Question:

writes: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I went on to search medline for abstracts of individual acupuncture antiemesis controlled trials. Here first I found in the order I found them: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=9244025&form=6 db=m&Dopt=b Anaesthesia 1997 Jul;52(7):658-661 Acupuncture in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting. al-Sadi M, Newman B, Julious SA Department of Anaesthesia, Poole Hospital Trust, UK. The efficacy of intra-operative acupuncture at the PC6 point in the prevention of postoperative nausea or vomiting was studied. A double-blind randomised controlled study of acupuncture versus placebo was performed in 81 patients scheduled for day case gynaecological laparoscopic surgery. Failure of treatment was defined as the occurrence of nausea or vomiting prior to or within 24 h of discharge. The use of acupuncture reduced the incidence of postoperative nausea or vomiting in hospital from 65% to 35% compared with placebo and after discharge from 69% to 31% compared with placebo. — Comment: This is  a double blind trial. In the abstract sham

acupuncture is not mentioned, but is a double blind trial possible without it?    In my opinion, no.  So I’d like to know the answer to this question, too.  After all, acupuncture is supposed to be more than just sticking a needle in any old place, and promising a result (which, by placebo effect, is bound to happen 40% of the time, and more if the procedure is painful).                                        Steve Harris, M.D. —– Comment: This study used acupressure and sham acupressure. Controlling seems to be ok.

