The cover of today's Shoals Woman magazine (bundled in your newspaper if you don't' subscribe) featured the face of a pretty young woman with a dozen little needles stuck in her face. The article was on a local "doctor" who practices acupuncture.
This "doctor" is as much of a "doctor" as a chiropractor. Calling them doctors is akin to calling a garbage man a "sanitation engineer." This "doctor" has an unspecified master's degree from Auburn. That is NOT a doctorate! Chiropractors have . . . well I don't know what they have but they are NOT doctors.
Acupuncture is an 2000 year old practice where needles are inserted through the skin over imaginary channels to supposedly influence an imaginary body energy whose blockage is presumed to create diseases. No, seriously, that's what it is!
The young woman claimed that acupuncture cured her migraines. The author of the article claimed relief form back pain. Both are ignorant of the facts.
Acupuncture, like Chiropractic, is pseudoscience. It has NO BASIS in medical science. Other than the placebo effect, it DOES NOT WORK.
Please, people, be skeptical of these kinds of claims. I am terribly disappointed that the Shoals Woman magazine would disseminate such rubbish.
What's next? The science of rain dancing for drought relief?
I agree with all that you say, but one must not forget psychosomatic medicine. This IS real and has been a long-standing fact. Various treatments, such as acupuncture, placebo medicines, and placebo surgery are a scientific fact in that they will help a certain percentage of patients. It matters not if there is a demonstrable organic lesion, if the patient improves or becomes symptom free, then it is a reward.
Of course, there is abuse, so one has to be a wise consumer of such methods.
Posts: 25 | Location: A long way from here. | Registered: 27 November 2006
Originally posted by gigli.saw: I agree with all that you say, but one must not forget psychosomatic medicine. This IS real and has been a long-standing fact.
Of course the placebo effect is real. The brain can be conditioned to produce endorphins in response to external stimuli such as accupunture or perhaps a twist of the ear. That does not make ear-twisting a valid medical treatment and I can't call myself a doctor because I know how to twist your ear.
This "doctor" is a scam artist, plain and simple.
I've no problems with placebo's but don't pass acupuncture off as "science," call yourself a "doctor" or pass this off as legitimate medicine. It most certainly is not.
Posts: 4645 | Location: In the Heart of the Valley | Registered: 10 May 2007
Headon is made by the same people that make ActivOn...I saw my chiropractor and I told him I was hurting and bought that to try (I avoid medications as much as possible) and he called it a "distractor" -- the menthol that is in it gives you a cooling sensation, but is really doing nothing but making your head concentrate on the cool instead of the pain. So he prescribed me a cream that had medicines in it that would alleviate my tension and swelling and it has worked very well. Ketophan or something like that. We have since determined that some of my pain is being caused by internal problems and are working with my medical doctor to get me well again.
I was given an accupunture treatmenet at a retreat when I was a counselor to show us the benefits. It may have helped but I couldn't say yes or no because it mainly gave me a headache from the needles in my ears....I believe that massage and reflexology and help with physical ailments but I"m not sure they are a cure all.
And I agree don't tout your self or what you do as a science or call yourself a Dr. -- that is false advertisement and misleading to the consumer and you are just asking for trouble.
Posts: 5637 | Location: Dixie, of course... | Registered: 16 November 2006
On the subject of "doctors," Podiatrists, Chiropractors, and Optomotrists, as well as some others are not medical doctors. Neither are dentists or veteriarians or psychologists or pharmachists with an advanced degree. In fact, not even all physicians are medical doctors, a large percentage of them are Osteopaths.
I agree with GF 100% about acupuncture, or at least 95%, since there is so much we don't know about the human body and how it processes and reacts to pain.
However, and this is a big however, I don't question everyone with a doctorate. I'm sure some ordered a piece of paper from Joe Blow's School of Morturary Science, while others worked years at accredited colleges to earn their advanced degree. Just consider Juris Doctors who have as much education and training as physicians (in most cases), but who are not afforded the same respect.
My wife and I truly believe in Dr.Lee.He helped my wife when all other doctors from here to B'ham told her she would have to deal with her illness.He TOTALLY cured her.
Originally posted by FirenzeVeritas: On the subject of "doctors," Podiatrists, Chiropractors, and Optomotrists, as well as some others are not medical doctors. Neither are dentists or veteriarians or psychologists or pharmachists with an advanced degree. In fact, not even all physicians are medical doctors, a large percentage of them are Osteopaths.
Firenze, DOs are medical doctors. They take the exact same courses as MDs and then a few more manipulation classes. 50 or 60 years ago there might have been a difference, but no longer. The residencies and fellowships that DOs and MDs compete for are the same ones. In my husband's residency program, he had DOs and MDs and some FMGs (Foreign Medical Graduates). Unfortunately, due to outdated old school thought, some people think DOs are not medical doctors. Some Oseopathic Medical Schools now allow their graduates to choose between a MD or DO on their diploma. Just wanted to clear that up.
I agree with GF 100% about acupuncture, or at least 95%, since there is so much we don't know about the human body and how it processes and reacts to pain.
However, and this is a big however, I don't question everyone with a doctorate. I'm sure some ordered a piece of paper from Joe Blow's School of Morturary Science, while others worked years at accredited colleges to earn their advanced degree. Just consider Juris Doctors who have as much education and training as physicians (in most cases), but who are not afforded the same respect.
This is an old post but I have to add my 2 cents on this one! After my first arthroscopic surgery in '88, another probe in '98, another '00 and continuous pain thereafter. My doc had trained with Andrews in B'ham, so well qualified he was. He told me after terrible pain(again)my only option was to work out to strengthen leg. Well, went to Dr Ly, one treatment- 2 years later and pain-NONE yet! I run, basketball, ....etc. Your call, skeptic that I was until I left that office! I refer everybody!
I never submitted the whole system of my opinions to the creed of any party of men whatever in religion, in philosophy, in politics, or in anything else where I was capable of thinking for myself. Thomas Jefferson
Old post...new question. Is Dr. Ly still there? I tried to find his # to refer a friend recently and was only able to get his home #...the lady there was no help. Anyone with info? Thx.
Originally posted by Killenite: Old post...new question. Is Dr. Ly still there? I tried to find his # to refer a friend recently and was only able to get his home #...the lady there was no help. Anyone with info? Thx.
446-6607 Head east out river road to the 4 way stop at Oh'Bryans restaurant and turn left. Follow it to the river and his place is on the left at the curve. Congratulations on them choosing this medical procedure first, hope their experience is as good as mine.
I never submitted the whole system of my opinions to the creed of any party of men whatever in religion, in philosophy, in politics, or in anything else where I was capable of thinking for myself. Thomas Jefferson
