Raithere i agree that acupuncher wont fix a bacterial infection or a punomothorax (well except by acident) but there have been studies showing good results for pain management and a few other things. This is why its becoming an option for doctors.
The evidence is actually still very sparse but there are indeed some studies that show efficacy in pain and blood pressure management. Even so, I would argue that acupuncture actually does nothing. There is no evidence that Ch'i exists much less that acupuncture can somehow improve its distribution. There isn't even a standard for which acupuncture points do what as opinions vary between practitioners.
However, in some cases, sticking needles into the skin at certain locations can have some beneficial effects possibly due to endorphin release in response to being stabbed with a needle or simple diversion.
http://www.ncahf.org/pp/acu.html
http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/acu.html
Hah, don't know many doctors, do you?
What does this have to do with anything? However, I know quite a few.
You must be speaking of prescription dispensing doctors. Most "alternative" practitioners will tell you that treatment depends on your ability to control your diet and exercise. Its the pill poppers who give you a happy pill in lieu of therapy.
There are quacks on all sides. All one needs do is cruise the internet for a few minutes or turn on late night TV to find a plethora of outrageous claims by alternative practitioners who will happily sell you their snake oil in exchange for the shirt off your back. The solution is to find a reputable MD who is willing to work with you, discuss options and alternatives, and who explains things. Self-education is also invaluable.
Like I said, I took various iron supplements for 6 years [all the way from gluconate to sulphate] and all I got was acidity. A homeopath told me I needed a more holistic approach to my mineral deficiencies and prescribed a balanced mineral dose along with his homeopathy medicine. I still don't know how it works but I have not needed an iron supplement ever since [my hemoglobin used to be 9 and has since the treatment held steady at above 13]
I agree with a holistic approach and am pleased to see it become more prevalent in the medical community. In part, I would say that alternative practices have helped to bring this about. Although holism is not exclusive to alternative practitioners it is fairly pervasive there and patients are demanding a broader view. Something I fully espouse.
However it is far more likely that your improvement was either incidental to this treatment or a result of the "balanced mineral dose" (vitamins, supplements, dietary suggestions?) and has nothing at all to do with the homeopathic remedy. It is likely you could get the same or better results by consulting a nutritionist.
This would be a decent MD who has been directly or indirectly influenced by the alternative community who have known about the importance of these things for a long time including the rather long period where they were being spat on by the mainstream doctors for mentioning it.
I agree there has been a tendency in the past for mainstream medicine to focus solely upon the ailment and to ignore the rest of the person. And as I state above I agree that alternative practices has help to regenerate an interest in holism. However, a good MD has always been more rounded in their approach; it is not something that has ever been exclusive and one can still easily find alternative practitioners who will sell you whatever is on their counter with no additional consideration.
Well as long as lightning keeps striking me and everyone I know twice, no, three times, no....etc. I will keep going to my chiropractor when I have back or neck pain.
Certainly do. Chiropracty is something of a mixed bag. Practitioners often have physical therapy training in addition to their chiropractic training. Additionally some of their techniques have a basis in PT and massage therapy. A good chiropractor can help... of course a bad one can fuck you up so be wary... particularly of some of those spinal "adjustments" which have no basis in fact and are quite dangerous.
However, it remains that there is no evidence to support the chiropractic model of disease. The benefits one gains through chiropracty can likely be better realized through PT or massage therapy.
And amazingly enough this does not mean I would not also consider going to a doctor. Nor, even more amazingly - well, not to me, but perhaps to you - a while ago I had a problem that my chiropractor suggested, if it did not improve soon, I should see an MD about, and then mentioned a couple of possible conditions that chiropractors cannot improve, but allopathic interventions had some success with. Fortunately for my body and wallet, the condition improved via his intervention.
It sounds like you found a talented and honest chiropractor. Excellent.
You clearly know very little about back pain or chiropracty.
Actually, I have quite a bit of personal experience with both. I've seen it succeed and I've seen it put someone in the hospital.
My argument stands unless you can provide some unaccounted for evidence. There is no factual basis for chiropracty... those results which can be demonstrated are the result of standard medical physiological mechanisms and have nothing to do with the underlying hypothesis, "vertebral subluxation leads to interference with an Innate intelligence within the human nervous system and is a primary underlying risk factor for almost any disease. *"
~Raithere
*
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiropractic
