Acupuncture- Real or B.S.

[jammies]

Originally Posted by zuluking

If you had experienced relief, would you have considered it effective? (in a non-scientific manner)

I certainly wouldn't have attributed any relief to placebo effect, as I expected nothing, but on the other hand I wouldn't discount coincidence or some other factor causing the improvement either. I'd probably have continued treatment on some kind of semi-regular basis and held my skepticism in abeyance until I could be reasonably sure one way or the other.

One thing I wouldn't do would be take my own personal experience as conclusive proof of anything, any more than my personal experience of it NOT working is conclusive proof. So I'd have to say no, I wouldn't have considered the treatment effective, not unless there was other compelling evidence to incline me to that view. I think I've already made it pretty clear that iI don't think it's a good idea to use your own personal experience as a basis for what you believe.

[photon]

You don't even have to have a positive expectation to be subject to some kind of placebo effect.

One could be convinced the practitioner is a quack but the fact there's some human interaction and concern can have an impact (or a negative impact if the person is cold and uncaring). If you spent your hard earned money on it, or even if it is free but it was your idea to go, could also impact the results. All well known cognitive things which will change one's perceptions without them knowing about it.

[simmer2]

This thread got really lame...people debating about what scientific methods are, papers, big words, blah blah blah.

Here I was looking forward to an actual discussion on the merits of acupuncture. Oh well, just like a regular conversation it's easy to get off topic.

[TheSutterDynasty]

Originally Posted by simmer2

This thread got really lame...people debating about what scientific methods are, papers, big words, blah blah blah.

Here I was looking forward to an actual discussion on the merits of acupuncture. Oh well, just like a regular conversation it's easy to get off topic.

Guess you missed the connection.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by simmer2

This thread got really lame...people debating about what scientific methods are, papers, big words, blah blah blah.

Here I was looking forward to an actual discussion on the merits of acupuncture. Oh well, just like a regular conversation it's easy to get off topic.

April Fools Day?