AcupunctureAcupuncture

Valid Medical TechniqueValid Medical Technique

OrOr

Lucrative Hoax?Lucrative Hoax?

History of AcupunctureHistory of Acupuncture

Practiced in China for over 4,000 yearsPracticed in China for over 4,000 years Traditional Chinese medical technique Traditional Chinese medical technique

for unblocking chifor unblocking chi Acupuncture is the insertion of needles Acupuncture is the insertion of needles

in specific points on the bodyin specific points on the body These insertion points are believed to These insertion points are believed to

correspond with 14 main pathways correspond with 14 main pathways within the body called meridianswithin the body called meridians

Origins of Acupuncture PhilosophyOrigins of Acupuncture Philosophy

Originates in Taoist tradition (specifically Originates in Taoist tradition (specifically meditation)meditation)

Fu His discovered/created idea of yin and Fu His discovered/created idea of yin and yang by observing a broken line and an yang by observing a broken line and an unbroken lineunbroken line

What exactly is Chi? What exactly is Chi?

Chi is an energy that, according to ancient Chi is an energy that, according to ancient Chinese beliefs, permeates all thingsChinese beliefs, permeates all things

Chi must be able to flow freely throughout Chi must be able to flow freely throughout the body in order for a person to maintain the body in order for a person to maintain overall healthoverall health

Chi flows along the meridians of the bodyChi flows along the meridians of the body

Where do yin and yang fit in?Where do yin and yang fit in?

Acupuncture needles are inserted in an Acupuncture needles are inserted in an attempt to balance the opposing forces of attempt to balance the opposing forces of yin and yangyin and yang

Yin and yang are balanced when a person Yin and yang are balanced when a person is healthy and chi is therefore able to flow is healthy and chi is therefore able to flow freelyfreely

Injury or illness cause yin and yang to Injury or illness cause yin and yang to become distressed and unbalancedbecome distressed and unbalanced

Originally there were 365 acupuncture Originally there were 365 acupuncture points, but through the years this number points, but through the years this number has increased to over 2,000has increased to over 2,000

Each point is believed to correspond with Each point is believed to correspond with a particular illness or injury a particular illness or injury

What is acupuncture used to treat?What is acupuncture used to treat?

DepressionDepression ArthritisArthritis Kidney problemsKidney problems FluFlu FatigueFatigue Chronic painChronic pain MigrainesMigraines

ParalysisParalysis HypertensionHypertension TendonitisTendonitis Vision problemsVision problems Sexual DysfunctionSexual Dysfunction And many others…And many others…

Is there a medical basis to Is there a medical basis to acupuncture?acupuncture?

Acupuncture is not based on modern Acupuncture is not based on modern medical sciencemedical science

There is no obvious correlation between There is no obvious correlation between the 14 identified meridians and the actual the 14 identified meridians and the actual location of organs and nerves within the location of organs and nerves within the bodybody

Some proponents of acupuncture have Some proponents of acupuncture have attempted to explain its medical functionattempted to explain its medical function

Stimulation of natural painkilling chemicals Stimulation of natural painkilling chemicals such as endorphinssuch as endorphins

Needles block the transmission of pain Needles block the transmission of pain impulses to the CNSimpulses to the CNS

Possible medical explanationsPossible medical explanations

Research on AcupunctureResearch on Acupuncture Many scientific studies on acupuncture are Many scientific studies on acupuncture are

still in the early stagesstill in the early stages SubjectivitySubjectivity One controlled study done by Melzack and One controlled study done by Melzack and

Katz compared electroacupuncture of the Katz compared electroacupuncture of the ear to placebo stimulationear to placebo stimulation

This study found acupuncture to be no This study found acupuncture to be no more effective than lightly touching the ear more effective than lightly touching the ear in relieving chronic painin relieving chronic pain

More ResearchMore Research

Three Dutch epidemiologists analyzed 51 Three Dutch epidemiologists analyzed 51 controlled studies of acupuncture in 1991controlled studies of acupuncture in 1991

Their conclusion: “…the quality of even the Their conclusion: “…the quality of even the better studies proved to be mediocre…The better studies proved to be mediocre…The efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic pain remains doubtful.” (Kleijnen, chronic pain remains doubtful.” (Kleijnen, et al)et al)

Research ContinuedResearch Continued A study published in 2001 exposed the A study published in 2001 exposed the

inconsistency of the diagnosis and inconsistency of the diagnosis and treatment of acupuncturetreatment of acupuncture

Diagnoses as well as the prescribed Diagnoses as well as the prescribed treatments varied widelytreatments varied widely

Of 28 points selected, only 4 (14%) were Of 28 points selected, only 4 (14%) were prescribed by 2 or more acupuncturists prescribed by 2 or more acupuncturists

Why use acupuncture if it has been Why use acupuncture if it has been proven ineffective?proven ineffective?

Many hospitals and doctors that use Many hospitals and doctors that use acupuncture use it only as complementary acupuncture use it only as complementary therapy or “last hope” therapytherapy or “last hope” therapy

Example: DUMCExample: DUMC

Why do people persist in using Why do people persist in using acupuncture?acupuncture?

Although not supported by empirical Although not supported by empirical evidence, acupuncture is often supported evidence, acupuncture is often supported by anecdotal evidence (which can also by anecdotal evidence (which can also lead to confirmation bias)lead to confirmation bias)

Placebo effectPlacebo effect Regression fallacyRegression fallacy Pragmatic fallacyPragmatic fallacy Confounding treatmentsConfounding treatments

Why can’t we disprove acupuncture Why can’t we disprove acupuncture as a valid healing therapy?as a valid healing therapy?

Acupuncture theory is flawed at the core Acupuncture theory is flawed at the core by the fact that it is virtually impossible to by the fact that it is virtually impossible to falsifyfalsify

Chinese beliefs define chi as being Chinese beliefs define chi as being undetectable by the methods of modern undetectable by the methods of modern sciencescience

If it makes people feel better, does it If it makes people feel better, does it matter that we can’t explain why?matter that we can’t explain why?

Lucrative Indeed!Lucrative Indeed!

According to the American Academy of According to the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture, approximately 4,000 Medical Acupuncture, approximately 4,000 physicians in the United States have physicians in the United States have received training in acupuncture therapyreceived training in acupuncture therapy

10-15 million Americans spend ~$500 10-15 million Americans spend ~$500 million per year on acupuncturemillion per year on acupuncture

1 in 10 Americans have tried acupuncture1 in 10 Americans have tried acupuncture

But there are risks…But there are risks…

Bladder or lung punctureBladder or lung puncture Allergic reaction to needlesAllergic reaction to needles Infection from unsterilized needlesInfection from unsterilized needles FaintingFainting ConvulsionsConvulsions Nerve DamageNerve Damage Putting off treatments that are known to be Putting off treatments that are known to be

effectiveeffective