   That depends on what the "sham wrist band" did.  Did it produce pressure, but at the wrong point?  Or was it just band?    The difference is important.  Much nausea is a result of overstimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system.  Pain and discomfort are antedotal to this kind of nausea.  A placebo for acupuncture must produce just as much discomfort as the "correct" procedure, or it is completely invalid.  Anybody can cause a patient pain or discomfort, after all.  You don’t need fancy Chinese training for that, and if this is all that is going on, we can find a lot of cheaper ways than acupuncture to do it.  Not that when anesthesia is used with acupuncture, it does NOT work on nausea.  That result is trying to tell us something, no doubt.                                         Steve Harris, M.D.  The abstract does not mention whether the result was statistically – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -significant. —– http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=8721471&form=6 db=m&Dopt=b Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 1996 Mar;40(3):372-375 Effect of P-6 acupressure on prevention of nausea and vomiting after epidural morphine for post-cesarean section pain relief. Ho CM, Hseu SS, Tsai SK, Lee TY Department of Anesthesiology, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. BACKGROUND: Nausea and vomiting are important side effects following administration of epidural morphine for post-Cesarean section pain relief. Stimulation of the P-6 (Neiguan) acupoint is a traditional Chinese acupuncture modality used for antiemetic purpose; it has been found to be effective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antiemetic effect of P-6 acupressure in parturients given epidural morphine for post-Cesarean section pain relief. METHOD: In a randomized, double-blind and controlled trial, sixty parturients receiving epidural morphine for post-Cesarean section pain relief were investigated. Parturients were allocated to receive the acupressure bands or placebo bands on the P-6 acupoint bilaterally before the administration of spinal anesthesia and were observed over a 48-hour study period. RESULTS: The incidence of nausea and vomiting was significantly decreased from 43% and 27% in the control group, to 3% and 0% in the acupressure group, respectively (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that prophylactic use of acupressure bands bilaterally on the P-6 acupoint can significantly reduce incidence of nausea and vomiting after epidural morphine for post-Cesarean section pain relief. —- Comment. This study used acupressure bands in the therapy group  and sham acupressure bands in the control group, so controlling seems to be ok. The result was statistically significant. —- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=8488993&form=6 db=m&Dopt=b Anaesthesist 1993 Apr;42(4):221-226 [Acupressure in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting]. [Article in German] Gieron C, Wieland B, von der Laage D, Tolksdorf W Klinik fur Anasthesiologie, Medizinische Fakultat, RWTH Aachen. Despite modern anaesthetic procedures, postoperative nausea and vomiting are still the side-effects most often mentioned: acupressure is reported to be an additional method of preventing these effects in minor gynaecological surgery. We investigated the effectiveness of acupressure in patients undergoing gynaecological operations of longer duration (6-8 h) in a verum acupressure group compared to a placebo group. Before beginning the study we investigated a control group to find out the frequency of emesis. In the worst case of nausea that we encountered, 80% in the 0-6 h postoperative period, the number of random samples for the acupressure and placebo groups was calculated (30 patients in each group). The error for alpha was established at 5% and the reduction of nausea was 50%. METHODS. The female patients were 18 to 65 years old (ASA group I and II). Acupressure was carried out by fastening small metal bullets at the point P 6 to each forearm by means of an elastic bandage. The bullets were left there for 24 h. The premedication anaesthesia, postoperative analgesia, and antiemetic treatment were standardized. During a 24-h period we investigated the incidence of nausea and vomiting. RESULTS. The anthropometric data, the duration of surgery and the amount of postoperative analgesia were comparable between the three groups. Verum acupressure obtained a statistically significant and relevant reduction in nausea up to the 6th postoperative hour in comparison with the placebo group (P = 0.03). Nausea was reduced from 53% in the placebo group to 23% in the acupressure group. CONCLUSION. As demonstrated in this group of longer gynaecological surgery patients as well as in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, we were able to demonstrate that acupressure is an effective method of preventing nausea and vomiting without any side-effects. It is a valuable addition to the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting. Further studies should be conducted to investigate this possibility further. —- Comment. Abstract does not mention the type of placebo used in the control group. —- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=9085965&form=6 db=m&Dopt=b Anesth Analg 1997 Apr;84(4):821-825 Acupressure treatment for prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting. Fan CF, Tanhui E, Joshi S, Trivedi S, Hong Y, Shevde K Department of Anesthesiology, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York 11219, USA. Postoperative nausea and vomiting are still common problems after general anesthesia, especially in ambulatory surgery. Drug therapy is often complicated with central nervous system symptoms. We studied a nonpharmacological method of therapy–acupressure–at the Pericardium 6 (P.6) (Nei-Guan) meridian point. Two hundred consecutive healthy patients undergoing a variety of short surgical procedures were included in a randomized, double-blind study: 108 patients were in the acupressure group (Group 1) and 92 patients were in the control group (Group 2). Spherical beads of acupressure bands were placed at the P.6 points in the anterior surface of both forearms in Group 1 patients, while in Group 2 they were placed inappropriately on the posterior surface. The acupressure bands were placed before induction of anesthesia and were removed 6 h postoperatively. They were covered with a soft cotton wrapping to conceal them from the blinded observer who evaluated the patients for presence of nausea and vomiting and checked the order sheet for any antiemetics prescribed. In both groups, the age, gender, height, weight, and type and duration of surgical procedures were all comparable without significant statistical difference. In Group 1, only 25 of 108 patients (23%) had nausea and vomiting as compared to Group 2, in which 38 of 92 patients (41%) had nausea and vomiting (P = 0.0058). We concluded that acupressure at the P.6 (Nei-Guan) point is an effective prophylaxis for postsurgical nausea and vomiting and therefore a good alternative to conventional antiemetic treatment. — Comment. The study used acupressure bands in the therapy group and sham acupressure bands in the control group, so controlling seems to be ok. P-value was statistically significant. — http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=7892973&form=6 db=m&Dopt=b Anaesth Intensive Care 1994 Dec;22(6):691-693 P6 acupressure and nausea and vomiting after gynaecological surgery. Allen DL, Kitching AJ, Nagle C Department of Anaesthesia, Northampton General Hospital, England. We studied the effect of P6 acupressure on 46 women undergoing laparotomy for major gynaecological surgery who received patient-controlled analgesia. Half the patients received acupressure at the P6 site, the remainder received acupressure at a "sham" site. There was a reduction in the requests for anti-emetic therapy in the group receiving P6 acupressure but there was no difference in the incidence of nausea and vomiting. There was no difference in total morphine consumption between the two groups. —

… read more »

Response:

You are misinformed.    Stimulation from an inserted acupuncture needle causes a long chain of many events _involving neural, somatic, visceral and humoral

