Think Acupuncture's a hoax? Think again (Scientific research shows natural healing compounds)

CNET ^ | 5/30/2010 | Elizabeth Armstrong Moore

[RegulatorCountry]

Here’s an old, saved web search of mine that I found, from nearly four years ago, that may be pertinent. I encountered anecdotal accounts as well as research indicating that SAM-e (S-adenosyl-methionine, a related compound), had some amount of benefit in certain inflammatory disorders, including some forms of cancer:

http://www.google.com/search?q=%22s-adenosyl+methionine%22+canine+neuropathy&btnG=Search&hl=en&safe=active

So, the finding in your article regarding adenosine and anti-inflammatory response makes some amount of sense.

The funny thing about SAM-e is it’s typically regarded as a mood stabilizing neutraceutical, with some benefit as far as liver function. All that’s such a tangle of seemingly unrelated things that it’s tempting to dismiss it as snake oil. But, the research is there. Joint pain, inflammation, minor depression and liver function all helped by one little pack of pills from GNC or even Walmart. Strange.

[VA Red]

I have been having acupuncture for a little over a week now. I injured my shoulder blade lifting weights and developed tennis elbow. This has been going on for about 3 months. Nagging pain in my shoulder blade, hard to sleep, causing tight muscles up my neck and nerve pain down my arm. The tennis elbow causes my elbow to ache and makes it difficult to pick things up.

I had never used holistic medicine before. About a year ago, I injured my lower back and the doctor sent me for physical therapy and gave me pain meds. Took forever to heal. While the pain meds were fun, they did nothing to remedy the back problem. The PT was ok, but I noticed that the most effective treatment the physical therapist gave was the muscle stimulator w/heat and massage.

So with the most recent injury I was toughing it out but after about 2 months of constant pain I decided to go for a massage (my first ever). It helped with the shoulder and neck tightness but was doing nothing for the elbow. The massage therapist recommended acupuncture.

I am a believer now.

[4rcane]

if it work for a week, then don’t discount it then. It illustrate it does work then. Acupuncture maybe a natural healing method as it uses your own body defences while a steroid is artificial thus more powerful

[Taffini]

acupuncture bump

[al baby]

I ues it for erectile difficulties it has helped me big time

[bog trotter]

Re: A lot of fakes out there
I don’t know if they’re fakes or not trained enough. I had a friend who did acupuncture twice and recieved great gains but the third time around undid the previous effort and worse.
Same goes for chiropractic, I believe in the PRACTICE of chiropractic but have encountered a couple who must have partied through school.Some of the practicioners need more PRACTICE.
But then, I have been personally involved in the removal from practice of a couple of surgeons who got into self-prescribing,
It’s the same with anything, a liscense doesn’t mean much...Do your homework.

[dartuser]

make me a pill with the same crap in it and see if that works ...

[Right Wing Assault]

My BIL injured his back while making a simple movement. His doctor tried a number of things, then sent him to Cleveland Clinic. They tried some things, but progress was very slow. He was in pain most of the time and couldn’t stay in one position for long. The Clinic guys finally said, we don’t know what else we can do. It might go away over time if you don’t re-injure it. Here’s the name of an acupuncturist. Give it a try. In a fairly short time, his pain was gone and didn’t come back.

[stilloftyhenight]

My good friend’s mother had her migraines treated successfully with acupuncture! I think it was a series of 6 treatments, and they never came back.

[small voice in the wilderness]

I’ve been following this thread all day. It’s very interesting. One question: Can acupuncture be used as a stop smoking alternative?

[TET1968]

I have designed a couple of Traditional Chinese Medicine clinics.
I found out it works for back and knee Pain.

[indubitably]

I’ll try to do the short version —

30 years ago I played racquetball competitively. Developed some serious nerve damage in my right shoulder. Doctors told me to never play again. Big tournament coming up and I simply wouldn’t quit, but pain was terrible. Had acupuncture on multiple occasions. Pain greatly diminished, continued to play for another couple of years. Fast forward to when our son was young and I wanted to throw a baseball with him or go bowling ... couldn’t do it. Acupuncture helped with the pain, but the damage increased because of the continued abuse of high impact on the shoulder. Bottom line - acupuncture works but really only masks pain and should not be used if other damage could occur. At least this is what I deduce from my experience.