Acupuncture: guff or gamechanger?

[AprilMayAnne]

Just interested in other people's experiences!

I've booked myself in with a local acupuncturist for irregular menstrual cycles, hormonal headaches and stress/anxiety.

I've always been intrigued and know some people swear by it, so thought I would give it a stab (pun intended).

DH has some nagging RSI that I wonder if it could help with too.

I'm aware it's one of those complementary therapies that does have a fair amount of scientific backing in certain areas, like for migraines. But I'm not sure what amount of stock to put in it for reproductive and mental health issues, especially as it can be so difficult to pinpoint what's influenced them and the placebo effect can be powerful.

Just for context I am also consulting with my GP, but don't expect much intervention will be available there as I've not been off HBC all that long. If they offer to do some bloods I'll certainly take it. On the anxiety side, I've come off an SSRI as I'm TTC soon. That's going well, plus I'm going to regular therapy which is great, so not much more a GP can do.

Anyway, I'm intrigued and hopeful about acupuncture, but keen to manage my expectations! Would love to hear MN-ers thoughts and experiences.

I am very anti woo in general but I tried it twice on the grounds that a) I was desperate and nothing else helped and b) it could do no harm.

Both times it was suggested by a GP.
The first was for RSI, many years ago. It didn't help.
The second was for hyperemesis in pregnancy, again it did nothing.
Not sure if you have to believe in it for it to work?

I'm as anti woo as it comes, but the first time I had acupuncture I was totally and utterly desperate and it was offered by my NHS physio to just see if it would help a bit as nothing else did. And it did work.
Since then I have it a number of times a year for pain relief and tennis elbow and it really works. No idea about effectiveness for hormonal issues/ anxiety though

I had regular acupuncture sessions in late pregnancy on my midwife's advice to encourage DS to move from his breech position. He didn't, and I had a CS.

Years later, I was also urged by my GP to try it as a remedy for an agonising frozen shoulder. Three sessions made no perceptible difference.

I have acupuncture and it's very good for my anxiety. It also helps me sleep better. I would say it's definitely worth a try.

I went during pregnancy as I kept getting dreadful headaches. It really worked for me, and I went during subsequent pregnancies too. I used to come home exhausted, go bed at 7pm and sleep for 12 hours.

I think it depends on how your body responds, and how experienced the acupuncturist is.........

I had it for migraines and although it hasn’t got rid of them it did help reduce them a lot and it made me feel a lot calmer and less anxious

I have had it a few times, for specific area pain and migraines. The first time I went to a Chinese lady and it worked wonders. The other times it was with a physio and British acupuncturist and there was no change. I have no idea if it was that I believed the traditional practioner more and there the placebo worked. But I would definitely try again if there was something else.

I used to do a limited version not based on Chinese medicine and purely for pain relief and found it effective. I've also had it from a Chinese medicine based practitioner a few times with mixed results. It did however work really well for my hormonal headaches and I also fell pregnant whilst having it after years of infertility at the age of 44!

I've been listening to dr chatterjee's podcast feel better live more and he does an episode with someone called Angela on hormonal health.

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/feel-better-live-more-with-dr-rangan-chatterjee/id1333552422?i=1000405288077

She's written a book which I've not read yet but I definitely will!

The Balance Plan: Six Steps to Optimize Your Hormonal Health
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1844039447/ref=cmswwrawdoonavTaa_FJ5TQAR4EYNAXGB65DH2

Guff
Waste of money for me

I've had two courses and it absolutely changed my daily life. The second course in particular changed things so much that the problem hasn't come back once in the last Arden years.

Game changer for me.

Excellent track record with all “women’s health” things.

I went to one Chinese guy. Helped a bit but not totally.
And a woman who was totally brilliant (not Chinese but had done post grad pregnancy/menopause etc work).

Like all things you get good and bad plumbers, good and bad hairdressers, good and bad acupuncturists.

And being of a certain ethnicity doesn’t mean they have a natural aptitude to do something better than someone of a different ethnicity. It’s more about training and experience than where you or your ancestors were born.

If the therapist is someone that’s not got years of experience behind them - they can even give it a bad name. Eg doctors who did a short course etc. I wouldn’t be having that at all! I’d rather pay the £50-£60 a session privately and get properly treated!