What I know about acupuncture I learned in a neuroanatomy course I took from Professor Diamond at UC-Berkeley, one of the top people in her field.  Have you ever taken a neuroanatomy course, or any other course in physiology? (A small disclaimer here:  the facts I’ve learned about acupuncture came from Dr. Diamond, but my assertion that acupuncture is a form of hypnosis is my conclusion from those facts and at least one other fact that Dr. Diamond did not know.  I don’t know about today, but when I was here student she really believed there was a physical basis for acunpuncture.  But I know that her reason for believing that was based on evidence that was irrelevant to the question.  If she still believes in the physical basis of acupuncture today, I believe I could convince her otherwise with what I know now.) pathways_ (see A Scientific Model for Acupuncture, American Journal of Vol.17.3, 7/89).    Belief or disbelief cannot be factored out of _any_ skilled

American Journal of Blank?  I’ve never heard of them. procedure done with conscious persons ;  it’s amusing when alt/complementary

No, placebos are used for that purpose.  And as I mentioned in another post, the placebo effect is quite powerful. medicine success on animals is attributed to the belief of the doctor and/or

If the study isn’t double-blinded, then that most certainly is the cause to which the effect should be attributed.  An experimenter doesn’t have to be dishonest or malicious to skew his data, if he knows which direction to skew it.  He can unconsciously decide this run wasn’t quite right so I should throw it out, or that this subjectively-determined result is positive, not negative, in data where a judgement call is required on the part of the examiner. pet owner !    The reality of relative non-response in certain individuals is generally related to either poor circulation, impairment of afferent or efferent nerve signals to and from the brain, or drug/chemical influence that competes with some aspect of the neccessary chain of events.    As well as the

Nonsense!  Even in the hands of experts, there are still some people who are non-responsive to acupuncture.  That’s not true about drugs like morphine (although addicts to opiates will require higher doses).  That’s not true about surgery.  The difference is that drugs and surgery have a physical basis for their mode of action.  Acupuncture also has a physical basis, but it lies on top of a mental basis, and if that mental basis doesn’t kick in, no physical basis will be present. skill of the doctor in selecting appropriate points and performing the procedure.    Like herbal and homeopathic medicine, it is not so much something done _to_ the patient, as a process done _with_ the patient.    It’s their nervous system and their body, and they are the ones who develop awareness and cooperate with that awareness in achieving and maintaining health.    Meridians correspond to the meridian system of course ( ! ) and are not just a teaching construct but are evidenced in observable phenomena of reported subjective sensation and occassional object dermal signs both in reaction and in pathology unrelated to receiving acupuncture.    

"done _with_ the patient"?  "develop awareness"?  That sure sounds like hypnosis to me!  That’s exactly what you do when you practice some forms of hypnosis.  You build the faith of patient and you guide them through the sensations you’re trying to elicit.  That’s why hypnosis works so well for stopping smoking, losing weight, and minor anaesthesia.  Those are phenomena that are controlled almost entirely by mental states.  That’s also why it works less well for just about everything else.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You are misinformed.    Stimulation from an inserted acupuncture needle causes a long chain of many events _involving neural, somatic, visceral and humoral What I know about acupuncture I learned in a neuroanatomy course I took from Professor Diamond at UC-Berkeley, one of the top people in her field.  Have you ever taken a neuroanatomy course, or any other course in physiology? (A small disclaimer here:  the facts I’ve learned about acupuncture came from Dr. Diamond, but my assertion that acupuncture is a form of hypnosis is my conclusion from those facts and at least one other fact that Dr. Diamond did not know.  I don’t know about today, but when I was here student she really believed there was a physical basis for acunpuncture.  But I know that her reason for believing that was based on evidence that was irrelevant to the question.  If she still believes in the physical basis of acupuncture today, I believe I could convince her otherwise with what I know now.)

