PBS special & Ted Kaptchuck and Gui Pi Tang & anti-depressants

[Guest guest]

In light of the recent " scientific studies " Placebos work.

IMHO one can not separate the " intention " to get well or the intention not

to recover. If the patient believes they will die - then a certain

percentage will in fact die even when the cause is not life threatening. An

example is " minor wounds " on the battlefield. " shock " is offered up for an

explanation ( Yet what happens when one loses their " soul mate " ?

 

Is not the testing method itself faulty?

 

With treatment the patient recovers in 7 days.

Without any treatment the patient recovers in one week.

 

Isn't that a better test?

 

Against Depression, a Sugar Pill Is Hard to Beat

Placebos Improve Mood, Change Brain Chemistry in Majority of Trials of

Antidepressants

By Shankar Vedantam Washington Post Staff Writer

Tuesday, May 7, 2002; Page A01

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A42930-2002May6.html

 

another example in the news is that heart surgery does not extend the life

of the patient any longer than not having the surgery. Of course here we are

still in the trial & error phrase of discovery. Actually patients that have

surgery are living longer THAN they used to live after surgery and that must

be a good thing.

 

Ed Kasper LAc. Santa Cruz, CA

 

 

 

Message: 4

Wed, 19 Feb 2003 09:07:03 -0800

" Geoffrey Hudson " <list

PBS special & Ted Kaptchuck

 

I saw a show on PBS last night hosted by Alan Alda where they were

exploring placebo effect for the most part. Ted Kaptchuck was

interviewed and described his sham vs. 'real' acupuncture treatments in

the treatment of RSI. The practitioner would put a washer over the

point, then cover it with tape, apply the needle device and call it a

treatment. Supposedly neither the patient or practitioner should be

able to tell if the real treatment or sham treatment was administered.

I was wondering if I'm missing something here... where's the Qi?

Neither treatment stimulated the needle until 'de qi'. I don't think I

was taught out of the back of a turnip truck, but I was taught you have

to get de qi to have an effective Tx. I know that some may disagree

about that, but in general, de qi is a typical sensation. I worry

sometimes about the ramifications of some of the work of researchers.

Maybe I've missed something obvious, but I hate to think of the

implications of a poorly done study done by people with big names and

the impact on a whole profession working hard for mainstream acceptance.

 

Geoff

 

 

---

Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Version: 6.0.455 / Virus Database: 255 - Release 2/13/2003