1. Valid Medical Technique Or Lucrative Hoax?
Acupuncture
Valid Medical Technique Or
Lucrative Hoax?

2. History of Acupuncture
Practiced in China for over 4,000 years
Traditional Chinese medical technique for unblocking chi
Acupuncture is the insertion of needles in specific points on the body
These insertion points are believed to correspond with 14 main pathways within the body called meridians

3. Origins of Acupuncture Philosophy
Originates in Taoist tradition (specifically meditation)
Fu His discovered/created idea of yin and yang by observing a broken line and an unbroken line

4. What exactly is Chi?
Chi is an energy that, according to ancient Chinese beliefs, permeates all things
Chi must be able to flow freely throughout the body in order for a person to maintain overall health
Chi flows along the meridians of the body

5. Where do yin and yang fit in?
Acupuncture needles are inserted in an attempt to balance the opposing forces of yin and yang
Yin and yang are balanced when a person is healthy and chi is therefore able to flow freely
Injury or illness cause yin and yang to become distressed and unbalanced

6. Originally there were 365 acupuncture points, but through the years this number has increased to over 2,000
Each point is believed to correspond with a particular illness or injury

7. What is acupuncture used to treat?
Depression
Arthritis
Kidney problems
Flu
Fatigue
Chronic pain
Migraines
Paralysis
Hypertension
Tendonitis
Vision problems
Sexual Dysfunction
And many others…

8. Is there a medical basis to acupuncture?
Acupuncture is not based on modern medical science
There is no obvious correlation between the 14 identified meridians and the actual location of organs and nerves within the body
Some proponents of acupuncture have attempted to explain its medical function

9. Possible medical explanations
Stimulation of natural painkilling chemicals such as endorphins
Needles block the transmission of pain impulses to the CNS

10. Research on Acupuncture
Many scientific studies on acupuncture are still in the early stages
Subjectivity
One controlled study done by Melzack and Katz compared electroacupuncture of the ear to placebo stimulation
This study found acupuncture to be no more effective than lightly touching the ear in relieving chronic pain

11. More Research
Three Dutch epidemiologists analyzed 51 controlled studies of acupuncture in 1991
Their conclusion: “…the quality of even the better studies proved to be mediocre…The efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic pain remains doubtful.” (Kleijnen, et al)

12. Research Continued
A study published in 2001 exposed the inconsistency of the diagnosis and treatment of acupuncture
Diagnoses as well as the prescribed treatments varied widely
Of 28 points selected, only 4 (14%) were prescribed by 2 or more acupuncturists

13. Why use acupuncture if it has been proven ineffective?
Many hospitals and doctors that use acupuncture use it only as complementary therapy or “last hope” therapy
Example: DUMC

14. Why do people persist in using acupuncture?
Although not supported by empirical evidence, acupuncture is often supported by anecdotal evidence (which can also lead to confirmation bias)
Placebo effect
Regression fallacy
Pragmatic fallacy
Confounding treatments

15. Why can’t we disprove acupuncture as a valid healing therapy?
Acupuncture theory is flawed at the core by the fact that it is virtually impossible to falsify
Chinese beliefs define chi as being undetectable by the methods of modern science
If it makes people feel better, does it matter that we can’t explain why?

16. Lucrative Indeed!
According to the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture, approximately 4,000 physicians in the United States have received training in acupuncture therapy
10-15 million Americans spend ~$500 million per year on acupuncture
1 in 10 Americans have tried acupuncture

17. But there are risks… Bladder or lung puncture
Allergic reaction to needles
Infection from unsterilized needles
Fainting
Convulsions
Nerve Damage
Putting off treatments that are known to be effective