Confusion on acupuncture benefit

There is no confusion at all.

"A major review of the effectiveness of acupuncture has concluded that it is hard to find a difference between "true" and "sham" versions.

The research comes just a week after a similar review suggested that both could prevent headache.

It looked at trials involving 3,000 patients with arthritis, migraine, low back pain and post-operative pain."

The technique does not work.

Period.

End.

All that is left for the practitioners of this IMHO scam is to argue that shoving needles into people is the active ingredient and that the theory of "energy meridians," which underpins acupuncture, is immaterial.

"Much of the argument surrounds the status of 'sham' acupuncture, which is frequently used in trials against traditional acupuncture.

While traditional acupuncturists insert needles in acupuncture points located along what they describe as 'energy meridians' - a concept for which many scientists say there is no evidence - sham acupuncture places needles away from these points.

However, the needles are still inserted beneath the skin in both varieties, and proponents of non-traditional acupuncture suggest that both varieties may be having a physiological effect - just not in the manner suggested by traditionalists."

When you have to claim that the principles you have followed for millennia are wrong and the explanations you have offered for the "beneficial" effects are immaterial, it really is time to do the public a favor, suck it up and admit your mistake.

"Dr Adrian White, a researcher into acupuncture at the Peninsula Medical School in south west England, said that 'sham' acupuncture might well be having an effect rather than acting as a simple placebo version of the treatment.

'Sham acupuncture often consists of superficial, off point needling, but this may still have a physiological effect.'"

What is more likely is that this Dr.'s credentials are a sham, IMHO.