New study maps the effects of acupuncture on the brain

[Celebration]

http://www.physorg.com/news184511570.html

The study, by researchers at the University of York and the Hull York Medical School published in Brain Research, indicates that acupuncture has a significant effect on specific neural structures. When a patient receives acupuncture treatment, a sensation called deqi can be obtained; scientific analysis shows that this deactivates areas within the brain that are associated with the processing of pain.

Dr. Hugh Macpherson, from the University of York, discusses new research into the effects of acupuncture on the brain published in Brain Research. Credit: University of York

Dr Hugh MacPherson, of the Complementary Medicine Research Group in the University's Department of Health Sciences, says: "These results provide objective scientific evidence that acupuncture has specific effects within the brain which hopefully will lead to a better understanding of how acupuncture works."

Neuroscientist Dr Aziz Asghar, of the York Neuroimaging Centre and the Hull York Medical School, adds: "The results are fascinating. Whether such brain deactivations constitute a mechanism which underlies or contributes to the therapeutic effect of acupuncture is an intriguing possibility which requires further research."

[BrklynLiberal]

1. I am a big believer in acupuncture. It has helped me in many ways.

If I recall correctly, they were using it for surgical anesthesia in China, and maybe Russia, at least a decade ago.

[trotsky]

2. Further confirming that any real effects of acupuncture...

have absolutely nothing to do with "chi" or meridians or any of the silly nonsense that modern day woos have bolted on to it. Simple brain chemistry and physical processes, just like real medicine. Go figure!

[Jackpine Radical]

3. Jeez--I thought the reductionist contingentaround here was reassuring us

that acupuncture itself was quackery just last week or so.

[trotsky]

9. Nope.

Quackery in the manner pushed by alt-medders, sure. But endorphins are real, and their effects are real.

[HuckleB]

10. I don't know if it's wise to further confuse the already confused.

[trotsky]

11. I can't help it, it's a hobby.

:evilgrin:

[HuckleB]

4. It's funny.

If you stick a needle into someone, you're going to see effects on the brain. If you touch someone, you're going to see that. Yell in someone's ear, you're going to see that. Give them a placebo tablet, and you'll see that in many people, too.

That's a big duh.

On the other hand, we're still waiting for strong, repeated studies showing acupuncture as beneficial for much of anything outside of placebo. Most studies end up like this one.

Laser acupuncture fails to ease menopausal woes
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61056H20100201

And, much like the pharmaceutical industry's unpublished studies, we have no idea how many studies with negative conclusions on acupuncture were not published.

[Celebration]

5. ..............

just the latest

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=222x82281

[HuckleB]

6. A study that must be repeated, and the results are likely, as with most such studies, overstated.

I used to get excited about such studies, and then I dug deeper. I recommend the same to you and to everyone. When you get into the actual of these studies, the actual don't tend to support the supposed conclusions.
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=2996

As an addendum, here's more on yet another study of acupuncture failing to match the claims of its practitioners:
http://altmedicine.about.com/b/2010/02/04/acupuncture-may-not-prevent-post-op-ileus.htm

Then again, single studies are not great evidence for anything. When the research is looked at as a whole, there just isn't much of anything there, to date.
http://www.kansan.com/news/2010/jan/25/folmsbee-no/

[Celebration]

7. funny

Single studies are not great evidence for anything, unless they happen to support your thesis.

:rofl:

[HuckleB]

8. If you read my posts when I post single studies, you'll see that I acknowledge the reality.

I guess pretending that I do something else is all you have as a defense. :puke:

That's pitiful and despicable.

:eyes: