[Paul C. Jesup]

I always figured 'placebo studies' were just junk science.

[Eagles6]

Save.

[HiTech RedNeck]

The needles used in the procedure looked identical to real acupuncture needles, but the point retracted into a hollow shaft instead of penetrating the skin. The vast majority of people can't feel the difference between the sham procedure and the real deal, Kaptchuk says.

Might not be entirely bogus -- there are "acupressure" treatments that do not pierce the skin.

[Cvengr]

I thought the significance of acupunture was the sensation upon the region with the needles,... not the depth of penetration.

Ergo, the retractable tip placebo acupuncture needles didn't act as a placebo, rather they also induced a less deep acupuncture treatment.

(Sort of hard to create a placebo for a needle.)

[adamsjas]

This study would have been more meaningful had it tested placebos that were similar.

After all, half the allure of acupuncture is the exotic nature of the procedure, which is why people get acupuncture to cure the common cold, and come away swearing it works.

Also comparison of a pill to any personally administered "service" is bound to favor the personal attention factor.

Had they compared the pill to a medicinal tasting syrup, or a inert nasal spray there would probably be no measurable difference.

This is, after all nothing more than the grass is greener syndrome all over again. Something foreign and exotic must be better than the home grown stuff. Thats the same reason why the local swill beer becomes highly praised when shipped across the country or across the ocean.

In short, nothing surprising here.

[Petronski]

I read this story, and then I read a story that looked and tasted just like this story, and I couldn't tell the difference.