4 ms·

Yeah, I'm sure puncturing the skin can cause a release of endorphins which relieves pain. No doubts there. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acupuncture http://en.w

• DanBC 13y ago
  Pain is complex. People report relief from chronic pain after taking placaebo. Cancer patients have relief from pain after cognitive behaviour therapy - a psychological intervention. I have no problem accepting that someone feels pain, has acupuncture, and then no longer feels that pain. I do have a problem with the bullshit mechanisms that acupuncture suggests. Since acupuncture has reasonable few side effects and long term pain medication has some scary side effects it's not so easy ro just dismiss it out of hand even though we know it is nonsense.
  • aestra 13y ago
    > I do have a problem with the bullshit mechanisms that acupuncture suggests. Correct. No arguments from me on that. However, as noted in the Wikipedia article, few modern day acupuncture therapist actually incorporate the original concepts of qi and meridians in their practice. What I was saying was the actual insertion of needles can release endorphins and that's a plausible explanation for reduced pain besides just the placebo effect.
    • DanBC 13y ago
      Ah, right, I didn't understand if you were sincere or sarcasticly mocking. (This is a problem with my comprehension not with your writing!)
      • aestra 13y ago
        A lot of communication is non-verbal, body language, tone of voice, etc. It is incredibly easy to misinterpret when you are only given a small part of the communication. :)