The patients and the clinical trials reported relevantly high success rates after several days, minimal or no cravings after a single treatment. The doctor, used as an authority by the show, commented that the most effective means of smoke cessation is still the support groups and that there are NO STUDIES that show acupuncture's efficacy but if the patient feels that the acupuncture is working for him, then continue with it. The narrator also mention that acupuncture focuses on "pressure points" to balance energy.
My contentions:
- For those who have been following this blog, I think by now we know that acupuncture is not about nerves and pressure points.
- The doctor is supposed to be a "medical authority" but obviously did NOT do his homework because support groups have a very low success rate, and acupuncture as a therapy has MANY studies. It is apparent that he gave NO SIGNIFICANCE to acupuncture as a methodology and that is why he hasn't even bothered to be inquisitive while he was in med school or after. Despite the fact that there is much coverage regarding acupuncture as a smoke cessation therapy.
Some studies came to less successful conclusions and erroneous findings because they conducted only 1 treatment or a substandard FREQUENCY of acupuncture treatments. In comparison, I am sure that if they conducted only 1 group therapy, 1 nicotine patch, 1 replacement cigarette therapy, etc.. They would only have a success rate of 5% or LESS as compared to acupuncture's 50% or more FOR A SINGLE TREATMENT. Please note the other methodologies are frequent treatments as well with success rates of 60% and BELOW at BEST.
The problem here is because the individuals conducting the study are not familiar with the dynamics and technicalities of Chinese Medicine and thusly did the study with inadequate parameters.
Ergo, let a powerlifter make strength studies, make a chinese doctor make acupuncture studies. Don't make a pencil pushing scientist compare exercise methodologies to develop strength and lose weight.