Most Important Factors of Success in Acupuncture: Placebo Effect

The history of acupuncture goes back to more than 2,500 years ago as a part of traditional Chinese medicine. It is not only used in Chinese communities around the world these days but has become a global treatment method. In this method, special needles are accurately inserted into the body of patients at specific areas thought to be energy points. According to the World Health Organization, acupuncture is certified for treating several low-level physical ailments, such as migraine. Several criteria can play a key role in effective acupuncture, like the number of sessions and the number of needles per session. Today acupuncture is so popular yet there are several downsides about this treatment method which should be discussed. This essay will discuss the benefits of acupuncture, harmful physical side effects, and the placebo effects of acupuncture.

To begin with, acupuncture in Chinese traditional medicine is connected to the belief, that illness is caused by disruptions to the stream of energy or qi (The concept of qi in Traditional Chinese Medicine is the physical and nourishing that exists in the air; qi is the vital liquid which has energy on it and moved through the human body) in the brain and body. Acupuncture motivates points surface or under the skin which is known as acupuncture points that release qi. This belief may also help people to assume this therapy as a scientific method and then that makes sense for them. As claimed by a medical acupuncturist, the treatment of acupuncture is like a natural painkiller. There is some evidence about the reality of this therapy but the effect of it not substantial. Acupuncture can manage specific pain situations. For example, it is a great pain control for the back, headaches as well as episodic migraine. Researchers found acupuncture works for nonspecific lower back pain. Studies proved that long-term treatment has more benefits rather than short-term. Hence, acupuncture seems to be a sensible choice for people with persistent pain. In contrast, some may argue that acupuncture is also good for stroke, neck pain, osteoarthrosis, tinnitus, asthma, and drug addiction. However, evidence has never been provided that acupuncture has an incredible effect on those diseases. So, for a broad series of conditions, acupuncture is not helpful. It is said that some acupuncturists make several absurd claims, for example, this acupuncture is a beneficial therapy for tinnitus, depression, and smoking. Unfortunately, as there is minimal evidence acupuncture assists with these conditions, these people encourage patients to have unnecessary acupuncture treatment and so provide fewer benefits. This part shows extraordinary claims because there is a lack of available evidence about the high effects of acupuncture in advanced diseases. This kind of critical thinking is often supported by some observations or hypotheses which are extraordinary. Therefore, extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

Many believe acupuncture does not have possible harm. Nevertheless, it has some negative consequences. Some side-effects which have serious complications are vital organs injuries such as important blood vessels, lungs, heart, the spinal cord, and injury into the central nervous system; the injuries introduce all kinds of bacteria as well as infection into the body. Moreover, there are some other harms that happen via a lack of an efficient monitoring arrangement. As a tangible example, the multiple uses of personal needles, as well as non-sterile ones, were the cause of many infections such as HIV or hepatitis. The skin has mycobacterium and reusing needles in different skins have a serious infection on the body. According to the “What’s the Harm” website, because of irresponsible acupuncturists who did not think critically, around 1184 people were injured. Clients with important spinal disease for instance infection or cancer, advanced liver disease, psychosis, hemophilia, skin trauma (like burns) or skin infection are not great possible candidates for acupuncture therapy. Furthermore, even some people died after doing acupuncture. According to a psychiatrist, Stephen Barrett, there is a dangerous risk that an acupuncturist who did not train base on scientific conditions, cannot recognize serious situations which is unpleasant. Additionally, besides of these direct risks that cost patients’ life, some may consider different indirect risks which patients’ packets or bank accounts especially when they paid money for a therapy that was not beneficial. Regarding physical harm, if experienced and appropriately trained practitioners who have some knowledge of the basic anatomy, know needle technique, and use sterile as well as nontoxic needles, acupuncture should be a safe therapy. Otherwise, through control methods, it is suggested hygiene should be strictly practiced and adapted to avoid any infection.

The majority of analysis indicated that the effects of acupuncture are mostly due to placebo. Placebo effects are the most important factors of success in acupuncture which causes the delivery and release of endogenous opioids in the body. In other words, patients’ beliefs might be effective for the positive response from acupuncture. Therefore, a better response will happen in treatment if the belief is stronger. As an example, when patients take sugar pills as a verified medication, it often works and also has a positive effect because they receive support from a doctor’s prescription and may have some form of therapy. Then, because they pay money for the treatment, it helps them to believe these pills and have an effective response in their pain relief. According to Professor Ernst, acupuncture is not helpful for all diseases and a placebo has a significant effect on this treatment. So, acupuncture therapy might work greater in very few situations. Placebo has psychological and physiological effects in the body and brain. In addition, studies shown time is a special pattern in placebo effects of acupuncture; this effect moderately increases from basic until 12 weeks and as time goes, it decreases. This paragraph indicates the placebo effect which is based on patients’ beliefs and also has a helpful response in treatment as well as drugs. As a result, a placebo helps the acupuncture industry to receive beneficial effects from treatment. 

In conclusion, acupuncture seems to be a sensible choice for people with persistent pain. It works as a painkiller and has small advantages in some pains such as backache, and headache. This therapy also has a better response in the long term. There is an absence of evidence that acupuncture is a cure-all. Furthermore, an acupuncturist is more effective than acupuncture to pretend to absorb claim and make sure clients believe them. Acupuncture also has some side effects which direct physical risk for instance death, vital organ injury, damaging the central nervous system, hepatitis, and HIV. Besides this, patients’ bank account is an indirect risk of acupuncture. Last but not least, placebo effects have a significant effect on this market. If someone believes in acupuncture, it is enough to receive a positive response from the treatment. It is based on psychological and physiological effects. Also, in most conditions, there is no strong confirmation that acupuncture treatment works over placebo effects. As a consequence, acupuncture treatment is unreasonable to believe.

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