New research has shown that acupuncture is more than a placebo. This particular study reviewed the data from 29 clinical trials which included just under 18,000 participants being treated for chronic pain including neck and back pain, chronic headaches and osteoarthritis. Some of the studies reviewed compared acupuncture to standard treatments such as pain killers or physical therapy, while some compared real acupuncture to “sham” acupuncture. The data showed that real acupuncture does offer better pain relief than “sham” acupuncture. Many studies that compare these two treatments indicated that real acupuncture did not work significantly better than the “sham” leading to a conclusion that acupuncture works via the placebo effect.
The conclusion that acupuncture is only a placebo has been a stumbling block for the acceptance of acupuncture into the mainstream. Opponents hold onto those conclusions as evidence that acupuncture does not work. This new study shows that it is more than just a placebo effect, so that is a big step forward for acupuncture. More important, in my opinion, are the studies that compare acupuncture to standard treatment. These studies often show acupuncture (and even the “sham” acupuncture) offers better pain relief than pain killers and physical therapy. Conveniently, those opposed to acupuncture gloss over this fact. The important conclusion to be made is that acupuncture is effect at pain relief, is not just a placebo effect, and can be a more effective and/or safer alternative to other methods of pain relief.
If anyone you know suffers from chronic pain encourage them to try acupuncture.
For more info about the study read the consumer reports article here – http://news.consumerreports.org/
