Is acupuncture woo? (For PMDD)

[Trenched]

I'm looking into having acupuncture but research I'm seeing says any benefits are purely placebo - what's your experience?

I'm desperate to treat my issues (PMDD, mainly) holistically if I can. Medication from GP did not work unfortunately.

I've already made as many lifestyle improvements as I can (healthy weight, no caffeine or booze, exercise every day, healthy diet etc).

PMDD nearly killed me last month.

My husband receives acupuncture for his cancer pain. The doctor is marvellous and gets exactly the right spot every time. You can tell if the needle hits the right spot as it won't immediately release and the skin "clings" on to it. Find one that has good recommendations.

Thank you for your reply.

I do hope your husband is okay 💐

Yes it is. You are right the research shows this.

However, it is very relaxing and calming. And intrusive placebos like this ( inserting something) are more effective than non-intrusive.

I had a friend with an anxiety disorder who regularly had acupuncture as it made her feel calmer for considerable time afterwards. She spoke openly that she knew she was placeboing herself, but she didn’t care as the effect was the same.

You have nothing to lose by trying it, though i’m imaging you’d have to pay each month, if you can afford it.

( ps, I had to look up what PMDD is, you might want to edit post to explain to get more responses).

Woo clinically, but many benefit from placebo effect

I damaged my knee years ago and acupuncture really helped in the recovery. My gp reccomended it to me as well .

Yes, the placebo effect is actually a real effect. If it works it’s great as it has no side effects : )

I'm curious as to how it works if you already know it to be a placebo?

My knowledge of placebo is that you believe what you're doing/taking is beneficial?

I had Plantar Fasciitis in both feet for three years. I tried everything - specialists, custom orthotics etc. I saw many doctors and absolutely nothing worked. I could only wear sneakers and I was in so much pain, I was desperate. I've never believed in alternative medicine, but I was so desperate, I tried acupuncture. After just one session, I could put my feet on the ground without any pain at all. I had four more sessions and I've been free of pain ever since, the tears in my plantar fascii have healed and I've had no more trouble, almost 20 years later.

I still don't believe in the majority of alternative medicine, but for me, acupuncture 100% worked when nothing else did. I wouldn't hesitate to have it again, or recommend it to anyone. Brilliant stuff!

Not sure thousand years of Chinese medicine can be called a placebo🤷

Well….i have it for chronic hayfever. It reduces my symptoms enormously, then gradually wears off.

my DH (who would absolutely not agree with placebo effect or any kind of woo) had debilitating migraines which came on with NO warning and no pattern to their arrival. He was having 2 or 3 a month. Now he has more like 1 a year and they have decreased in intensity as well.

i think as with all these things it’s going to do no harm by trying it

The placebo effect is psychological. Not everyone goes into acupuncture or takes pills thinking they are not going to work. Indeed, those that go for alternative therapies generally do believe they work.
So, if you have acupuncture believing itcworks, it will 'work' for you (the placebo effect), even if clinically, there is no proven benefit.
As an example, when I worked in casualty, the Drs would often give the frequent flyer pethidine addicts an injection of normal saline. The 'effect' was immediate, demonstrating that there was no clinical effect on the 'pain' that the addict presented with; getting an injection provided the 'relief', thus a placebo effect.
(Not going into the ethics of this practice, it was in the 80s!)

I'm not personally doing that, it's the research that seems to be evidencing those results.

I would love if it's not placebo as I need holistic help.

This is my concern - if I'm already believing it won't work as it's a placebo, then it won't work even as a placebo for me?

I think you have to try it! Go with an open mind!

Proven clinically that woo works even if you know it's woo!

They think it's to do with relaxation and feeling cared for that makes a difference.

But like drugs - this doesn't work for everyone!

The thing with clinical trials and calling things a placebo is... we're all different. Even though we're all human. We know this from the way particular medicines are broadly intended to have the same purpose, but are more effective in some people, or produce side effects in some people.

So I wouldn't write acupuncture off. Lots of people swear by it and I think dismissing the experience of these individuals because of clinical trials is short-sighted.

It's worth a try.

There's a local practice that's highly recommended and I can afford the price, I think I'll give it a go. Thank you for the replies, much appreciated.

It absolutely worked for me.
I am usually fairly sceptical about all things ‘woo’ but was given a session as a gift - I was mind blown the things the lady was able to tell me about my body.
Definitely try it!!

A big trial in the US about 15 years ago showed it works, but not through Chinese methods. There was absolutely no difference in results between those who had needles inserted along traditional 'chi' lines and healing points, and those that had needles inserted at random.

It's the placebo effect, but that doesn't mean it isn't real.

I use it and it works for many things when many other things tried don’t.

I take with a grain of salt why it works, I just care it works.

EFT/tapping is the best thing I’ve found for nausea in the moment and it works very quickly. I just press the points (don’t tap them). Look at the Tapping Solution App. It’s supposed to be based on same principles as acupuncture.