Acupuncture vs Sham Acupuncture.
So, as far as I can tell from my reading about acupuncture studies, the higher the quality of the study, the less benefit "real" acupuncture has over sham acupuncture. Traditional acupuncture points are no better than randomly chosen acupuncture points, and twirled toothpicks are just as effective as needles sticking into your body.
Now, given that sticking needles into your body has a significant risk of causing actual nerve damage, while twirling toothpicks does not, I am happy to advertise my services for anyone who is considering getting acupuncture for a self-limiting, subjective condition such as migraines or non-specific back pain (ie, doctors cannot find anything definitely wrong and have nothing they can prescribe other than general painkillers).
Rather than go to see an acupuncturist and have needles stuck in you, potentially causing serious adverse effects, come and see me. For only $20, I will twirl toothpicks on random portions of your anatomy, and show you the high-quality medical studies which prove that it is just as effective as traditional acupuncture. I'll even play some soothing music and light some incense, if you like that sort of thing.
Seriously. It'll make you feel better, it really will. You don't even need me to do it. Since there is no knowledge of "real" acupuncture required, absolutely anybody can do this. Ask your partner, or a friend to do it for you, safe in the knowledge that it is definitely harmless (which "real" acupuncture is not) and just as beneficial. And you can save yourself the cost of an acupuncturist visit and not give money to a quack at the same time.
Now, given that sticking needles into your body has a significant risk of causing actual nerve damage, while twirling toothpicks does not, I am happy to advertise my services for anyone who is considering getting acupuncture for a self-limiting, subjective condition such as migraines or non-specific back pain (ie, doctors cannot find anything definitely wrong and have nothing they can prescribe other than general painkillers).
Rather than go to see an acupuncturist and have needles stuck in you, potentially causing serious adverse effects, come and see me. For only $20, I will twirl toothpicks on random portions of your anatomy, and show you the high-quality medical studies which prove that it is just as effective as traditional acupuncture. I'll even play some soothing music and light some incense, if you like that sort of thing.
Seriously. It'll make you feel better, it really will. You don't even need me to do it. Since there is no knowledge of "real" acupuncture required, absolutely anybody can do this. Ask your partner, or a friend to do it for you, safe in the knowledge that it is definitely harmless (which "real" acupuncture is not) and just as beneficial. And you can save yourself the cost of an acupuncturist visit and not give money to a quack at the same time.