NIH issued last year a consensus statement about acupuncture. This statement is available on the web page     http://odp.od.nih.gov/consensus/statements/cdc/107/107_stmt.html A couple of excerpts:  "Efficacy for Specific Disorders. There is clear evidence that needle  acupuncture is efficacious for adult postoperative and chemotherapy nausea and  vomiting and probably for the nausea of pregnancy.  Much of the research is on various pain problems. There is evidence of  efficacy for postoperative dental pain. There are reasonable studies (although  sometimes only single studies) showing relief of pain with acupuncture on  diverse pain conditions such as menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, and  fibromyalgia. This suggests that acupuncture may have a more general effect on  pain. However, there are also studies that do not find efficacy for  acupuncture in pain." <clips  "Conclusions and Recommendations  Acupuncture as a therapeutic intervention is widely practiced in the United  States. There have been many studies of its potential usefulness. However,  many of these studies provide equivocal results because of design, sample  size, and other factors. The issue is further complicated by inherent  difficulties in the use of appropriate controls, such as placebo and sham  acupuncture groups.  However, promising results have emerged, for example, efficacy of acupuncture  in adult post-operative and chemotherapy nausea and vomiting and in  post-operative dental pain. There are other situations such as addiction,  stroke rehabilitation, headache, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia,  myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and  asthma where acupuncture may be useful as an adjunct treatment or an  acceptable alternative or be included in a comprehensive management program.  Further research is likely to uncover additional areas where acupuncture  interventions will be useful.  Findings from basic research have begun to elucidate the mechanisms of action  of acupuncture, including the release of opioids and other peptides in the  central nervous system and the periphery and changes in neuroendocrine  function. Although much needs to be accomplished, the emergence of plausible  mechanisms for the therapeutic effects of acupuncture is encouraging.  The introduction of acupuncture into the choice of treatment modalities that  are readily available to the public is in its early stages. Issues of  training,  licensure, and reimbursement remain to be clarified. There is  sufficient evidence, however, of acupuncture’s value to expand its use into  conventional medicine and to encourage further studies of its physiology and  clinical value." From the Medline I found the following abstract of a review article about acupunctuture antiemesis triala: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=8758186&form=… J R Soc Med 1996 Jun;89(6):303-311 Can acupuncture have specific effects on health? A systematic review of acupuncture antiemesis trials. Vickers AJ Research Council for Complementary Medicine, London, England. The effects of acupuncture on health are generally hard to assess. Stimulation of the P6 acupuncture point is used to obtain an antiemetic effect and this provides an excellent model to study the efficacy of acupuncture. Thirty-three controlled trials have been published worldwide in which the P6 acupuncture point was stimulated for treatment of nausea and/or vomiting associated with chemotherapy, pregnancy, or surgery. P6 acupuncture was equal or inferior to control in all four trials in which it was administered under anaesthesia; in 27 of the remaining 29 trials acupuncture was statistically superior. A second analysis was restricted to 12 high-quality randomized placebo-controlled trials in which P6 acupuncture point stimulation was not administered under anaesthesia. Eleven of these trials, involving nearly 2000 patients, showed an effect of P6. The reviewed papers showed consistent results across different investigators, different groups of patients, and different forms of acupuncture point stimulation. Except when administered under anaesthesia, P6 acupuncture point stimulation seems to be an effective antiemetic technique. Researchers are faced with a choice between deciding that acupuncture does have specific effects, and changing from ‘Does acupuncture work?’ to a set of more practical questions; or deciding that the evidence on P6 antiemesis does not provide sufficient proof, and specifying what would constitute acceptable evidence. I went on to search medline for abstracts of individual acupuncture antiemesis controlled trials. Here first I found in the order I found them: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=9244025&form=… Anaesthesia 1997 Jul;52(7):658-661 Acupuncture in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting. al-Sadi M, Newman B, Julious SA Department of Anaesthesia, Poole Hospital Trust, UK. The efficacy of intra-operative acupuncture at the PC6 point in the prevention of postoperative nausea or vomiting was studied. A double-blind randomised controlled study of acupuncture versus placebo was performed in 81 patients scheduled for day case gynaecological laparoscopic surgery. Failure of treatment was defined as the occurrence of nausea or vomiting prior to or within 24 h of discharge. The use of acupuncture reduced the incidence of postoperative nausea or vomiting in hospital from 65% to 35% compared with placebo and after discharge from 69% to 31% compared with placebo. — Comment: This is  a double blind trial. In the abstract sham acupuncture is not mentioned, but is a double blind trial possible without it? —- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=9024025&form=… Anesth Analg 1997 Feb;84(2):342-345 Acupressure versus intravenous metoclopramide to prevent nausea and vomiting during spinal anesthesia for cesarean section. Stein DJ, Birnbach DJ, Danzer BI, Kuroda MM, Grunebaum A, Thys DM Department of Anesthesiology, St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, New York 10019, USA. Nausea and vomiting occur frequently during cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. Metoclopramide reduces intraoperative nausea and vomiting, but not without potential side effects. Acupressure, a noninvasive variation of acupuncture that involves constant pressure on the wrist, has been suggested as an alternative method to prevent nausea and vomiting. The aim of this study was to compare acupressure and intravenous (IV) metoclopramide for the prevention of nausea and vomiting during elective cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. Seventy-five patients were studied in a randomized, prospective, double-blind comparative trial. Group I patients received acupressure bands + 2 mLIV saline, Group II patients received placebo wrist bands + 10 mg IV metoclopramide, and Group III patients received placebo wrist bands + 2 mL IV saline. Patients who received either acupressure or metoclopramide prior to initiation of spinal anesthesia for cesarean section had much less nausea than patients in the placebo group. Acupressure is an effective, non-pharmacologic method to reduce intraoperative nausea during elective cesarean section in the awake patient. —– Comment: This study used acupressure and sham acupressure. Controlling seems to be ok. The abstract does not mention whether the result was statistically significant. —– http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=8721471&form=… Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 1996 Mar;40(3):372-375 Effect of P-6 acupressure on prevention of nausea and vomiting after epidural morphine for post-cesarean section pain relief. Ho CM, Hseu SS, Tsai SK, Lee TY Department of Anesthesiology, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. BACKGROUND: Nausea and vomiting are important side effects following administration of epidural morphine for post-Cesarean section pain relief. Stimulation of the P-6 (Neiguan) acupoint is a traditional Chinese acupuncture modality used for antiemetic purpose; it has been found to be effective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antiemetic effect of P-6 acupressure in parturients given epidural morphine for post-Cesarean section pain relief. METHOD: In a randomized, double-blind and controlled trial, sixty parturients receiving epidural morphine for post-Cesarean section pain relief were investigated. Parturients were allocated to receive the acupressure bands or placebo bands on the P-6 acupoint bilaterally before the administration of spinal anesthesia and were observed over a 48-hour study … read more »

