Acupuncture and Allergies

A friend of mine once suggested I try acupuncture in order to treat the symptoms of my allergies. Acupuncture? The thing with the needles that are supposed to be put on "meridians" that align my "energy" (or qi)? Rubbish.

I did some digging when I got home and found out that acupuncture for the treatment of allergy symptoms is actually quite common, even among educated people. Worse still, many people suggest that there's actually scientific evidence to support acupuncture. Seriously, rubbish. In an oft cited article from BBC News, it is suggested that "scientists say they have found proof that acupuncture words in its own right." The scientific study referenced, however, found that if someone sticks a needle into your skin, the area of the brain that can be involved in pain modulation responds. How is that evidence? The same is true if you stub your toe or jam a fork in your eye because another person suggested acupuncture. In fact, the article finishes with this:

"Professor Henry McQuay, professor of pain relief at the University of Oxford and member of the Bandolier group that looks at the evidence behind different medical treatments, said: "The great bulk of the randomised controlled trials to date do not provide convincing evidence of pain relief over placebo."

Ah, so in truth acupuncture does not "work in its own right", but rather evidence suggests that it's a placebo.

Suffering from allergies can be torture and the search for treatment filled with anxiety and frustration, but please always remember that the scientific method is your friend. If something sounds like rubbish, do a bit of research before allowing someone to try and stab your qi.