Is Acupuncture A Placebo or are its Effects Real?

Is acupuncture a placebo or are its effects real? As an acupuncturist of over 12 years and owner of Princeton Monroe Acupuncture, I’ve been asked this many times, even from patients who have benefited from treatment. This question has long been debated, but the majority of clinical information on the subject supports acupuncture as a possible treatment for a wide range of symptoms: from chronic pain to stress.

Researchers have conducted studies that compare acupuncture to sham treatments. Real acupuncture was over twice as successful in these tests. Researchers have also observed the brain of study participants undergoing acupuncture. Time after time, they have found that the brain will release a stream of natural pain killers in response to acupuncture treatment.

Recently I shared an article about Joan Rivers’ dog, Max, undergoing acupuncture treatment for early prostate cancer. Max is one of many animals now receiving acupuncture. That said, the same question could be asked for animals: is acupuncture truly effective?

The results of animal acupuncture also support its substantive effects. Animals do not possess the social notion of a placebo effect. Even still, acupuncture restored leg function to an alligator in Brazil and reduced symptoms of Osteoarthritis of cattle in the United States. These are real results.

Even the most skeptical of critics must agree that acupuncture does produce results. I hope to cover this topic further in a future blog post.