting the restart button on a computer. If I could go every week I would. And I’m not someone who’s generally into alternative therapies.

I suffer from the odd excruciating migraines. I've found absolutely nothing could shift them other than going to bed and getting up the next morning.

Whilst in Japan a friend convinced me to get acupuncture. I thought it seemed woo but its really popular there and I figured I had nothing to lose. Whilst enduring a bad migraine I got a needle put into each thumb and the relief was instant - migraine totally gone! Since then I've fully believed in it, however you do need to be careful with regards to practitioners "qualifications".

@Seashor

I’ve had Bowen before which I can only explain as acupuncture without the needles. Totally woo, I even laughed at the practitioner. OMG!!! Best money I ever parted with, I had incredible (expensive) results.

Shiatsu is acupuncture without needles. It's the bodywork equivalent. They're both based in the same theory, and manipulate the same channel/points system in the body, which correlates to psychological and emotional structures.

Bowen is something else altogether. Glad it did the trick for you, though

I thought that too, until it worked for me!

The practitioner is definitely qualified and she was very nice but it was a bit weird. When I asked her if she'd seen good results with other patients with my condition she didn't really have anything to say. She just told me that I had too much yang and had to balance it with some ying.

Thanks for noticing my puns @TheFoundations . You are sharp

*yin

I wonder how they found out little needles helped things. Someone fell on a hedgehog?

I’ve had it on the nhs. Not nearly as good as in proper Chinese-medicine establishments.

I love it and have sometimes found it to be effective. Could easily be placebo, but who cares if it works!

Thanks for noticing my puns @TheFoundations . You are sharp

Hahahaaaaa! It's so bad, it's good!

@Peppallama

I wonder how they found out little needles helped things. Someone fell on a hedgehog?

At least she didn't come at me with a hedgehog! I would have felt a right prick!

What did you get it for?

My uncle got it to heal long term pain from a sprained tendon and it worked for him. I got it for joint pain and to regulate my cycle with PCOS and it worked for both of those.

It's not made up.