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Org.  : AOL http://www.aol.com just guessing I think that the needles when places in the skin create a chemical reaction like a battery, therefore, creating an electrical charge. This electrical charge sends messages via the nervious system to the brain or in local area. It can stimulate or relax the nervious system and maybe help heal. but I’m not an experct just what I would imaine

The iron and the body metabolite mixes and became a small batteyr. The elec. impulses travel to the brain. The brain is a big bio computer. Also helps the brain to synthesis endorphins. I quote this from a book wriiten by a MD. Hvae to retrieve the name from office. Bill Chan DC

Response:

The same way hypnosis does, by suggestion. Belief is a powerful thing, powerful enough to allow major surgery without anaesthesia.

Belief IS a very powerful thing.  It’s unfortunate we don’t use it properly. I had my first accupuncture sessions this year.  What I knew about accupuncture could fill a thimble, but when the needles were applied and I would almost fly off the table I knew something was up.  The sleuth in me asked about those electrical waves.  The practicioner easily pinpointed where they went before I told him.   He gave me no suggestions that this would happen, nor did he tell me to expect anything, but the calming effect was evident immediately. Mike’o

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That is not entirely true.  There is a very recent study (with control group) in Pain showing sympathetic stimulation.  

First, what the study you quoted was studying was not traditional acupuncture.  Stimulating muscles with electricity until they cramp is not traditional acupuncture, and even if it were, what makes you think hypnosis is incapable of causing measurable physiological changes?  It certainly is capable of causing such changes.  Therapies that act through belief are no less real because they act through belief. I was reading a study the other day in which a drug was found to have a statistically significant effect because it had beneficial results in 50% of the patients.  But how many patients getting the placebo showed a benefit?  30% !!! I sometimes wonder how many good drugs have been dismissed because they couldn’t beat the placebo effect.

Response:

The same way hypnosis does, by suggestion. Belief is a powerful thing, powerful enough to allow major surgery without anaesthesia. Even in China, they find acupuncture doesn’t work on everybody, so they save the drugs for the people who don’t respond to acupuncture.

That is not entirely true.  There is a very recent study (with control group) in Pain showing sympathetic stimulation.   Note that the so-called acupuncture meridians don’t correspond to the nervous system, circulatory system, lymphatic system, or any other system in the body.

