General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Those claiming to be anti "woo" and pro science [View all]pnwmom
(110,235 posts)at Harvard uses acupuncture. She's just too dumb to understand the null hypothesis, and that acupuncture is no better than homeopathy.
http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/acupuncture-is-worth-a-try-for-chronic-pain-201304016042
Over the years there has been substantial debate about whether acupuncture really works for chronic pain. Research from an international team of experts adds to the evidence that it does provide real relief from common forms of pain. The team pooled the results of 29 studies involving nearly 18,000 participants. Some had acupuncture, some had sham acupuncture, and some didnt have acupuncture at all. Overall, acupuncture relieved pain by about 50%. The results were published in Archives of Internal Medicine.
The study isnt the last word on the issue, but it is one of the best quality studies to date and has made an impression.
I think the benefit of acupuncture is clear, and the complications and potential adverse effects of acupuncture are low compared with medication, says Dr. Lucy Chen, a board-certified anesthesiologist, specialist in pain medicine, and practicing acupuncturist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.