Has anyone tried Acupuncture?

[EGT]

I'm looking at some alternative medical treatments and have been thinking about trying some acupuncture but as usual, I'm a bit sceptical.

Has anyone here had acupuncture? What made you try it and did it work?

My dad used to get a really upset stomach for no reason and at random. He thought it was diary produce that set it off so got checked out at the local medical centre. I think he went back 3 or 4 times and they couldn't tell him what was wrong. He eventually tried the acupuncture and the stomach problems went away for years, but he thinks they're starting up again. 😕

I'm getting mixed opinions about whether it actually works or not so i thought i'd ask here.

Any ideas? Thanks

 

[njmac]

You have nothing to lose by giving it a try. Some people swear by it, some people think its a waste of time. Give it a shot. If it works then you lucked out if not you learned a lesson.

 

[Doctor Q]

I'm sure you will get both good and bad reviews as you talk to people. Some people swear by it, some tried it with no success, some won't try anything that their doctor doesn't recommend or that isn't as well-studied as other (conventional) treatments, and some had bad experiences.

There is no harm in asking here (and some forum members are medical practitioners -- I'm not one of them), but get advice from a physician you trust, and be sure to get a referral when picking a treatment center if you decide to go ahead.

 

[eva01]

I am actually thinking of contacting one as well for my illness.

which has caused me to take a medical leave of absences from school

I have no qualms about it and i have spoken with a lot of Drs that endorse it. (i work in a hospital)


EGT you may want to just offer your father to get a blood test for the Celiac AB panel. Just in case.

 

[3rdpath]

my mother has some chronic health problems that have been greatly eased by acupuncture. she swears by it.

 

[scem0]

I'm a huge advocate of acupuncture. It cured my sister's bell's palsy and has helped members of my family immensely for other medical issues.

Give it a shot, I doubt you'll be dissapointed. Eastern medicinal practices are very good. At an alternative/eastern clinic they will probably also make recommendations of diet changes that might help your father.

I've never had to go to one, but I did get needles put into my head when I had the pleasure of getting an acupuncture demonstration before departing to China. I was selected to go to China along with 16 other seniors by Kalamazoo college for a study Asia program. I had to submit essays and all sorts of stuff. But I got selected, so it was most definitely worth it, and beforehand I got to go to Kalamazoo and learn about Chinese culture. They got an acupuncturist to speak to us about Chinese medicinal practices, and it was extremely interesting. I'm definitely an advocate after learning about acupuncture from an acupuncturist, and then having it performed on me (she just put 5 needles in my head to give me more energy, I had no problems to cure 🙂).

_Emerson

 

[devilot]

Some people swear by it, some tried it with no success, some won't try anything that their doctor doesn't recommend or that isn't as well-studied as other (conventional) treatments, and some had bad experiences.

I don't agree w/ the use of the word 'conventional' because in other parts of the world acupuncture is conventional-- I'd rather we use the phrase Western medicine.

I also agree w/ scem0, the huge medical university in China has been conducting studies and devotes an incredible amount of resources and time for people to become specialists in all sorts of fields within the practice of Eastern medicine as well as Western medicine. They now require (according to a video I saw in one of my classes last year) every 'doctor'-to-be to also get full Western training and so many of the Chinese practitioners believe in a regimen of both Eastern and Western practices for the same patient.

There is no harm in giving acupuncture a try, some health insurances will even cover it! I'm thinking about giving it a go as well...

:edit: My father had received acupuncture on numerous occasions for his aching knees and back-- he says that it helps to relieve his pain when he is there, but the effects don't last. I say (as do the rest of my extended family) that he's a big fat baby and a huge huge huge hypochondriac so I don't buy anything he ever says in terms of his health.

 

[Xtremehkr]

No, not yet, I can't find anyone who will let me.

 

[Kobushi]

Acupuncture is good stuff. Of course, if needles aren't your thing, there are many ways to stimulate the same points. I was certified through the Amercian Oriental Bodywork Therapy Association about 10 years ago. I learned acupressure/massage from an old Navy medic who practises both Eastern and Western medicine.

Also, I did a research project on it when I was in college. I learned some cool "western" medical theories as to why it works, too (ask me about electroconductive subcutaneous matrix fibers sometime). I got to see a picture of an Asian man getting open-heart surgery with nothing but a few needles for anesthesia(sp?). The caption went on to say that in the middle of the operation the patient got hungry (yes, he was conscious for the whole thing), so the Dr. stopped while the patient had a small cup of peaches, then continued having his heart operated on.

Anyway, I say go for it. Just be sure that the person knows what they're doing (not just being trendy), it is a very powerful, and potentially dangerous, art.

Cheers!

 

[katie ta achoo]

I want to try it to see if it'll help with the tendonitis...

We were passing an upscale vet (read: people who dress their dog up in $300 sweaters and paint their toenails...) and it offered.. ACUPUNCTURE!
I was just.. mind-blown.
Acupuncture + dog = much biting

Can anyone recommend any in Houston?

Is it covered by insurance?

I don't like paying full price... 😛

 

[eva01]

Most acupuncture is not covered by health insurance, all thou from what i hear in some instances of BCBS they do cover it.

I do not know of which instances.

 

[katie ta achoo]

Most acupuncture is not covered by health insurance, all thou from what i hear in some instances of BCBS they do cover it.

I do not know of which instances.

Gah! nooo......

I'll be inventing maladies, then.

Covered my insurance.. yes!

/mmm insurance fraud
//along with tax evasion
///I'm looking at 10 years, tops.
////I'll pay bail. 🙂

 

[krimson]

i've had it done a few times. the problem is finding someone that has good enough to actually hit the proper spots.

I suggest using word of mouth recommendations for your specific problem.

 

[dansuz1]

I did it for a while for back pain. While the sessions were relaxing, I really didn't see any improvement.

But as others say, some love it and some don't. It can't hurt to try.

Good luck.

 

[oreomac]

I had it to help with my back pain but didn't find it helped a lot.

If the doctors think it will help you can get it done on the NHS mine was done like that when I was having physiotherapy treatment on my back.

 

[yojitani]

Has anyone here had acupuncture? What made you try it and did it work?

Any ideas? Thanks

My wife had it done in Japan while pregnant with #2 (a much bigger one!). It really worked wonders for her. Just make sure that the acupuncturist you go to is properly trained. She went to one once here in the US that hurt and made her feel sick. Turns out he was trained by some local maharishi school of eastern medicine. It seems the ones who are best have been trained or received training in China (or Japan). There is a specific philosophy to acupuncture and it is important that the acupuncturist understands it!

YOJ

 

[Abstract]

I think it's all in the mind, but hey, if you think it works, then I guess that it'll help you physically, so even if the needles aren't doing anything, in theory they're working if everyone is feeling better.

Anyway, give it a shot.

 

[macartistkel]

I want to try it to see if it'll help with the tendonitis...

We were passing an upscale vet (read: people who dress their dog up in $300 sweaters and paint their toenails...) and it offered.. ACUPUNCTURE!
I was just.. mind-blown.
Acupuncture + dog = much biting

Can anyone recommend any in Houston?

Is it covered by insurance?

I don't like paying full price... 😛

Well I have never heard of acupuncture for dogs, but I did see a VH1 special on J.Lo and it said all of her dogs get reflexology!!! 🙂 Too funny!