Tenterden Osteopath » Arthritis

Guardian misses the point of acupuncture

Bill Ferguson — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 21:22:12 +0000

I am disappointed at this type of sensationalist reporting by the Guardian headline "dozens killed by incorrectly placed acupuncture needles". Acupuncture must be one of the safest therapies around, think how many mortalities are caused by excessive or inappropriate use of prescription drugs. For starters, I would love to see some trials comparing acupuncture against some of the drugs commonly prescribed for IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) or arthritic joint pain. Let me repeat: acupuncture is extremely safe.

Look at the figures Ernst quotes, 86 patients died over 45 years, from injuries to areas no sane acupuncturist would ever put needles. That’s less than two a year, And incidentally none in the UK. How does this make the case for more regulation? This is a “non-story”. It must be a quiet time for the news desk.

What is the point – sham acupuncture

Bill Ferguson — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:06:37 +0000

Yet another waste of time. What is this obsession with sham acupuncture? Anyone who is involved in acupuncture realises that the effect begins when the tip of the needle touches the skin of the patient. After that there are two variables: the intensity of the treatment and the responsiveness of the patient.

One study looked at two treatments: shallow acupuncture that they called ‘sham’ and deeper acupuncture. Surprise, surprise there wasn’t much difference in effect. Their conclusion ‘acupuncture is no better than sham’. My conclusion ‘their sham was not sham at all, it was acupuncture’, if it proves anything it is that depth of needling is not very important.

A much better trial compared acupuncture with a drug known to control hot flushes.
Acupuncture was just as good at controlling the symptoms with fewer side effects, and no doubt a lot cheaper. I don’t suppose this trial will make the headlines – or am I just an old cynic.

This is what I would like to see: compare acupuncture directly with the normal drugs that are used routinely for arthritic joint pain, for IBS, for headaches and migraines. That would be a good start.

EU rejects health claims for common over-the-counter products

Bill Ferguson — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 22:04:10 +0000

If you believe in glucosamine, probiotics and sugar free chewing gum for keeping arthritis away, supporting your immune system and reducing plaque on your teeth, you better stock up now. New regulations are coming into force that will make these products harder to find. Read the full article here

NICE recommendation falling on Deaf Ears

Bill Ferguson — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:15:40 +0000

An article in today’s Telegraph mentions that increasing amounts of powerful opiod painkillers are being prescribed for back pain and arthritis. So what happened to the NICE (National Institute of Clinical Excellence) guidelines, published last year that recommended osteopathy and acupuncture for chronic low back pain, see my article I wrote in June 2009.

Looks like the message isn’t getting through.