Acupuncture
 

I know, I know, I should know better that to ask a bunch crusty curmudgeon's about some new age thing like acupuncture.

My sis-in -law and wife go for treatments... so at my wife's urging I gave it a try... can't say I was doing cart wheels leaving the place but honestly it made my wife so happy that I was open minded enough to give it a try it might be worth it to keep going just to make her happy.

Has anyone else here tried it? (slipping on nomex overalls)

I hardly think it is 'New age" .
This treatment is as old as the Chinese people.
By this assessment, the Western medicine and the AMA is the "New Age"

When my wife was in medical school, one of her classmates took a year off to investigate the holistic healing art of acupuncture. As afterburn 549 already stated, this has been around for thousands of years.

Had a couple of treatments on my right knee three years ago.
I'm not sure how it helps, but it seemed to.

Best
Les

I'm sorry, yes I know the art is Chinese and thousands of years old... I meant "new age" in the sense of the 70's, 80's, 90's movement that adopted and merged many of the ancient Asian forms of mysticism.

I had a friend who was having terrible back problems. Went through some conventional treatments....and then one day decided to try acupuncture. Afterwards he was a new man. That's all I have.

If I ever have a health issue that could benefit from Acupuncture, I won't hesitate to try it.

So far I'm in perfect health though - knock on wood.

Acupuncture is hardly new age... as mentioned previously..

I've had treatments in China and the US...My MIL ( a western educated Dr) set me up with "the best" acupuncture practitioner in Beijing.... problem is the longest time I spent in Beijing was 6 weeks.... the acupuncture chick told me it would take months to take care of my sciatica...treatment cost about $10 US for 30 minutes..

In all the treatments did seem to ease my sciatica, and I got a great laugh when my wife gasped at when the Dr stuck a needle about 5 in long in my butt cheek...

Then there was the time I got treatment here in NY for gout... and they forgot one needle.... needless to say I was pissed when I found out while pulling my socks on..

pics for your amusement...

Didn't even feel the needles going into my dome..


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This is Xi'an they burn this cigar like thing they call Ai grass... stick it on the end of a needle... they say its good..

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My step son helping out with cupping....

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needles and cups...

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Your mileage may vary

Look up "placebo effect".

"Acupuncture" doesn't work any better than someone randomly sticking you with needles. Stop by the house and I can save a lot of money with some stick pins I have in my desk drawer.

Some fun reading:

Acupuncture - RationalWiki

Years ago I had some major back pain. Sciatica nerve issues as well. On a recommendation I visited a local acupuncture guy. First visit was pretty good - minimal needles combined with amazing massage and some manipulation. Second visit a couple days later the real needle stuff began and I left there basically crippled. The table was soaking wet with perspiration from the pain. My wife had to help me to the car and all I could manage the next couple days was to lie on my back with my legs propped. The guy was perplexed and said to come back a couple days later for a free session (they were $125/each). No thanks man.

I have it on a regular basis, the only thing that has helped me with my COPD and some nerve issueshttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1412208825.jpg

http://youtu.be/OAMaraChKEg

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Look at the length of that NEEDLE coming out of my back..
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/OAMaraChKEg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

i'm chinese and i have never heard of any of my family members trying it.

that is some accurate needle stabbing to hit target nerves..

I have tried it and it worked great with me.

In today's world with ever-increasing importance placed on evidence-based medicine, the biggest knock on acupuncture is the dearth of long-term studies demonstrating its benefit.

I have nerve damage if both feet. Went through six different prescription meds with no help and side effects nearly killed me. I was so hoping acupuncture would be the answer.
After 4 months of treatments.....I wish I had all the money back!

I did some work for a Pharmacist who worked for Kaiser and got talking about medicine a bit one day. When he's has issues, the first people he goes to is his Acupuncturist. I have never been and am not a real big fan. But then again, some people don't believe in Chiropractors neither. Now those Cup thing with the rubbing alcohol or whatever magic holy water they spray in there to create a little fire / heat do wonders for my back. It relieved the tightness around my shoulders, neck, and back for about a week.

I think there may be an element of placebo to acupuncture, however it has worked for me in the past. I shattered my ankle about ten years ago and was left with chronic pain after it was re-constructed. Took all sorts of painkillers, nothing worked until i tried acupuncture.

Whatever it does, it works. Electroacupunture is amazing as well.

I remember growing up as a kid my mom would get terrible migraine headaches. As long as I can remember she had them. I'm talking headaches so bad she would lay in bed for two-three days straight just crying in pain. Tried every traditional remedy known to man, went to every shrink etc. etc. it was so bad that ANY time she felt one coming on my dad would driver her to the hospital and they would just put her out with meds. Early 70's our small town in N.Y. had an article in the local paper that a acupuncture office was going to open in the area. My dad read up about acupuncture and told my mom as soon as this guys office opens we're going to try this. I kid you not she had 10 treatments ( I think ) and from that last treatment to the day she died 10 years ago she NEVER got a migraine again ! She would get a " normal " headache like anyone else but take two aspirins relax for 30 minutes and the headache was gone. It literally saved her life so yes I am a believer. It may not work for everyone but it worked miracles for her.

I was heavily into martial arts in the 80-90's and competed at a fairly high level with torn rotater and no ACL in either knee. I couldn't have kept it going without acupuncture. However, the guy who used to needle me would place needles and use a flame to deaden the nerves at least for a while longer.
I've never used it for the "well being" thing but rather to kill pain... and it works without a doubt.

Exactly my story. If I were a guy who had done the treatments after a car accident or such, and still had issues, I would try this. It isn't mysticism, it is tapping into nerve pathways. It isn't going to fix a torn meniscus. It might stimulate your liver, or relax something that is locked up.