Sham acupuncture study

[Guest guest]

This article appears in health news. It is a study done by

medical doctors. IMO, it discredits our training and traditions, also

suspect ethics of the research methodology. See what you think:

 

http://health./news/179689

 

Frances Gander

Athens, Ohio

[Guest guest]

I read the article and spoke with Gabriel Stux at the last PCOM

Symposium about the research being done through GERAC. If you look

closely at the article the " acupuncturists " participating in the

trial had very little training (between 140-376 hours) and were MDs

with practices that were not necessarily primarily acupuncture

practices. In talking with Stux about the earlier GERAC studies

(migraine) it appears as if the MDs would see the patients as part of

their larger practice, but may only see a few of the study

participants a month. He hinted that some of the MDs may not have

been that clear on the protocol because of the infrequency with which

they saw new study participants. There may also be a flaw in the

study with how patients were sorted out to get the specific point

protocols. There was a standard base prescription and additional

points for specific patterns. Who knows how they were sorted out

into patterns? Was there ability to diagnose properly examined? I

think both of these points could be significant criticisms of the

trial. That being said, the fact that any kind of acupuncture was

twice as effective as standard care is really impressive.

 

-Steve

 

Stephen Bonzak, L.Ac., Dipl. C.H.

http://www.health-traditions.com

sbonzak

773-470-6994

 

 

On Sep 25, 2007, at 12:23 PM, Frances L. Gander wrote:

 

> This article appears in health news. It is a study done by

> medical doctors. IMO, it discredits our training and traditions, also

> suspect ethics of the research methodology. See what you think:

>

> http://health./news/179689

>

> Frances Gander

> Athens, Ohio

>

>

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi again all!!

 

Will someone (who has the time, patience and eloquence) please contact

and correct this misunderstanding. This is just one MORE example

of how our profession is being undermined by the " powers that be " .

Good grief.

[Guest guest]

I frankly don't see what this whole fuss is about..Why are we

lamenting the fact that anywhere the body is needled some form of

physiological reaction will occur? And most likely such reaction will

be to the benefit of the patient?

 

We have been so enamored with this " channels " and the invisible force

that " travels " within, that at the sound of " look mom, the emperor has

no clothes " we shout, conspiracy!

 

Instead of focusing on the alleged damage these 'studies' may bring to

our profession, let's shift our attention to the wonders of the human

body and its abilities to heal when a foreign object penetrates the

skin..

 

Back when we were in school and started needling each other and saw

with amazement our classmates improve from some type of pain, how much

experience did we have? None! we were just getting started. Yet, our

needling worked in spite of our lack of experience. Why shouldn't it

work in the hands of an inexperience MD?

 

What we, as a profession should oppose to, is to the use of the term

'acupuncture' which is clearly defined as the use of needles on

specific points along a given channel or ashi point. Any puncturing

outside of the traditional points should be addressed as dry needling

technique used by PTs, Chiros and other allied pros. And we all know

that trigger point 'acupuncture' also works.

 

Let's rejoice!

 

Fernando

 

 

, " Dr. W. W. Waldrope DOM AP "

<dr.w.w.waldrope wrote:

>

> Hi again all!!

>

> Will someone (who has the time, patience and eloquence) please contact

> and correct this misunderstanding. This is just one MORE example

> of how our profession is being undermined by the " powers that be " .

> Good grief.

>

[Guest guest]

With respect, Fernando, I think you were missing my point but I will add this...

If anyone thinks that there is nothing to worry about regarding the

undermining or usurpation of TCM in this country by the FDA, Medical

Acupuncture, Big Pharma and others, then I would have to say that they

are not paying attention.

 

I advocate a clear distinction (in bona fides and advertising) between

seminar training and master level training when it comes to

acupuncture. If the general public thinks that an MD's acupuncture is

safer and more effective because it's " Medical " , then that would

definitely be a problem. I am not saying that Medical Acupuncture is

inherently inferior nor that there are not some fine (even great) MD

acupuncturists out there. I just think that the fact that allopathic

medicine is preeminent in the U.S. automatically creates a halo of

safety and efficacy around Medical Acupuncture that may not be true.

 

After the cGMPdust-up I started, I think I'll just leave it at that...

 

peace

[Guest guest]

What we have done in Pennsylvania to apply a distinction between " Medical "

acupuncture and those who have complete training is to apply the term

" Professional " acupuncture to those who have taken nationally accredited

programs and a

nationally accepted certification examination that tests that complete, or

shall I say competent, training.

 

David Molony

In a message dated 9/27/07 1:06:30 PM, dr.w.w.waldrope writes:

 

 

> I advocate a clear distinction (in bona fides and advertising) between

> seminar training and master level training when it comes to

> acupuncture. If the general public thinks that an MD's acupuncture is

> safer and more effective because it's " Medical " , then that would

> definitely be a problem. I am not saying that Medical Acupuncture is

> inherently inferior nor that there are not some fine (even great) MD

> acupuncturists out there. I just think that the fact that allopathic

> medicine is preeminent in the U.S. automatically creates a halo of

> safety and efficacy around Medical Acupuncture that may not be true.

>

 

 

 

 

 

" If in a competitive society you are sincere and honest, in some

circumstances people may take advantage of you. If you let someone do so, he or

she will

be engaging in an unsuitable action and accumulating bad karma that will harm

the person in the future. Thus it is permissable, with an altruistic

motivation, to take counteraction in order to prevent the other person from

having to

undergo the effects of this wrong action. "

Dalai Lama

 

David Molony

101 Bridge Street

Catasauqua, PA 18032

Phone (610)264-2755

Fax (610) 264-7292

 

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