Granted that the meridians don’t seem to correspond to anything else, however there was a physiologic response nonetheless.  This phenomenon obviously needs more study though, and maybe refinement of some of the "core beliefs" as the outcomes were different than expected. Title Sympathetic nerve activity after acupuncture in humans. Author Knardahl S; Elam M; Olausson B; Wallin BG Address Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Source Pain, 1998 Mar, 75:1, 19-25 Abstract The aim of the present study was to determine if acupuncture stimulation inhibits sympathetic nerve activity in humans. Multiunit efferent postganglionic sympathetic activity was recorded with a tungsten microelectrode inserted in a muscle fascicle of the peroneal nerve. Mean arterial pressure, heart rate and skin blood flow were also monitored. Pain thresholds were measured by electrical tooth pain stimulation. After a 30 min rest, acupuncture needles were inserted bilaterally into the Li 11 and the Li 4 acupuncture points, and manipulated until ‘chi’ cramp-like sensation was reported. Electrical stimulation (2 Hz, 0.6-0.8 ms duration, maximal tolerated stimulation without discomfort) was delivered for 30 min and the physiological recordings were continued for 90 min after the end of acupuncture. In a placebo control experiment, the same procedure was followed, except that acupuncture needles were inserted subcutaneously and no manipulation or stimulation was given. The stimulator delivered pulses to an unconnected channel, hence, the same audiovisual stimuli were experienced as with acupuncture, and care was taken to ask the same questions about sensations in the placebo and the acupuncture groups. Electroacupuncture produced an increase in pain threshold which was paralleled by a transient increase in muscle sympathetic nerve activity. During acupuncture, there was a small increase in heart rate and mean arterial pressure, but there was no post-acupuncture hypotension. The placebo control procedure did not change pain threshold or sympathetic nerve traffic. The findings suggest that electroacupuncture produces moderate hypoalgesia in humans paralleled by a significant increase in muscle sympathetic nerve activity. Leland Weathers

Response:

Does anyone understand how acupuncture affects the nervous system? Lili

Response:

just guessing I think that the needles when places in the skin create a chemical reaction like a battery, therefore, creating an electrical charge. This electrical charge sends messages via the nervious system to the brain or in local area.   It can stimulate or relax the nervious system and maybe help heal. but I’m not an experct just what I would imaine

Response:

Does anyone understand how acupuncture affects the nervous system?

The same way hypnosis does, by suggestion. Belief is a powerful thing, powerful enough to allow major surgery without anaesthesia. Even in China, they find acupuncture doesn’t work on everybody, so they save the drugs for the people who don’t respond to acupuncture. Note that the so-called acupuncture meridians don’t correspond to the nervous system, circulatory system, lymphatic system, or any other system in the body.

Response:

You are misinformed.    Stimulation from an inserted acupuncture needle causes a long chain of many events _involving neural, somatic, visceral and humoral pathways_ (see A Scientific Model for Acupuncture, American Journal of Vol.17.3, 7/89).    Belief or disbelief cannot be factored out of _any_ skilled procedure done with conscious persons ;  it’s amusing when alt/complementary medicine success on animals is attributed to the belief of the doctor and/or pet owner !    The reality of relative non-response in certain individuals is generally related to either poor circulation, impairment of afferent or efferent nerve signals to and from the brain, or drug/chemical influence that competes with some aspect of the neccessary chain of events.    As well as the skill of the doctor in selecting appropriate points and performing the procedure.    Like herbal and homeopathic medicine, it is not so much something done _to_ the patient, as a process done _with_ the patient.    It’s their nervous system and their body, and they are the ones who develop awareness and cooperate with that awareness in achieving and maintaining health.    Meridians correspond to the meridian system of course ( ! ) and are not just a teaching construct but are evidenced in observable phenomena of reported subjective sensation and occassional object dermal signs both in reaction and in pathology unrelated to receiving acupuncture.     Joe Reid Copyright 1998 B. Joseph Reid    May be reprinted and distributed freely as long as and only if it remains intact and unaltered in entirety including copyright, and is not sold without author’s explicit permission. The same way hypnosis does, by suggestion.

Belief is a powerful thing, powerful enough to allow major surgery without anaesthesia. Even in China, they find acupuncture doesn’t work on everybody, so they save the drugs for the people who don’t respond to acupuncture. Note that the so-called acupuncture meridians don’t correspond to the nervous system, circulatory system, lymphatic system, or any other system in the body.<<<<<

Response:

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