Re: Chinese Alternative Medicine
 

Because there is no worse method of picking a medical treatment than personal anecdotes. "It worked for me" simply means nothing at all, although it is a great way to convince, for example, the devoutly religious to take sugar pills to cure their cancer instead of going to the doctor.

Which is not to say there is anything wrong with trying something in addition to medical treatment.

Re: Hey Leagl...
 

That green disco outfit she wore last night was just downright hideous. They've been in Vegas too long.

Re: Vs.
 

Gross!

http://www.epicart.net/images/canvas/Loons.jpg

Re: Chinese Alternative Medicine
 

Scrappy!

Re: Chinese Alternative Medicine
 

Given that "western medicine" is using acupuncture and other techniques as part of an overall pain treatment plan, yes, you are talking out of your ass.

From the Mayo Clinic:

Basic research suggests that acupuncture works by regulating the body's nervous system, and by promoting the release of pain-killing chemicals (endorphins) and immune cells. Another possibility is that acupuncture alters brain chemistry, affecting brain chemicals and hormones associated with the immune process and regulation of blood pressure, blood flow and body temperature. . . . . Evidence suggests that acupuncture may help cancer patients by relieving nausea and vomiting after surgery or chemotherapy treatment. Studies are looking at the role of acupuncture in stroke rehabilitation and asthma treatment.

As they say, it's difficult to do a double blind study on it, but that is true with treating pain in general. I assume you've not suffered from chronic pain because had you, like Sidd or Gwinky, you might not agree, but you might be more open-minded.

Even if it were just a placebo affect, if it enables someone with debilitating pain to function, that would be a significant benefit. The research indicates that it's more involved with brain chemistry, but hey, why let big pharma and cultural imperialism get in the way of helping people.

As a culture, we have embraced the impact of food, lifestyle, exercise habits, etc. on health. Gerontology has long been incorporating yoga and tai chi to help the aging. There is so much more involved in the mind-body connection than we know. The fact that we don't know exactly why crossword puzzles help the aging does not mean we shouldn't send grandma (or mom) a NYT puzzle book.

Re: Chinese Alternative Medicine
 

I don't sock, with one past exception <sniff>, but if I did, I would be replying to this with my Big Pharma and Cultural Imperialism sock.

Re: Chinese Alternative Medicine
 

I miss Pushy the Puppy, too.

Re: Chinese Alternative Medicine
 

With acupuncture, you can sing out of your ass.

Or, uh, so I hear.

Re: Chinese Alternative Medicine
 

<sniff>

Re: Sometimes the 1st Amendment Wins
 

My favorite line was: Because in the parade of First Amendment horribles, there always, always has to be a Hitler there at the end, banging on the snare drum.

Re: Chinese Alternative Medicine
 

Then there is the "it's worked for a few billion people over the last thousand years" argument, but I think what you're saying is that you only want something validated by a bunch of Harvard profs. Go the www.nejm.org and search "acupuncture" and you will get a dozen or two articles doing just that.

Re: Welcome back E/O, leagl and Fringey: no one say the name "Penske" 3 times in a ro
 

I really don't like videos a lot. I tend to find the music ruins them if I don't like the song and if I do like the music, I resent someone else trying to impose em's vision on me.

Re: An Absurd Thing to Love
 

They remind me of foot-binding.

Re: Chinese Alternative Medicine
 

Is it better to choose medical treatment based on a post from somebody who has never gotten the treatment and knows nothing about it?

Re: Chinese Alternative Medicine
 

It's kind of like Penske exhorting everyone to have more sex. We all know he's getting none and wouldn't know what to do if he did, but that doesn't make it bad advice.