Does auricular acupuncture work for addictions?!
Question: Does auricular acupuncture work for addictions.?
Answers:
The accupuncture will relieve the withdrawal symptoms of whatever you are addicted to (it worked a treat stopping the coughing when I attempted to stop smoking). Ultimately stopping an addiction is something only you can do and to expect the needles to be a wonder cure is an unrealistic expectation. I still smoke now but not because the acupuncture didn't work.Health Question & Answer
Regular acupuncture is based on the unproven magical ancient idea of vitalism, that there is some sort of "life energy" (chi/qi) that flows through "meridians" and that somehow by sticking needles into specific spots on your body, this energy can be manipulated in a way that has an effect on health. It needs to be emphasized that this is a pre-scientific philosophy, and that our current knowledge of anatomy, physiology and biochemistry does not support this concept.
I guess if you believe that nonsense, you are more likely to believe in its even sillier cousin, auricular acupuncture. This is similar to things like reflexology or iridology in that it claims there is a homonculus on the ear. That is, there are points on the ear that correspond to various body organs, and sticking needles in those point will somehow magically affect those organs. Again, this idea has even less validity that regular acupuncture.
You will however, see lots of testimonials and stories from people who claim it "works". This is entirely due to the placebo effect of letting someone stick sharp needles into your ear. People who do this are obviously motivated, have likely tried many other things already, and probably are at least open to the possibility that there "may be something to it". These are the perfect preconditions for activating the placebo response.
In short...it may work, but not for the reasons they claim, and certainly no better than any other method, which is usually in the 10-20% range. (Statistics are notoriously hard to find for these things as they don't actually do research or publish their results anywhere. The same "success rate" applies to Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and basically any of the 12 step programs)
EDIT Ron. I'm glad that it worked for you, you are one of the lucky 10-20%. The evidence really does not support 12 step programs as being any more successful than other methods. I'm not discounting that many people get something out of the higher power concept, and the group dynamic of meeting fellow addicts. AA is notoriously secretive with its actual results.Health Question & Answer
I guess if you believe that nonsense, you are more likely to believe in its even sillier cousin, auricular acupuncture. This is similar to things like reflexology or iridology in that it claims there is a homonculus on the ear. That is, there are points on the ear that correspond to various body organs, and sticking needles in those point will somehow magically affect those organs. Again, this idea has even less validity that regular acupuncture.
You will however, see lots of testimonials and stories from people who claim it "works". This is entirely due to the placebo effect of letting someone stick sharp needles into your ear. People who do this are obviously motivated, have likely tried many other things already, and probably are at least open to the possibility that there "may be something to it". These are the perfect preconditions for activating the placebo response.
In short...it may work, but not for the reasons they claim, and certainly no better than any other method, which is usually in the 10-20% range. (Statistics are notoriously hard to find for these things as they don't actually do research or publish their results anywhere. The same "success rate" applies to Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and basically any of the 12 step programs)
EDIT Ron. I'm glad that it worked for you, you are one of the lucky 10-20%. The evidence really does not support 12 step programs as being any more successful than other methods. I'm not discounting that many people get something out of the higher power concept, and the group dynamic of meeting fellow addicts. AA is notoriously secretive with its actual results.Health Question & Answer
Acupuncture is exactly the same as homoeopathy in it's success rate, they both rely 100% on the placebo effect.
That's not to say the placebo effect is not strong, that's why placebos are used in double blind trials for every pharmaceutical on the market.
Therefore it WILL work on about 20% of the population, but unlike pharmaceuticals it is not predictable or reproducibleHealth Question & Answer
That's not to say the placebo effect is not strong, that's why placebos are used in double blind trials for every pharmaceutical on the market.
Therefore it WILL work on about 20% of the population, but unlike pharmaceuticals it is not predictable or reproducibleHealth Question & Answer
Acupuncture may help, but it is a therapy not a cure. In relation to addiction it can help to relax and distract you from any ongoing cravings or urges you may have but it is not the quick fix you may be hoping for.Health Question & Answer
There is no evidence to indicate it does. And by evidence I don't mean heresay, which some people here think is the same thing.Health Question & Answer
If the individual believes it works, it works.Health Question & Answer
In a word, no, studies have shown it to have little effect on such problemsHealth Question & Answer
YESHealth Question & Answer